Mayor to Officially Congratulate Staples and 2121 Biscayne Blvd, LLC for Staples and Miami-Dade’s first Gold-Certified Building MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staples, Inc., (Nasdaq: SPLS) the world’s largest office products company, today announced that the Staples store in Miami, located at 2121 Biscayne Blvd., is the first store in Miami-Dade County and in the Staples chain to be awarded gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz joined Staples General Manager Ulysses Perez and Developers Michael Katz and Bill Biondi for a dedication ceremony honoring this achievement in environmental sustainability. “This certification is truly momentous and serves as an inspiration for other building developers to see how it is possible to make a difference while growing our city,” said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, an active champion for sustainable development in Miami. “Staples and the developers, Michael Katz and Bill Biondi, are setting a new level of excellence we hope others will soon achieve.” LEED is a voluntary independent green building rating system and is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. Buildings meeting LEED standards minimize negative environmental impacts and maximize energy efficiency and sustainability. Previously, Staples announced that its Biscayne Boulevard store was the first-ever green retail building to be LEED registered in Miami, which has since prompted other retailers to register and seek certification. The Staples store addresses the following LEED standards: Improves energy performance and reduces “heat island effect” contributing to higher city temperatures through a highly reflective roofing system; Reduces the strain on municipal water and Florida aquifer reserves by collecting rainwater through rooftop gutter systems and installing waterless urinals and low-flow toilets; Provides superior indoor air quality by using only low emitting materials for adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpet and other building products; Protects and restores habitats by using 100 percent native plants and shrubs in landscaping; Preserves non-renewable, virgin resources by using drywall, steel, concrete, bathroom partitions, carpet and parking stops made from recycled materials during the construction process; Promotes water efficiency by collecting rainwater for use in plant irrigation; Encourages alternative transportation by being located close to light rail and bus lines and offering changing facilities and bike racks; Provides effective energy management and thermal comfort through indoor temperature controls that adjust based on occupancy load and external weather conditions; Leads recycling efforts by having on-site recycling for paper, plastic, glass, and cardboard, in addition to providing computer, electronics and ink cartridge recycling for customers; and Promotes sustainable waste management by diverting construction waste from landfills. “From day one, our customers have praised our store’s efforts to deliver office products, technology and services in an environmentally friendly way,” said Ulysses Perez, Staples Biscayne Boulevard general manager. “Achieving gold LEED certification from the USGBC is a testament to the team’s efforts and our commitment to making a difference in communities where our customers and associates live and work.” “We are grateful to all the members of the development team who worked especially hard to complete the project, to the City of Miami staff for their guidance, and especially to Jason Biondi, our environmental consultant, whose persistence and forward thinking made it all happen,” said Bill Biondi, developer. The entire development team includes: Architects - Hamed Rodriguez and Michael Figuero; General Contractor - Link Construction Company; MEP Engineers - Fineline Engineering; Civil Engineer - EDC Corp.; Structural Engineer - Tain Engineering; and Landscape Architect - Mariano Corral.
