Unique, Environmentally Friendly Office Building Breaks Ground in McKinney Thursday

McKINNEY, Texas (Feb. 24, 2005) – McKinney city officials and representatives from West World Holding, Inc., will break ground on a unique and environmentally innovative office building at 3 p.m. on Thursday at 4500 Eldorado Parkway.

West World Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of Wereldhave N.V., has outlined a company wide strategy regarding environmental issues as they relate to real estate owned and developed by the company.  With that strategy in mind, a decision was made to design and build what may be the first privately developed LEED®  (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) platinum building in the United States.

The new building, which will be completed in the fall of 2006, will be a three-story, 61,800 square foot, sustainable designed structure.  The building will be a prime example of how commercial office developments can be compatible with good stewardship of the environment. 

The site will use no potable water for irrigation. Irrigation water will be provided by captured stormwater stored on site in underground and above ground containers. Excess stormwater will be cleaned of contaminates before being permitted to leave the site. The building will use 30% less water than a typical office building, with wastewater being reduced by 50 percent.

The McKinney Green Building will use 60 percent less energy than a customary office building by utilizing Geo-thermal heat pump HVAC systems, energy efficient lighting, sunshade devices, natural daylight, under-floor air distribution, solar hot water heating, and an exhaust air heating and air conditioning recovery system.  Over 10 percent of the energy use of this building will be produced by on-site photovoltaic panels.  Green power, purchased from a Wind Farm, will supply the balance of any needed electrical energy.

More than 75 percent of the construction waste generated at this site will be recycled and will not go to a landfill.  More than 20 percent of the project’s materials will be manufactured locally and more than 50 percent of the project’s materials will contain recycled content. 

This building will maintain a very high indoor air quality by incorporating an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan during construction and before occupancy.  Interior construction materials will have a low VOC content. Copy and cleaning product storage areas will be separately ventilated and an under-floor air distribution system will give occupants control of the ventilation in their space.  More than 75 percent of the occupiable space will have access to natural light, with more than 90 percent of the occupiable space having views of the exterior. Outdoor patios will be provided to encourage outdoor activities. Tenants will be encouraged to carpool or, if possible, to ride a bicycle to work.

When complete, Building tours will be provided to the public, along with educational materials explaining the benefits of incorporating a sustainable design concept into commercial office development. 

“The MEDC is excited to be a partner with West World in bringing this unique office development to McKinney,” states David Pitstick, MEDC President & CEO.  “It will certainly bring quality jobs and make a positive statement about McKinney’s stewardship of the environment.”

“We’re happy to welcome West World Holding, Inc., a company that shares our environmental values, to our community. This is a great addition to McKinney. It’s an economic development success story in an environmentally innovative facility. And it fits in great with the message we are sending: McKinney is unique by nature – and businesses and facilities like this are a big part of the reason why,” said McKinney Mayor Pro Tem Brian Loughmiller.

The McKinney Green Building was designed by HDR Architecture, Inc.  The general contractor is Austin Commercial, L.P.  Andres Construction Services, LLC, will be responsible for construction management.  Ground breaking for the new building will be held on Thursday, February 24th, starting at 3:00PM, at 4500 Eldorado Parkway in McKinney.  The location is adjacent to Saxon Woods Apartments, an upscale apartment community, also developed by West World Holding, Inc. and managed by its West World Management, Inc. affiliate.  For more information about The McKinney Green Building, or leasing opportunities, please call Sandra Heffernan with West World Management, Inc. at 972-680-3131.