An iconic Minneapolis skyscraper gets some
sustainable upgrades

MINNEAPOLIS, (April 12, 2011) – The iconic crown of Capella Tower has helped define the Minneapolis skyline for nearly two decades. Today, with help from Ryan Companies, the tower is defining environmental building excellence as well, recently being awarded LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing, constructing and operating the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient and high-performing buildings.

The certification rewards recent renovations and operational changes made by Ryan that have maximized the building’s operational efficiency and minimized its environmental impact. As property manager, Ryan introduced a renewed approach to waste management and recycling, overhauled the building’s cleaning products and processes, and physically upgraded many of the tower’s lighting, mechanical and water systems. These efforts cleared the way for LEED Gold certification.

“The LEED rating system provided us a great framework to take advantage of technology innovations, products and efficiencies to reduce some of the negative environmental effects older buildings often have,” said Mike Maney, senior general manager at Ryan Companies. “With the combination of physical and operational changes made, we’ve been able to meet or exceed the LEED standards, and in terms of operating costs and efficiencies, feel we’ve helped the tower compete favorably with even the newest buildings that are being built today.”

Ryan’s efforts have begun to pay off for Capella. The replacement of lavatories and the installation of new aerators on the building’s faucets have resulted in a 14 percent drop in water usage, amounting to 1.3 million gallons of saved water each year and an annual cost savings of approximately $10,000 at today’s rates.

That’s just the beginning of the good news for Capella Tower. When Ryan took over as property manager in fall 2009, it teamed with building ownership and the Minneapolis CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) brokerage team to develop strategies to retain clients and lease the building’s vacant spaces in a competitive downtown market. Today, Capella Tower is attracting new tenants; in just over 18 months, 350,000 square feet of new, expansion or renewal leases have been completed at the tower, in a market that is still facing many struggles.

While the average Minneapolis citizen won’t notice the new enhancements from afar, observant watchers of the city’s skyline may notice one small change. In honor of Capella Tower’s recent LEED Certification, starting tonight the crown lighting atop the tower will be changed from its usual twinkling white to a glowing green.

About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings. More than 40,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising more than 7.9 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 117 countries. In addition, more than 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 45,000 more homes registered.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org

About Capella Tower
Capella Tower is located within the core of Minneapolis’s central business district and is one of the area’s most prestigious properties. Built in 1992, the building is one of the tallest in the upper Midwest at approximately 776 feet, and is an icon of the Minneapolis skyline, its top adorned with a distinctive twinkling crown. More information on the tower is available at www.capellatowerat225.com.

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a leading national commercial real estate firm offering integrated design-build and development, as well as asset, property and facilities management services to customers.  Ryan, a family-owned business committed to building lasting relationships, uses a single-source approach that offers flexibility in defining the scope of a project and strength in providing effective, timely solutions resulting in a higher certainty of success. Founded 71 years ago in northern Minnesota, Ryan currently owns and manages 10.9 million square feet of leased space and has offices in Chicago, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, Fla., Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa.  Information can be found at www.ryancompanies.com.

Editor’s Note: Interviews with Ryan executives are available by contacting Madeline Riggs at 612-455-1755 or mriggs@psbpr.com