100 Congress in Austin, Texas has been awarded LEED EB (Existing Building) Gold status by the USGBC. The 100 Congress building is a 22-story, 411,536 square foot Class “A” office building located at the corner of 2nd Street and Congress Avenue.
Designed by Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, the building has polished sunset-red granite exterior with insulated tinted glass. The building’s common corridors are carpeted and covered in fabric wall covering. The lobby area has tan marble floors with polished sunset-red granite walls and glass. The lobby area consists of a staffed security desk, electronic building directory, a bank facility and two sitting areas.
Built in 1987, the building has a total of thirteen high-speed elevators. Four elevators each serve the high and mid-rise floors and, there are two elevators each serving the low-rise floors and underground parking garage. There is a five-story underground parking garage for tenants.
The property’s newly acquired LEED EB Gold status sets a high standard for its downtown counterparts constructed prior to the age of sustainability and energy efficiency.
“100 Congress has risen above and beyond expectations for sustainable management practices,” said Paul Noetzel, CBRE Associate Director of Asset Services, whose team manages the building. “We are very pleased with the team’s efforts, as well as the efforts of our tenants, to make 100 Congress a first-class building.”
To date, only 12 commercial buildings in Austin have met the rigorous LEED EB Gold standard.
The building’s Energy Star score of 86 places it in the top 14% of comparable office buildings nationwide. In 2013, 100 Congress installed an energy-efficient chiller system, which is saving approximately 919,000 kilowatt-hours per year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that is equal to eliminating the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 133 passenger vehicles.
Some of 100 Congress’ other sustainability initiatives include audits of indoor air quality, robust green cleaning programs, a low mercury lamping program, and an extensive waste and recycling program.
The building is currently 88% occupied. Additionally, the Class A property is in the midst of an extensive $8 million renovation to its lobby, elevator banks and entrances.
100 Congress is owned by MetLife Core Property REIT, LLC, and is managed and leased by CBRE.
Photo courtesy CBRE