Hines Receives LEED Platinum Certification for Williams Tower HQ

By Liviu Oltean, Associate Editor

Hines’ 49th Floor Lobby

Hines Interests L.P. announced its recently renovated headquarters in Williams Tower has been granted a LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification awards outstanding ecological practices in the design of commercial, non-retail spaces.

The company has been leasing the 49th and 50th floors of the tower for more than 30 years. Until the recent remodeling, it had opted not to make any significant changes to the two floors, keeping them as close as possible to the original design by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Hines chose Houston-based Kirksey Architecture for the renovation, as it presented a project that put emphasis on the adaptive reuse of existing materials and on the creation of a new two-story lobby with a view of downtown Houston.

The real estate company obtained the LEED certification through careful planning and efficient use of resources. It salvaged 42 percent of the materials and 62 percent of the furniture. Other implemented measures included:

• The marble countertops in the new public restrooms were repurposed.
•  Ninety-six percent of the construction waste material was diverted from landfills and recycled.
• The implementation of efficient water fixtures reduced potable water usage by 40 percent.
•  Lighting-power density was diminished by 39 percent over the current code requirement.
•  The use of ENERGY STAR-rated appliances lowered carbon dioxide emissions.

“We are tremendously proud of this achievement, and we recognize the importance of leading by example and demonstrating our commitment to the environment,” said Hines Senior Vice President of Corporate Operations Services Ilene Allen.  “Achieving LEED-CI Platinum is the result of more than 18 months of preparing, planning and execution by our architects, contractors and employees.”

Photo Courtesy of Hines L.P.