US Green Building Council’s recognition highlights company’s long-term efforts to address global climate change CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citi, a world leader in financial services, announced today that it has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its new office space at the Franklin Center in Chicago. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings. The space, which accommodates approximately 100 employees from Citi businesses including Citi Private Bank, Global Wealth Advisory Services, and Markets and Banking, incorporates environmentally friendly features that significantly reduce the company’s environmental footprint. “The small steps Citi takes can have a giant impact when multiplied by our 14,000 facilities, our 350,000 employees, and operations in 100 countries,” said Marty Lippert, Citi’s Chief Operations and Technology Officer. “We’re working to achieve environmental certification for all of our new office buildings, office space and operations centers around the world. We have a companywide goal to reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions by 10% by 2011. This project exemplifies our commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and efficient, cost-effective business practices.” "We’re proud that this new space is LEED compliant, beautiful, conducive to our business and inviting to our clients,” said Jim Bridgman, Regional Managing Director of Citi Private Bank. “We are thrilled to be in this magnificent building, centrally located in the heart of the Loop, allowing us to meet more easily with our clients and better partner with our other Citi colleagues." Citi has more than 2,500 employees in the Greater Chicago Area and more than 1,000 downtown. The company began a project in 2006 to relocate and consolidate several business units from six leased locations throughout the downtown area into two major buildings – the Franklin Center on West Monroe Street and Citi Center on West Madison. The space in the Franklin Center that achieved LEED Gold certification was part of the first phase of this four-phase project. "Citi is a leader in the fight to slow climate change and reduce energy dependence," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council." While climate change is a global problem, innovative companies like Citi are addressing it through local solutions.” Other Citi projects that have received LEED certification include the company’s recently constructed office parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a new 15-story skyscraper in New York City at Two Court Square in Queens, and a new data center in Georgetown, Texas. Citi also was the first company to achieve “LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors pre-certification” through a USGBC Portfolio Program pilot, meaning that new Citibank and CitiFinancial branch offices will all be designed in accordance with a prototype and achieve LEED certification, using the same environmentally friendly features.
