Hines U.S. Core Office Fund’s 333 West Wacker Earns LEED® Silver Certification

(CHICAGO) – The Chicago office of Hines announced today that 333 West Wacker has received Silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® for Existing Buildings (EB) rating system.

The 36-story office building was acquired by Hines' U.S. Core Office Fund, L.P. in April of 2006.

Located in Chicago’s West Loop submarket in the city’s central business district, the 867,821-square-foot office building is situated on a bend fronting the Chicago River.

Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the building was completed in 1983, and includes a four-level subterranean garage.

Since acquiring and taking over management of the building, Hines’ engineering and management teams have also improved operating efficiency.

This marks the third year that 333 West Wacker has earned the ENERGY STAR® label.

With a current rating of 80, the building is 32 percent more energy efficient when compared to the average U.S. office building.

This translates to estimated annual greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to removing 1,010 passenger vehicles from the road, or reducing gasoline consumption by 577,354 gallons.

Green features and programs include: a green cleaning program which includes the utilization of environmentally sensitive cleaning products and practices; a comprehensive waste stream management and recycling program that in 2010 alone resulted in diverting 466 cubic yards of material from area landfills; energy efficient lighting retrofits; and a voluntary tenant program to reduce weekend HVAC usage and encourage sustainable purchasing practices.

Additionally, Hines offers its proprietary GREEN OFFICE for Tenants program, which assists in giving tenants options to reduce their carbon footprints.

“We are proud of our team’s efforts and accomplishments in confirming this timeless property’s efficiency and contribution to reducing its burden on our environment,” said Hines Senior Vice President Tom Danilek.

Hines is one of the most sustainable real estate companies in the world.

In 2011 Hines was recognized by the EPA, for the fourth time, with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award; Hines manages 154 labeled buildings, representing more than 71 million square feet, in the ENERGY STAR program.

Twelve Hines development or redevelopment projects, representing more than six million square feet, have been designated as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR.

Hines is also a leader in the U.S. Green Building Council’s programs, with 205 projects, representing more than 106 million square feet that have been certified, pre-certified or registered under the various LEED rating systems.

Hines was a founding member of the German Sustainable Building Council and the Russian Green Building Council, and is active in the Green Building Council Brasil, the Green Building Council España, the Green Building Council Italia, the Indian Green Building Council, the BRE Environmental Assessment Method program in the United Kingdom and the Haute Qualité Environnementale program in France.

Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm’s historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes 1,126 properties representing more than 459 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. With offices in 106 cities in 17 countries, and controlled assets valued at approximately $23.7 billion, Hines is one of the largest real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.

To learn more about sustainability at Hines, visit www.hines.com/sustainability.