Severna Park Voice

Since Initiating LEED Program In 2009, More Than 5 Million Square Feet Of Space Now Certified

St. John Properties Inc. has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for 231 Najoles Road from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), for satisfying green and sustainable requirements in the construction of the building’s core and shell.

The five-story, 126,500-square-foot Class “A” office building is located within I-97 Business Park, a 67-acre mixed-use business community in the Millersville section of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This represents one of the 82 certifications received by St. John Properties from the USGBC, encompassing more than 5 million square feet of Gold, Silver or LEED-certified space since St. John Properties initiated its LEED corporate program in 2009.

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. According to the United States Green Building Council, projects earn LEED ratings according to national standards that relate to the “performance, health, durability, affordability and creation of environmentally-sound buildings.” The system examines and rates key building areas including interior space layout, interior finishes, lighting and mechanical distribution. The process further encourages “future tenants to capitalize on green strategies implemented by the developer” to ensure the consistency of this LEED rating.

The site at 231 Najoles Road consists of a brick and glass exterior and expansive 25,000-square-foot floor plates. The project property has been designed and constructed to achieve over 40% in potable water use reduction and over 38% in energy savings, and remove at least 80% of the total suspended solids that are present in stormwater runoff located at the property. In addition, numerous sustainable strategies including enhanced occupant daylight and views as well as low VOC building materials were implemented at the property to help promote the health and well-being of tenants.

Building tenants include Anne Arundel Dermatology, Comcast, District Lighting Group, First Home Mortgage, Keller Williams Flagship of Maryland, and Tower Federal Credit Union.

“Our clients are attuned to the significance and value of reducing operating costs, conserving natural resources and utilizing sustainable practices in the day-to-day operation of their businesses, and establishing a presence in a LEED-certified building is a necessary first step,” explained Sean Doordan, senior vice president of leasing and acquisitons for St. John Properties. “Since implementing our LEED strategy nearly 10 years ago, we are considered a leader in the green and sustainability movement, and set the bar in the achievement of LEED-certified buildings. Each building we develop is designed to earn certification.”

St. John Properties Inc., founded in 1971, owns and has developed more than 21 million square feet of flex/R&D, office, retail and warehouse space in Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Utah and Wisconsin. The company was named 2018 Developer of the Year for the nation by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. For more information about the company and its green initiatives, visit www.sjpi.com/green.