Turner Leading Green Building Efforts in South Florida
Initial Sustainability Goals Exceeded on Turner Projects
Miami, FL – August 6, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Turner Construction Company, the nation’s largest builder of Green buildings, is leading the Green building effort in the South Florida market through the company’s commitment to sustainable building practices.
With 24 LEED Accredited Professionals (APs) working in Turner’s Miami office and more than 1,100 LEED APs nationally, more than any other firm, the company is uniquely positioned to meet the Green building needs of our clients and the community in the South Florida market.
Turner recently led the building team for the Knoll, Inc. showroom in Miami, Fla., which achieved a LEED Silver Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The showroom was originally intended to achieve a LEED Certification, but by obtaining additional points for sustainable elements that included sensory lighting and recycling more than 90% of the construction debris, the project achieved LEED Silver with no additional cost to the client.
In addition, Turner managed the construction of the LEED Gold Toyota Motors Lexus Florida Training Center in Miramar, Fla. This project had an original goal to achieve a LEED Silver Certification from the USGBC, but through the efforts of the building team to recycle more than 90% of the construction waste and the creation of parking spaces for carpool-only vehicles, the project was awarded a LEED Gold Certification in April at no additional cost to Toyota.
Turner’s most recent Green project awards include three higher education facilities in South Florida. Turner is providing construction management services for Florida International University’s $32 million Public Safety and 2,300-space Parking Garage 5 complex as well as Florida Atlantic University’s $19 million, 65,000 sq. ft. College of Arts and Letters, both scheduled to achieve LEED NC Silver Certifications. In addition, Turner is currently providing pre-construction services for Miami Dade College’s Culinary Arts Building, which is scheduled to achieve a LEED NC Certification upon its completion 2011.
To further support Turner’s commitment to the adoption of Green building practics in the South Florida market, Carlos Duarte, Turner Senior Project Manager for the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), serves as a board member and the treasurer of the USGBC’s South Florida Chapter.
Turner has had a presence in Florida since 1908. Turner completed the Venetian Hotel in Miami in 1910 followed by the 12-story Ingraham Building in Downtown Miami. In 1926, the company constructed the landmark Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. In 1959, Turner completed the 17-story Southeast First National Bank of Miami building in the heart of the downtown business district. Today, Turner’s Miami office is one of the largest construction management firms in South Florida.
