FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Maura Bruton
Director of Public Relations
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Phone: 312.527.7555
E-mail: mbruton@mmart.com
THE MERCHANDISE MART ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BECOME LEED-EB CERTIFIED
CHICAGO (June 11, 2007) — Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) announced today it is pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Existing Building (LEED-EB) certification for The Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
The Chicago landmark, the largest commercial building in the world with over 4.2 million square-feet, has participated in the green movement for years through many of its trade shows, building operations and remodeling programs, now intends to enforce more comprehensive policies for those working under its roof in order to become an official green building. LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
LEED was developed to define and clarify the term “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement, as well as recognize environmental leadership in the building industry while raising consumer awareness of the benefits of green building. LEED measures building performance in five key areas of environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
“The Mart as a building has always championed green initiatives because green means good business,” said Myron Maurer, senior vice president, MMPI. “Green buildings create a healthy workplace and ensure that generations to come will have the resources they need to thrive on this planet.”
In 2006, The Merchandise Mart and 350 W. Mart Center recycled more than 11 million pounds of waste, which is equivalent to preserving 5.5million gallons of water, and saving more than 13,000 trees. Through strategies recommended by the Clean Air Counts campaign, The Mart reduced 264,018 pounds of VOC pollution, the largest reduction by a commercial office building to date and 40% of Clean Air Counts goals. This was accomplished in part by switching from high-VOC to low-VOC cleaning products. Through The Mart’s efforts, we were able to prevent 47,000 pounds of pollutants from entering the atmosphere.
The Merchandise Mart currently has several green initiatives in place and plans to make a long-term commitment to further increase their environmentally friendly efforts. “We are committed to helping reduce pollution in Chicago and enhancing the environment for our employees, tenants and visitors,” said Maurer.
Strategies and policies to be implemented at The Merchandise Mart include:
• Improved recycling program including adding batteries, light bulbs and construction waste to the existing program.
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The Merchandise Mart Announces Plans to Become LEED-EB Certified
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• A green purchasing policy for products with recycled content and those that mitigate poor indoor air quality, such as air friendly paints and cleaning products.
• A green cleaning policy requiring that all cleaning products meet high indoor air quality standards per the Green Seal third party certification program.
• A green site maintenance plan. The Mart uses drought tolerant plants in all planters to reduce water consumption and employs an integrated pest management plan to reduce harmful toxins that pollute air and water.
• An indoor air quality management plan to ensure that construction activity in the building does not contribute to poor indoor air quality.
• Updated Merchandise Mart Construction Standards Manual to include green specifications for any and all construction activity on the premises.
• Adoption of the I-GO car-sharing program.
• A comprehensive energy management plan piloting new technologies and efficiency programs.
• Evaluate installations of green roofs, solar panels, and other new technologies.
• Adoption of green events guidelines for tradeshows to reduce waste and educate visitors.
• Support of tenants in pursuit of LEED CI (Commercial Interiors) certification.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. The rating system was designed by leading experts in the construction and property management industries to promote buildings that are economically profitable, environmentally friendly, and healthy, productive places to work. Ratings are based on five categories of green buildings strategies, and Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category. LEED has been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies as the guideline for sustainable building.
The Delta Institute is assisting MMPI as it aims for certification. The Delta Institute is a nonprofit organization formed in 1998 to develop and test fresh ideas for bringing about sustainable communities and integrating environmental protection with economic development. MMPI Sr. Vice President Myron Maurer will present green building initiatives, including work being done to achieve LEED EB certification, on Wednesday, June 13 at the Wolfpoint Ballroom. The event will be hosted by the Delta Institute.
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 tradeshows, market events and conferences each year. MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 W. Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; the Boston Design Center in Boston; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington, D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Vornado common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
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