Award Marks the Latest Recognitions for MetLife’s MetWest International Development

The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter recognized MetWest One as Outstanding Project of the Year – Core & Shell at the chapter’s 2010 LEEDership Awards in April. MetWest One tenant PBS&J was also honored as Outstanding Project of the Year - Commercial Interiors.

"We are pleased to have MetWest One recognized once again for its sustainable design and construction,” said Chuck Davis, regional director of MetLife’s Tampa real estate investment office. “MetLife is committed to operating energy-efficient and environmentally viable properties that will not only benefit current and future tenants, but also will help preserve the planet."

"We are delighted to receive LEED Gold certification for our new corporate headquarters,” said Vince Briones, Senior Group Manager for PBS&J’s Sustainable Building Design Group. “Our employees can take pride in the fact that they work in a healthy office space that also reduces its impact on the environment. We can also show others that PBS&J is committed to creating environmentally responsible buildings for ourselves as well as our clients."

MetWest One is located in MetWest International, a mixed-use center being redeveloped by MetLife, and is the Westshore Business District’s first Gold LEED certified, Class A office building. The office building has been acknowledged for its holistic approach toward integrating green building practices and principles into project design as well as the execution and development of innovative solutions to unique design challenges posed by the Central Florida Region. The LEEDership awards are the latest recognitions for the development. Since opening earlier this year, the project has received four additional accolades, including:

• Office Building of the Year –BOMA Greater Tampa Bay (One MetroCenter)
• Gold LEED Certification (MetWest One)
• Outstanding Office Building –NAIOP Tampa Bay Chapter (MetWest One)
• Developer of the Year – NAIOP Tampa Bay Chapter (Taylor & Mathis of Florida LLC)

About U.S. Green Building Council - The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 131,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010. The USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.