Wells Fargo Plaza Recertification

2020 Award of Merit

Innovative Project, Existing Building Performance

NOMINATED BY:

Sustainable Investment Group

LEED RATING SYSTEM:

LEED O+M: Existing Buildingsv3 - LEED 2009

LEED CERTIFICATION:

LEED Silver (February 7, 2019)

USGBC PROJECT PROFILE:

https://www.usgbc.org/projects/wells-fargo-plaza-recertification-1

PEOPLE/ORGANIZATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EFFORT FEATURED IN THE NOMINATION:

LEED Consultant: Asa Posner
LEED Engineer: Jeff Stewart
Property Manager: Krysina Grussing
Chief Engineer: Andrew Rahm
Assistant Chief Engineer: Jeff Lehbens

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Built in 1974, Wells Fargo Plaza is a 24-story Class A office building located in Bloomington, MN. The property provides unparalleled views of the Twin Cities metro area and offers prime accessibility to thoroughfares, surrounding residential areas, and amenities. The building initially achieved LEED v2009 EB: O+M certification in 2013. In 2019, the property recertified and upgraded to LEED EB: O+M Silver certification.

Highlights of the LEED recertification include:

A 49% reduction in conventional commuting trips, highlighting the alternative commuting options used by building occupants.
A 100% electronics and durable goods waste diversion rate.
An 80% sustainable purchasing rate for janitorial products and materials.

Most impressively, Wells Fargo Plaza has shown significant leadership in energy efficient operations. The property has earned an ENERGY STAR label for 12 consecutive years (every year since 2008) and reached a high score of 93 in 2018. The property is on track for a 13th consecutive label in 2020.

NOTABLE SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES USED IN THE PROJECT:

Wells Fargo Plaza achieved LEED v2009 EB: O+M certification in 2013. In 2018, the property elected to pursue recertification and upgraded to LEED EB: O+M Silver certification in February 2019. The goal of the project was to achieve LEED recertification with the hopes of upgrading to LEED Silver, which was accomplished. Additionally, the property was able to achieve its 12th consecutive ENERGY STAR label with a score of 93.

Highlights include:

12 consecutive ENERGY STAR labels, including a score of 93 used during the LEED Silver recertification.
49% alternative transportation rate as determined by conducting a transportation survey
Low-mercury lighting used throughout the building (average of 64 picograms/lumen hour) which reduces environmental impact and improves energy efficiency.
100% electronics waste and durable goods recycling program.
80% of janitorial products and materials purchased for the property meet LEED's sustainability criteria.
61% of building occupants have individual lighting controls or task lighting -66% of regularly occupied space within the building has access to views.
MERV 13 filters used throughout the building to improve occupant air quality.

CHALLENGES FACED BY THE PROJECT TEAM:

One distinct challenge was documenting the property's carbon footprint reduction based on commuting patterns. The property is in a somewhat suburban location, so it was anticipated that not much alternative commuting was happening. However, it was determined that many transportation demand management strategies and alternative commuting options were present and in-use by building occupants, including carpooling, telecommuting, compressed work weeks, and driving low-emitting, fuel-efficient vehicles.