Feature Photo: The Bank of America Tower at 00 Capitol Street. Image: Google Streets.
Posted: 1-30-2020
Houston (Harris County) — Global development and construction firm Skanska announces that its acclaimed Bank of America Tower development has received a three-star rating from Fitwel, the world’s leading certification system for optimizing building design and operations to support human health and well-being.
The development ranks at the top of Fitwel’s certification scale, earning three out of three stars to become the first and largest project in Texas – at 775,000 square feet – to be recognized under the latest standard.
It is the first project in Houston to receive any certification under Fitwel.
Of of all the Fitwel certified projects, Bank of America Tower, 800 Capitol Street, ranks among the largest that achieved a three-star Fitwel rating, second only to the Bloomberg HQ in New York, NY.
“Achieving new heights in sustainability and creating environments that enhance the health and wellbeing of tenants are hallmarks of Skanska developments and reflect our core values,” said Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska USA Commercial Development in Houston.
“We are delighted that Bank of America Tower has once again been recognized as an industry leader among modern workplaces – not just in Houston, but across the state of Texas. As we move through 2020, we look forward to exploring new opportunities in Houston to develop transformational projects that empower tenants and the surrounding community to be productive and healthy.”
Bank of America Tower was graded using a wide variety of Fitwel criteria, which assessed the unique features of the building and the surrounding community, including:
- Selecting sites that are optimally located for walkability and access to public transit, and promoting and enhancing those connections through design and operations;
- Incorporating stairs into building design and constructing in a way that is more visible and inviting, encouraging use;
- Access to diverse indoor and outdoor fitness opportunities including onsite fitness or proximate walk, run, or bike trails – and providing top-notch bike storage and shower facilities;
- Improving indoor air quality through tobacco-free policies and integrated pest management;
- Enhancing workplace safety through comprehensive emergency procedure policies;
- Creating workspaces with abundant daylight, views of nature, fresh outdoor air and access to active workstations.
This latest designation furthers Skanska’s longstanding commitment to sustainability, which is integrated into each stage of its development process, from land acquisition to operations. The company’s triple bottom line approach to sustainability encompasses a focus on environmental factors, like carbon, water, air and waste; community and social impacts; and tenant health and wellness.
Bank of America Tower was recently recognized as the most sustainable office tower in Houston, using 32 percent less energy than typical baseline facilities. The development features a wide range of sustainable features including SkyPark, the first and largest green roof in Downtown Houston to be open to all building tenants.
Skanska’s other developments in Houston include the newly announced land purchase of four parcel blocks adjacent to Discovery Green park in the central business district, and the two-building West Memorial Place project on Memorial Drive, which is the first LEED Platinum campus in the Energy Corridor.
West Memorial Place offers direct access to the Terry Hershey Park hike and bike trails.
Skanska also developed 3009 Post Oak, a 302,000-square-foot office building in the premier Uptown Houston location at Post Oak Blvd. and Hidalgo.
Skanska has built and restored local landmarks in Houston for decades, ranging from historic renovations, like San Jacinto Memorial Building on the Houston Community College campus, to the new construction of world-class sports facilities including NRG Stadium, and invaluable healthcare resources like the expansion of LBJ General Hospital’s emergency department.
Edited from a Skanska press release.
