Taking the Leed
2020 Gold Leed Certification for the Atrium Office Building
The Atrium is one of Orange County’s premier office projects. Known for its stunning design that reset the architectural bar when it was completed in 1986, the Atrium still leads the way in terms of location, amenities and overall project quality.
But, the ownership group is not satisfied with maintaining the status quo and has taken bold steps to make sure the project continues to deliver the best overall workplace experience for existing tenants and for those looking for a new location that reflects the high image of their companies. The entire interior atrium has been redesigned and rebuilt with first-class amenities, while the exterior common areas have been improved to give tenants a new way to experience the outdoors and improve the overall workplace experience.
Over the past 3 years, a substantial investment has also been made to enhance the environmental quality and energy efficiency of the Atrium. Following the guidelines of the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), the management team has been focused on upgrades that have elevated it to LEED-certified status at the Gold level, one of the organizations highest designations. LEED projects earn points by adhering to prerequisites and credits across nine measurements of building excellence from integrative design to human health to material use.
The most visible of these improvements is the 1003kwh Solar Carport on the parking structure’s top level. Completed in 2019, it has reduced the power draw from the electrical grid by approximately 35%. The ownership group committed over $2.75 million to complete the project, which substantially reduces operating costs that would otherwise be passed along to tenants.
Just this year the Atrium also received UL Healthy Building Status from Underwriters Laboratories. UL’s Healthy Buildings Verification Mark for Indoor Air demonstrates that indoor spaces provide healthy indoor air quality. In keeping with that designation, the management team recently upgraded all air filters to rigorous Merv13 specifications. The UL designation is aligned with industry-recognized, third-party organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
While the Atrium has always been in the top tier of Orange County’s Class-A office projects in terms of location and amenities, the ownership group is dedicated to improving its environmental footprint from both an energy and health perspective. More improvements are already in the works that will enhance the workplace experience and project efficiency even more. Stay tuned.
