SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Macerich (NYSE:MAC) - Santa Monica Place, the open-air shopping destination located in the heart of downtown, today announced it has earned a coveted environmental designation - LEED Gold - from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Since opening in August 2010, Santa Monica Place has been viewed as one of the country's most innovative redevelopments and continues to raise the bar in terms of shopping, dining and entertainment. A key element of the project has always been a focus on sustainability, in line with the priorities of Macerich, the property's owner/developer/operator, and the Santa Monica community.
"We have long said that the most sustainable building is one that already exists, and our decision to reuse and redesign the existing structure into what you see today - a three-level, open-air property with views, fresh air and plenty of sunshine - was an essential step toward LEED certification," said Art Coppola, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Macerich. "We are pleased that not only the building but also the ongoing operations of Santa Monica Place reflect the environmental values of our shoppers and our company."
By recycling the existing structure into today's Santa Monica Place, Macerich turned a climatized indoor mall into an outdoor center, reducing/offsetting 3,060,024 million kWhs energy, and during construction, diverted more than 90% of construction, totaling 68,519,409 lbs., from landfills. In terms of the property's ongoing operations, Macerich makes use of 14 Points of Presence (POPs) throughout the property to integrate operational disciplines, such as energy management, metering/submetering, UMS, CCTV, access control, wi-fi, voice over IP, digital signage, concierge, valet and parking management services into a single, robust infrastructure. The center also incorporates water-efficient landscaping, a green roof element and many other sustainable property features.
"There is a great sense of accomplishment and pride in receiving this prestigious and difficult to achieve, Gold-level award for Santa Monica Place," said Jeff Bedell, Vice President of Sustainability, Macerich. "This is a high-profile element of our overall company focus on sustainability, from development and design to everyday operations we are committed to being environmental stewards in reducing our carbon footprint across the portfolio. We are proud of that fact that 100% of Macerich regional centers participate in recycling efforts in their local communities."
Santa Monica Place's LEED Gold certification comes in the Core and Shell category, which reflects the unique role of a shopping center developer with respect to individual tenants and their own store build-outs. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Santa Monica Place features approximately 550,000 square feet on three levels, including a signature rooftop Dining Deck and Market. The center is anchored by Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom and offers guests over 85 specialty stores and dining destinations.
To get the latest news about Santa Monica Place, visit www.santamonicaplace.com , download our mobile app and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SantaMonicaPlace.
Macerich is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Macerich now owns approximately 64 million square feet of gross leaseable area consisting primarily of interests in 63 regional shopping centers. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company's Web site at www.macerich.com.
SOURCE Macerich