The U.S. Green Building Council recently awarded the Tustin Centre Office Phase II project in Santa Ana LEED gold-Core and Shell.

The project is owned by an investment client of BlackRock, Inc. and The Muller Co. is the developer and property manager.

The architect for the project was Nadel Architects and the general contractor was Bycor General Contractors.

This new 82,042-sq-ft, four-story Class A office building, which is located at 1525 N. Tustin Avenue near 17th Street, is the first Core and Shell building to receive LEED gold in all of California, according to The Muller Co.

�Tustin Centre II�s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,� says Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. �The urgency of USGBC�s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Tustin Centre II serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.�

The Muller Co. incorporated numerous green design and construction features in the development of Tustin Centre II. Nearly 96% of all construction waste was recycled and diverted from landfills, equating to more than 1,774 tons of waste, which earned a LEED exemplary performance credit from USGBC. More than 21% of the materials used in construction contained recycled content.

The new building also incorporates the use of low-emitting paints, carpet, adhesives and wood, and recycled content; low-flow faucets and showerheads, waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets, which will save 250,000 gallons or 44% of the water typically used by a building of this type and size; and native plants and drought-resistant plants for landscaping, which will save 262,631 gallons or 75% of the water normally used for landscaping.

The project also purchased 104 megawatts of Green-e power, which represented 35% of the building�s predicted annual electrical consumption over a two-year period (more than half of the power to run the building for a full year of operation will come from renewable energy sources).

Furthermore, to maximize energy efficiency, 90% of the suites have daylight views, and the roof qualified as a heat island effect reducer through ENERGY STAR compliant roofing.

To encourage the use of alternative forms of transportation, three-preferred parking spaces are provided for carpoolers and three for those driving low emitting vehicles. There are also 10 bicycle racks and two shower and changing room facilities for the building's tenants.

The new building, which opened in October 2009, will be 100% leased in November 2010 by Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC), a state-funded nonprofit organization that provides life-long services and support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The lease with RCOC was one of the largest signed in Orange County this year.

Tustin Centre also includes a 10-story, 196,000-sq-ft Class A office building, which was constructed in 1991 and is currently ENERGY STAR pending. This building serves as the headquarters of real estate brokerage and investor Grubb & Ellis Co. and a host of other tenants. An investment client of BlackRock is the owner and The Muller Co. is the property manager for both buildings.