Coral Gables Gets First New-Construction Green Office Building

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MIAMI—396 Alhambra’s 163,000-square-foot North Tower has won LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. Developed by Agave Holdings, the new mixed-use office and retail development is the first office building in Coral Gables to achieve LEED Gold for new construction.

396 Alhambra saves more than 14% more energy than a standard new office building of the same size. The project includes a storm water management system to limit water pollution and a refrigeration management system limiting gasses that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. Approximately 80% of the project’s construction waste was recycled, with 24% of all materials coming from sources within 500 miles of the building site. And building operations use environmentally-friendly cleaning and pest control products.

“There are other buildings that have gone through the operation certification but in terms of new construction we are the first,” Brian Gitlin of Agave, who oversaw the certification process on behalf of the building’s ownership, tells GlobeSt.com. “This is an important competitive differentiator. In the original letter of intents that we get from tenants, 90% of the time LEED certification is requirement from international tenants.”

Multinational users are filling up the new office space. Tenants include HBO Latin America, Millicom International Services, law firm Richman Greer, Banco Pichincha, CitiBank NA, architecture and design firm RTKL Associates and others. The building is already about 55% leased.
 
“Coral Gables has long been a hub for international business and finance activity, and 396 Alhambra is the premier and most sought-after address within this market,” commented Tere Blanca, president and CEO of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, the building’s exclusive leasing agent. “With more and more companies, corporate and entrepreneurial alike, placing an emphasis on sustainable workplaces, this LEED Gold certification sets 396 Alhambra apart from all other buildings in the Coral Gables market.”