Epsten Group Headquarters First to Reach LEED Double Platinum Through v4

January 30,2015

Atlanta (January 13, 2015) – Always seeking to raise the bar on sustainable building solutions, Epsten Group is pleased to announce the LEED v4 Beta Platinum certification for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance (LEED EB:O+M) of its innovative office building, The Edge. Based on research, this is the world's first project ever to achieve double Platinum with an initial certification under LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (under LEED BD+C) and a subsequent certification under LEED version 4 EB:O+M.

“To the best of our knowledge, we are the only firm in the world to achieve LEED Platinum under LEED version 4 for operations, after previously achieving LEED Platinum for the building’s major renovation,” said Dagmar B. Epsten, president and CEO of Epsten Group. “Thus, we have brought this 1940s building to the latest current operational standards for LEED Platinum, and a double Platinum achievement.”

Actively involved with the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge, this is good news for the city. According to Shelby Buso, Director of Sustainability, Central Atlanta Progress, Inc., "We are so pleased to have this accomplishment happen in our city as we compete to be the "best in class" ub this national competition. Buildings such as The Edge will help us get there."

The Edge is also the first ever to achieve LEED EB:O+M certification under a process that uses an Establishment review and a Performance review, allowing for easy subsequent performance reviews and re-certifications during the building’s entire lifetime. These recognitions position this property as a model for sustainable buildings in Atlanta and beyond. The Edge earned its first LEED certification, a LEED-BD+C v2009 Platinum certification, in 2011. Epsten Group was among a distinguished group of firms selected by the U.S. Green Building Council to pilot LEED v4, becoming the world's third LEED EB:O+M v4 Platinum certified project.

“We always think about the entire life cycle of a building and the future of sustainability,” Epsten said. “That’s why we were honored to be a part of beta testing of LEED v4, and why this certification for The Edge is so meaningful. Buildings can be constructed with the best high-performance features, but over time, their environmental benefits can diminish if they aren’t operated and managed properly. Now, The Edge can serve as a standard of excellence in sustainability for the lifetime of a building.”

LEED v4 opens a new chapter in the story of LEED, in which the initial certification is just the starting point. LEED v4 focuses more on outcomes and the education of building owners. Although certified, it is The Edge’s operations and maintenance that defines its ongoing contribution to sustainability. Life-cycle achievements, including energy and water use performance, a healthful environment, tracking of purchasing and waste, and verification and reporting, make a building like The Edge a model for sustainability.                                                                                                     

Located in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward and originally constructed in 1946, The Edge has already achieved four Green Globes in addition to its two LEED certifications, as well as an AIA Georgia 2013 Design Awards-Citation Award, a TOBY Award from BOMA Atlanta, an Award of Excellence for Sustainable Design from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, and a finalist position for the Urban Land Institute of Atlanta’s Award for Excellence. The building’s sustainable features include a thin-film photovoltaic system, a green roof, high-efficiency systems and lighting, well-insulated walls with an air barrier, water-efficient fixtures, low-VOC finishes, and salvaged wood. Under LEED EB:O+M, The Edge earned points for a wide variety of operational practices including alternative transportation, energy efficiency, sustainable purchasing and an occupant education program.

The LEED EB:O+M certification of The Edge is just the latest in a long line of achievements for Epsten Group. The firm has received numerous awards for its work in all project phases from design to operation, has been recognized twice as one of the Top 300 Small Businesses of the South, one of ENR’s top 100 design firms of the Southeast, and was ranked on Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Epsten Group is also the global leader in LEED reviews, having conducted certification reviews for 7,000 projects in more than 50 countries. The firm was recently awarded a high-profile design project for Zoo Atlanta, converting the historic Cyclorama building into a unique event facility overlooking a mixed-species savanna exhibit.

About Epsten Group

Established in Atlanta in 1991, Epsten Group is a global leader in sustainable design offering a wide range of services, including architecture, interior design, energy modeling, commissioning, retro-commissioning, building envelope services, and roofing and waterproofing consulting. The firm designs and manages projects in commercial, institutional, government and residential markets. Epsten Group is an 8(m) certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise. For more information, please visit www.epstengroup.com.