Northridge Plaza Earns Certification for Existing Buildings.

Northridge Plaza, home to Choate Construction Company’s Atlanta office, announced today it has been awarded LEED EB:OM Gold certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

“We are committed to promoting sustainability and renewable energy sources; as such, this facility underscores our commitment to the concepts of LEED and sustainable building. Financial analysis had to verify the outlay would achieve a demonstrated return on investment, as the costs of the systems are amortized over a relatively short period of time. ROI was an absolute requirement,” said Millard Choate, President of Choate Construction.

The office building underwent major upgrades such as installation of a solar photovoltaic system on the roof, water-efficient upgrades, LED lighting, and retro-commissioned mechanical and control systems.

Northridge Plaza also earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification in December 2012, which signifies the building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy performance levels set by the EPA.

In addition to sustainable construction, Choate maintains a separate LEED Project Analysis group and offers such services to other contractors, developers and investors. Choate’s LEED Project Analysis group has performed studies and provided feedback on everything from science centers in Mississippi to manufacturing plants in China.