AutoNation Building upgraded to LEED Gold; Stiles is property manager

Fort Lauderdale, FL According to Stiles Property Management, its managed class A office building downtown, The AutoNation Building, has been upgraded to LEED Gold certification. The LEED distinction was awarded to the building during its five-year recertification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC awarded the building a Gold certification for Existing Buildings Operations Management (EBOM) for superior energy use, lighting, water and material conservation, as well as incorporating a variety of sustainable strategies.

Located at 200 Southwest 1^st Ave. in the Las Olas corridor, The AutoNation Building is a 204,000 s/f, 16-story mixed-use class A office building with ground-level retail shops adjacent to the Las Olas Riverfront. Developed by Stiles in 2007, the building was one of the first to become LEED certified in the downtown area. Stiles has since achieved more than 20 LEED certifications for developed, constructed or managed office and retail projects across its portfolio.

As part of the recertification, Stiles compiled more than 15 months of data on energy usage and sustainability practices. According to property manager Megan Purdue, the process took several months to complete.

“We are incredibly proud to have earned LEED Gold–one of the highest designations of sustainable practices and management,” said Stiles Property Management president Chris Rotolo. “This notable distinction truly demonstrates the continued commitment of the property management team and ownership to maximize the value and performance of this building.”

“As a part of the recertification, we conducted weekly meter readings to prove utilities efficiency, monthly data collection from tenants to calculate shredding weight, analysis on vendor products and methods to ensure they were LEED compliant, lighting sensor inspections throughout the building, even a tenant automobile study to show the high volume of fuel efficient vehicles, amongst other things.”

“Sustainable practices have become a Stiles Property Management standard that has helped to cut down building operating expenses while growing our company in an environmentally-conscious way,” commented Rotolo. “As a result of our sustainability program, our clients generally achieve a ten percent reduction in operating expenses only 30 days after we take over an assignment.”

The AutoNation Building incorporates energy-efficient and sustainable features, such as a computer-operated energy management system that controls the air-conditioning and heating while monitoring indoor air quality, electricity-reducing technologies, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and the use of low VOC-emitting paints and sealants.

As one of the most prestigious buildings in the iconic Las Olas area, The AutoNation Building allows easy access to all major highways and airports. It is 91 percent leased to key tenants including AutoNation, EverBank and The Center for English Studies.