The downtown tower is the third Ryan-managed building to receive certification within the last year.

Minneapolis (December 22, 2011) — Ryan Companies US, Inc. and ASB Real Estate Investments announce the successful gold-level certification of AT&T Tower by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EB: O&M). AT&T Tower is a 610,524-square-foot, class “A” office tower completed in 1991, and located at 901 Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the third Ryan-managed building in downtown Minneapolis to achieve LEED-EB gold-level certification, joining Capella Tower (225 South 6th Ave.) and 50 South 10th St.

“One of the reasons Ryan recommended pursuing LEED was to enhance the property for this competitive submarket,” said John Skram, Managing Director at ASB Real Estate Investments. “Many national customers as well as the federal government use LEED as the standard when considering leased space. It made sense to us on many levels:  short- and long-term operational savings, improved tenant comfort, and substantial reduction of the building’s impact on the environment. It was well worth the investment.”

“As a responsible investor, ASB Real Estate Investments continues to implement the strategy of investing in high quality assets with sustainable design features,” said Mandi Wedin, Vice President at ASB Real Estate Investments. “A key part of that strategy has been to certify several of our buildings across the country as LEED.”

According to the USGBC, buildings in the United States account for 36% of total energy use, 65% of electricity consumption and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. After LEED’s introduction in 2000, the USGBC considers the building sector a relatively untapped low-cost, high-return investment strategy to reduce energy consumption and associated emissions. “We are thrilled that the property achieved gold-level certification,” said Beth Molitor, general manager, Ryan Companies US, Inc. “I think that AT&T Tower is an ideal example that organizations do not have to invest major capital in an existing building — even one that’s 20 years old — to make a substantial difference.”

The LEED team, comprised of Ryan and Chicago-based LEED consultant Goby, achieved LEED-gold status with an aggressive energy and water management strategy. The building earned an impressive 97 ENERGY STAR® rating with an efficient heat-pump system and tight energy control through Ryan’s energy management system. Ryan also retrofitted every water fixture in the building with more efficient models, which will save more than 1.74 million gallons of water annually

In addition to pursuing LEED-EB: O&M, Ryan has also remodeled many of AT&T Tower’s common areas and added state-of-the-art conference and fitness centers to its amenities.  Occupancy in the Tower has improved with the completion of the upgrades to the amenities and common areas and the LEED process.

 About LEED
Developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington D.C.-based, nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders, the LEED rating system is designed to promote design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being. The LEED rating system for new construction offers four certification levels for new construction — Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. See the U.S. Green Building Council website for more information: www.usgbc.org

About ASB Real Estate Investments
ASB Real Estate Investments, a division of ASB Capital Management, is one of the leading real estate investment management firms in the United States, with over $3.0 billion invested in 76 core investments comprising 16 million square feet in properties across the country.  ASB Real Estate Investments offers a top quartile investment track record, an experienced management team, a skilled group of local market partners, and a high quality portfolio of diversified properties located throughout the country, www.asbrealestate.com

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a national builder, designer, developer and real estate manager specializing in fully integrated solutions for more than 70 years. With a mission to build lasting relationships, Ryan delivers full-service customized solutions based on industry expertise and total collaboration — pairing customers’ expectations with a specialized team of constructors, architects, engineers, developers, property managers and financiers. Ryan serves customers throughout the United States with offices in the Midwest, Southwest, Great Lakes and Southeast regions. Ryan was named the 2007 National Developer of the Year by the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP). For more information, visit www.ryancompanies.com

Editor’s note: Interviews with Ryan executives are available by contacting Sheri Hansen at 612-455-1707 or shansen@psbpr.com