Shorenstein Receives LEED Gold for Spear Street Building

SAN FRANCISCO-Shorenstein Company LLC has achieved LEED Gold certification of 188 Spear Street, a newly redeveloped class A office building. The building achieved Gold certification under the LEED Core and Shell rating system.

The building was acquired by Shorenstein in 2009 and underwent redevelopment beginning in 2011.  The project, designed by Brereton Architects, includes a four-floor vertical expansion as well as a lobby relocation and remodel. The relocated lobby provides a new canopied street-front entry on Spear Street.  The property is located in San Francisco's south Financial District.  At 216,000 square feet, it is now home to two leading technology firms and is currently 97% leased.

The LEED Core and Shell rating system is designed to meet the needs of commercial property development and redevelopment projects.  This rating system addresses the sustainability of base building elements including the site selection, mechanical and electrical systems, plumbing, fire protection, and building envelope.  Core and Shell enables certification of building interior space by tenants under the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system.

Some sustainability highlights of 188 Spear Street include:

• Vertical expansion of the existing structure increased building square footage by 50% within the same footprint

• Double-glazed high efficiency windows replaced the single pane punched windows on the original structure and are incorporated into the curtain wall glazing of the vertical expansion floors

• Low flow restroom fixtures and automatic faucets to reduce domestic water consumption

• Supply and return air fan system configured with an array of controllable fans to optimize ventilation and HVAC energy use

• Direct electrical sub-metering for tenant spaces

• Recycling program for the diversion of construction materials from landfill

• Card-accessed secure bicycle storage with bi-level bike racks to maximize bike parking capacity

Shorenstein continues its commitment to develop assets to the USGBC LEED standards for sustainability. With this redevelopment, the company now owns more than ten million square feet of LEED-certified property at the Silver level or higher.  Twenty-one properties under ownership are currently LEED-certified, seventeen at the Gold level and one at the Platinum level.  Shorenstein is in the formal process of pursuing LEED certification for four additional properties, including three additional Core and Shell projects. 

Shorenstein's commitment to sustainability extends well beyond its LEED program.  The firm is a partner in EPA'S ENERGY STAR program and 78% of the company's managed portfolio has either qualified for the ENERGY STAR label or is pending approval.  Shorenstein is also a corporate partner in the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge, with a commitment to reducing energy intensity by 20% in properties it owns and manages by 2020.  For the past several years, the company has also been a participant in the Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps Initiative.

 San Francisco-based Shorenstein Company LLC is one of the oldest and most successful private real estate investment companies active throughout the United States in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of office and mixed-use properties.  Since its beginning in 1924, the company has evolved from a regional real estate operating company to an active national investor and manager of co-mingled institutional capital.  Shorenstein provides asset management, leasing, property management and construction services to the properties in its portfolio through its wholly-owned property services affiliate, Shorenstein Realty Services.

A leading San Francisco architecture and interior design firm, Brereton's practice currently spans across fourteen western and mid-west States with an emphasis on Bay Area clients.