US Bank Plaza in downtown Minneapolis has received Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program for existing building, according to HInes, the Houston-based real estate firm that owns the building.
The dual-tower Class A building, which spans 22 and 40 stories, respectively, spans 1.3 million square feet of rentable space.
According to Hines, green features implemented at U.S. Bank Plaza include energy-efficient lighting with reduced mercury content; the use of environmentally sensitive cleaning products and practices; reduction of indoor potable water use through low-flow fixtures; and a comprehensive recycling and composting program.
"Energy savings, equipment efficiencies, water conservation and recycling programs directly benefit the tenants in terms of lower operating costs," said Hines Managing Director Bill Chopp, in a statement.
Hines noted that the building's tenants played an important role in achieving Gold status by participating in transportation and comfort surveys, tracking green purchases and increasing recycling efforts. Tenants include CliftonLarsonAllen, Ernst & Young, Fredrikson & Byron, Grant Thornton, Henson & Efron, and U.S. Bank.
Built in 1981, Tower I served as the corporate headquarters for Pillsbury Co., until it was acquired by General Mills in 2001, according to Emporius. The name of the building later changed to US Bank Plaza the summer of 2004.
