Papago Gateway Center Achieves LEED Gold Certification

Mixed-use office and laboratory building certified in latest LEED-CS category

TEMPE, Ariz. - Papago Gateway Center, designed by SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading architecture, engineering, interiors and planning firms, has achieved LEED Gold certification.  The mixed-use office and laboratory facility located and Mill Avenue and Washington Street in Tempe, Ariz. is one of the first Arizona buildings of its type to become certified under the LEED category for core and shell buildings: LEED-CS.

The project participated in the LEED-CS pilot program where it was pre-certified at the silver level.  After reviewing strict environmental practices observed during construction, the project was able to attain its gold status, the second highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ranking by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Lee Chesnut, CEO of the developer owner, Chesnut Properties LLC, says, “We are proud to be able to say Papago Gateway Center is LEED Certified Gold.  But, we are more proud of how this amazing, green, building actually operates in the real world.  It’s not the certificate we wanted.  It was the most efficient and cutting-edge building that we wanted – a new type of building that would break through the barrier of ordinary building operation and management into a new, healthier, less costly and demanding building in our living environment.”

Active sustainable design strategies were implemented from the conception of the project to demonstrate the project owner’s commitment to sustainability.  The most visual of these is the automated, operable, sun-tracking louvers that wrap the southern side as well as portions of the east and west facades.

“The louver system protects the building from excessive solar heat gain, as each panel readjusts its position throughout the day according to the location of the sun,” states project architect Luis Huertas, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP.  “On top of this, the building constantly reinvents itself with varying looks and patterns during the course of the day.”

Chesnut Properties LLC has committed to purchasing 100 percent green power for the life of the facility in addition to implementing a green cleaning program along with a tenant incentive program, honoring elevated levels of commitment to eco-building during tenant improvements.

“We look forward to continuing to push through the barrier of present-day thinking and technologies as we continue to manage and refine Papago Gateway Center and other projects coming soon from Chesnut Properties,” promises Chesnut.

Papago Gateway Center was built by Okland Construction and completed in March 2008.

Submitted on behalf of SmithGroup Inc. and Chesnut Properties LLC 
SmithGroup, Inc. (http://www.smithgroup.com/) ranks as the nation’s 9^th largest architecture and engineering firm (Building Design & Construction, July 2008) and employs 800.  The firm is composed of client industry-focused practices serving the healthcare, learning, workplace and science & technology markets.  SmithGroup has offices Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago, Ill.; Detroit, Mich.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Madison, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Washington, D.C.   Established in 1853, SmithGroup is the longest continually operating architecture and engineering firm in the U.S.

Chesnut Properties LLC (http://www.chesnutproperties.com/) is a forward-moving, growth-oriented company that is dedicated to bringing corporate and residential buildings to communities in the Southwestern United States that are more than just “bricks and mortar.”  Through development or investment, we strive to deliver buildings that matter to people in terms of creative design and respect for the community and environment.  At Chesnut Properties, we conduct every aspect of our business based upon our core values of excellence, relationships, integrity and honor.

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