CresaPartners Takes Aim at Green Market

WASHINGTON, DC-CresaPartners is increasing the number of AP accredited professionals on its local staff. The Washington area office just had four employees–Chris Finley, Chilton Griffin, Lauren Hodgin, Aaron Berkey–receive the designation from the USGBC. Additional employees are studying for the exam and will hopefully receive their designations, Berkey tells GlobeSt.com.

The point, of course, is to address the growing demand for LEED certified space–as well as the larger requirement for green building and energy efficiencies, he says. “We are hoping to expand [our LEED expertise] on both the transaction management side and the project management side,” Berkey says. In the latter, the company is currently working on its first LEED CI, with the expectation of winning a Silver certification for its client. Other clients are also considering various LEED projects as well, he adds.

Berkey believes demand will pick up for green building. Since the start of the acute phase of the recession, most real estate companies’ focus has been on “short-term, critical issues,” he says. “But now the long term perspective is moving back into their sights and I think we will s

ee more demand” especially from law firms and non-profits, he says. CresaPartners is also focusing on this at a national level. The Boston-based LLC just formed a national green committee, consisting of several committees headed by local staffers, including the DC area office, he says.