25 Calhoun Office Building Earns LEED® Certification

Charleston’s first private LEED-registered new construction core and shell office building   

CHARLESTON, SC – April 12, 2012 – 25 Calhoun, a 63,000 square foot office building has been awarded the U.S. Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification.  The building, developed and managed by Holder Properties and Durlach Associates, is Charleston’s first private LEED-registered new construction core and shell office building. 

The 4 story office building is located in downtown Charleston adjacent to the SC Aquarium, Maritime Center and Gaillard Auditorium.  The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system is the preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance “green” buildings. LEED buildings are designed and constructed using strategies aimed at improving a building’s performance across key metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources. 

“Holder Properties is honored to have received the LEED® Certified award in recognition of our sustainable efforts at 25 Calhoun,” said Holder Properties CEO, John Holder.  “We believe in developing and managing every building using “green” building techniques and materials which allow us to create projects that are not only environmentally friendly, but efficient for our tenants and owners.”
Delivered in fall 2011, the 25 Calhoun office building incorporated energy-saving features throughout, including an energy management system to control the HVAC and lighting, lighting controls with occupancy sensors and a high efficiency glazing system.

Noteworthy features of the building’s sustainable design include:
•    Stormwater runoff filtration
•    Water efficient landscaping
•    Building Materials with low VOC and 40% recycled content.
•    High Efficiency HVAC equipment

As a result of these sustainable features and an enhanced commissioning process, water use is reduced by 32% and energy consumption is minimized yielding an 11% reduction in energy costs. The 25 Calhoun office building was leased to 93% within two months of opening. Tenants include Young Clement Rivers law firm, Robert W. Baird & Co., Smith Moore Leatherwood, Colliers International and 7 Calhoun.  The project team includes ASD Architects and Freese Johnson Construction.

About LEED®

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a feature-oriented rating system that awards building points for satisfying specific green building criteria.  The six major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design.  Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category.  LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities.  For more information on LEED, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED .

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since USGBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 17,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org) and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups.

About Holder Properties

Holder Properties is a privately held full-service commercial and residential real estate developer, founded in 1980 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. With expertise in land acquisitions, financing, project development, construction, leasing and property management – the Holder Properties team is setting the new standard for development excellence. With over $1.5 billion of development completed encompassing over 10 million square feet, Holder has developed office buildings, corporate headquarters, data centers, call centers, special use facilities and upscale student housing throughout the United States. Holder Properties is the developer of the Ashley Overlook office building, Faber Center office building, and Faber Pointe office building opening fall 2012, all located in North Charleston. Along with 25 Calhoun, Holder Properties is also developing an office building at 174 Meeting Street in downtown Charleston. For more information on Holder Properties, visit www.holderproperties.com.

About Durlach Associates

Headquartered in Charleston since 1979, Durlach Associates is a recognized leader in the Charleston commercial real estate market.  The company’s success is based on establishing long-term, quality relationships with clients, a principle instilled by the company’s founder, Marcus R. Durlach III.  Durlach Associates has developed over 1.3 million square feet of Class A facilities valued in excess of $200 million. Helping clients meet and exceed their facility goals has its rewards: Durlach properties consistently enjoy high occupancy rates and low turnover. For more information on Durlach Associates, visit www.durlach.com.