August 5, 2009—Columbia Square, a 313,000-square-foot office building and flagship property in the Melvin Mark Companies real estate portfolio, has been awarded 4 Globes by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) for achievements in green design and sustainable operations. The building was rated under the Green Globes environmental design and assessment tool, under which the 4 Globes designation is the highest possible rating.
Columbia Square is the first existing building in the nation to be awarded the Green Globes prestigious 4 Globes rating and is the first existing building in Oregon to achieve a Green Globes certification at any level. Other notable buildings to receive a Green Globes rating are the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Whole Foods Market in Centennial, Colorado.
To earn the 4 Globes rating, Columbia Square received an overall score of 88 percent upon evaluation in six categories: energy, water, resources, emissions, indoor environment, and environmental management systems. Notable achievements include a projected increased energy savings of up to 40 percent and a reduction in ozone-depleting refrigerants through the replacement of an existing chiller with a high-efficiency chiller. The building has also earned ENERGY STAR certification, which means it is 31 percent more efficient than similar buildings. In addition, a strong recycling program allows tenants to recycle paper, metal, glass, food waste, e-waste, and construction waste.
Columbia Square joins more than 70 buildings nationwide in achieving a Green Globes rating. The Green Globes tool, widely used in Canada, has been officially recognized by legislation or executive order in 19 states as well as by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of the Interior.
