December 21, 2009

Business Center is First Industrial Project in Texas to Earn LEED Gold Certification
Pioneer 360 Business Park is a Certified High Performance Green Building

The Pioneer 360 Business Center has become the first industrial project in Texas to earn LEED Gold Core and Shell Certification. The 1.16 million square foot business park opened in 2008 on the southeast corner of Pioneer Parkway and State Highway 360 in Arlington.

The center was built by Bob Moore Construction of Arlington and designed by Richardson-based Alliance Architects. Flaherty Development demolished the previous structure in the summer of 2007, which was the site of a vacant shopping mall. During demolition, more than 90,000 pounds of steel, concrete, asphalt, copper and aluminum was recycled rather than transported to the landfill.

Bruce Payne, the city’s assistant director of Community Development and Planning, managed development review of the project. He said LEED certification was important in all phases of the project. During construction, builders used recycled materials and deployed measures to reduce stormwater runoff and to improve the quality of the stormwater before it is released from the site. Payne said the ultimate goal was to be more environmentally friendly by reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
Builders used white roof and light-colored concrete to reflect heat and reduce facility cooling costs. They also used special lighting to conserve energy and will harvest sunlight to control light in sky lit areas of its warehouses. Rather than contributing to suburban sprawl, this redevelopment project replaced an abandoned facility and was built on land that was already developed.

The City provided an economic incentives package that included grants, tax abatements and fee waivers, according to Economic Development Manager Robert Sturns. The Class A commercial park is estimated to create about 300 jobs and offers quality business relocation and expansion opportunities in Arlington, he said. The City continues to work with brokers to recruit tenants. Kaplan College and Finish Master, a leading national independent distributor of automotive paints, are existing tenants.

“This project demonstrates the city’s commitment to green building standards,” Sturns said. “The re-development of this property has become a win-win for the economy and the environment.”

In 2008, the Pioneer 360 Business Center was a finalist in the 16th Annual Best Real Estate Deals of the Year Awards sponsored by the Dallas Business Journal.

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Its green building rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Learn more about the Pioneer 360 Business Center at www.arlingtontx.gov/business or call the Economic Development Office at 817-459-6119.