by Brianna Crandall — September 10, 2014—AMA Plaza (formerly IBM Plaza), a 52-story downtown Chicago office building located at 330 North Wabash Ave. and the largest and last American structure designed by world-renowned architect Mies van der Rohe, has earned the IREM Certified Sustainable Property certification from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM).
Owned and managed by affiliates of Riverview Realty Partners and Five Mile Capital Partners, and headquarters of the American Medical Association (for which it was renamed), the award-winning building certified as a Chicago Landmark has met the diverse but attainable requirements of the certification — drawn from categories ranging from energy and water conservation to waste and tenant engagement — that distinguish the property as a high-performance building.
AMA Plaza
AMA Plaza is a 1.1 million sq. ft. anodized aluminum and glass building that offers floor-to-ceiling glass windows providing unobstructed, dramatic views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. With its very efficient, large floor plates and under-floor duct system, AMA Plaza reportedly remains a highly competitive alternative for discriminating office tenants seeking quality space. Amenities include abundant parking, a restaurant and coffee shop. The Langham, Chicago luxury hotel occupies floors 2-13 and features a ballroom, chef-driven restaurant, lounge and wine room, fitness center, indoor pool and spa.
Awarded the prestigious honor of 2008 Office Building of the Year by BOMA/Chicago, a building-wide redevelopment of the property led by Perkins & Will and Environmental Systems Design has reportedly preserved the integrity of this Mies van der Rohe classic while establishing a new identity in an ever-changing cityscape and commercial climate. Enhancements include:
- New branding and signage
- New ADA-compliant washrooms with granite counter tops
- New heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system
- Cleaning and restoration of the exterior plaza and interior lobby granite
- Interior lobby travertine walls and mosaic ceiling
- Revitalization of Mies’ lobby lighting
- New green roof
- New electronic elevator systems and guides, redevelopment of the elevator cabs
- New state-of-the-art master security and fire life safety command center and systems
IREM Certified Sustainable Property certification
The IREM Certified Sustainable Property certification is a mark of distinction for high-performing, sustainable buildings recognized by IREM’s international community of over 19,000 real estate professionals who set the standard for best practices in real estate management. The certification is pragmatic, action oriented, and attainable for most building types, says the organization.
“The IREM Sustainability Certification raises the already high sustainability profile of AMA Plaza to another level,” said Susan Hammer, RPA, LEED AP O+M, general manager of Riverview Realty Partners and Riverview Realty Property Management, Inc. “In addition to traditional categories such as energy and transportation, the Certification also stresses tenant engagement, education, and outreach, which creates a leadership model for the building as well as for its tenants.”
AMA Plaza earned the certification by completing core and elective requirements, some of which include energy and water efficiency, tenant and construction recycling program, indoor air quality and staff education. AMA Plaza was reportedly able to quickly complete the certification at no major cost since some of the requirements, policies and procedures were already in place through the building’s ENERGY STAR designation and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification for Existing Buildings (EB) Operations and Maintenance (O&M), earned from 2009-2014, and 2010, respectively.
The IREM Certified Sustainable Property certification is part of a program called IREM Sustainability, designed to help property managers and other practitioners strive for more-efficient, value-enhanced buildings. The program, powered by Green Per Square Foot, consists of three integrated parts: a Web-based sustainability management platform, a challenge competition, and the property-level certification.
IREM Sustainability enables participants to:
- Gain a thorough understanding of the numerous opportunities available to achieve profitable sustainability for a particular property and its interior spaces — including a financial/cost-benefit analysis — and find customized ways to save;
- Engage and educate owners and tenants to understand the NPV-positive sustainability opportunities available to them; and
- Achieve a minimal level of property performance across a variety of categories — e.g. energy, water, and waste — and put plans in place to make incremental improvements over time.
The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) is an international community of real estate managers dedicated to ethical business practices, maximizing the value of investment real estate, and promoting superior management through education and information sharing. An affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS, IREM serves both the multifamily and commercial sectors and offers several credentials. Founded in 1933, IREM promotes best practices in real estate management, with 19,000 individual and 550 corporate members.
