Skyscraper designed to be LEED-Certified CINCINNATI, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Eagle Realty Group today announced that the Great American Building at Queen City Square, its new office building set to commence construction this summer, is registered for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification with the U.S. Green Building Council. Eagle, the real estate investment and property management subsidiary of Western & Southern Financial Group, aims to establish a new standard for environmental responsibility in the region by constructing one of the first and largest LEED-certified office towers in the nation. The skyscraper now adds "greenest" to its list of superlatives which includes newest, tallest and largest office building in downtown Cincinnati. The 41-story, 825,000 square foot building aims to garner the LEED-Core and Shell (LEED-CS(R)) certification. The Core and Shell rating evaluates the entire project except for the interior spaces of tenants. World-renowned architect Mr. Gyo Obata, founding partner of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), led the design team for the project and its inclusion of a large number of environmentally responsible elements. For instance, the office tower will feature high ceilings and floor-to ceiling windows to allow maximum daylighting, and the use of specially coated insulated glass to avoid unwanted heat transfer between inside and outside the building. Each floor will have its own dedicated air-handling unit to provide proper heating and cooling, and monitors will automatically introduce more fresh air when necessary. The design team also has specified the use of many sustainable components, such as materials with recycled content, carbon dioxide sensors and low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives. Additionally, the project's central location, use of energy and water conservation techniques, and inclusion of alternative transportation provisions combine to create a higher quality indoor and outdoor environment for Queen City Square occupants. Mario San Marco, president of Eagle Realty Group, said, "We are committed to serving as a catalyst for growth and advancement in downtown Cincinnati and the region. Not only do we believe pursing the LEED Certification is important to tenants, we also know it's good for our community and, simply, it's the right thing to do."
