Greening of the ‘burbs: Ormsby I, II and III in Forest Green office park first in Kentucky to get existing-building LEEDs rating

For the most part, the Green building movement has been an urban phenomenon, with The Green Building in NuLu the most visible project.

Now, at least in Louisville, it’s spreading to the suburban office parks.

Three Ormsby office buildings in eastern Jefferson County are now LEED-certified under the U.S. Green Building Council, verified by the Green Building Certification Institute, according to a news release.

Ormsby One, Ormsby Two, and Ormbsy Three building in the Forest Green Corporate Office Park at North Hurstbourne Parkway and Ormsby Station Road – all developed by Faulkner Real Estate Corp. – are the first buildings of any kind in Kentucky to be certified under the LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance rating system, according to the release.

(The LEED ratings mostly certify efficient use of energy and water, though LEED Platinum buildings typically have features such as solar panels, renewable building materials and Green roofs that recycle water.)

The Ormsby buildings – each has six-floors, totalling more than 500,000 square feet on 120 acres – represent a significant investment, though no amount is given.

From the release:

The Ormsby buildings incorporate a number of sustainable operations and performance features including high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings, a high-efficiency irrigation system, reflective roof membrane to reduce urban heat-islands, low-mercury lamps, use of environmentally preferred construction materials for tenant fit-out projects, and high performance green cleaning products and programs.

“Faulkner achieved LEED certification for energy efficiency, water-use reduction and use of environmentally preferred materials and equipment as well as implementing a variety of high performance operations and maintenance procedures and policies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for our tenants and by reducing greenhouse gas emissions we contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the entire community,” Said Roger Allen, Faulkner’s Vice President for Property Management and project director for Faulkner’s LEED certification.

Talcott Realty Investors, based in Hartford, Conn., bought the buildings in 2005 from Faulkner, a minority owner that oversees property management and leasing services.

The Class-A (a rating based on building amenities and systems such as air conditioning, heating and power grid) have been quite popular of late.

We reported just last month that Netherlands-based insurer Aegon NV moved all if its Louisville employees to two floors in the Ormsby One building.

The LEED rating is a nationwide initiative for Talcott, a national investor in commercial office properties, according to the release.

Talcott is using Green Studio, a division of Nashville, Tenn.-based Hastings Architecture of Nashville, Tenn., to coordinate the LEED certification process on its portfolio properties.

About Faulkner Real Estate: Faulkner Real Estate is a real estate developer specializing in commercial office and medical office buildings and neighborhood retail development. In the Louisville area, it owns, manages or leases nearly two million square feet of commercial real estate. Faulkner also has offices in Lexington, KY, Evansville, IN, and Dayton, Ohio. Its portfolio is made up of Class “A” commercial office buildings, Class “A” medical office buildings and neighborhood retail centers. For more information, call 502-891-8234.

About U.S. Green Building Council: The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

About LEED: The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 100,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.