G reen B uildings
Real Estate Journal — Green Buildings — September 26 - October 9, 2014 — 11B
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M id A tlantic
Green building advocacy organization honors Bayer headquarters in Whippany Vision Real Estate Partners to accept USGBC NJ Emerald Award
c i l N e w Jersey has named Bayer Healthcare’s East Coast He adqua r - ters as co- recipient of its 2014 Sub- urban Green W
property at 67 Whippany Rd. in 2010, and subsequently subdivided and sold 94 acres to Bayer Healthcare in 2012. The partnership then designed, executed approvals and devel- oped a 675,000 s/f, LEEDGold- certified facility for this global industry leader and long-time New Jersey corporate citizen. “Bayer’s commitment to green building and sustain- ability along with their part- nership with Vision Real Estate Partners represents best practices in the industry demonstrating the highest re- gard for the well being of their employees, the environment and positive economic im- pact,” said Florence Block , executive director, U.S. Green Building Council – NJ. “The entire project was con- ceived and orchestrated with a specific emphasis on sustain- ability,” Morreale said. “This honor from USGBC NJ is par- ticularly gratifying because it comes from an organization that advocates green devel-
number of ecologically friendly aspects into the redevelop- ment. This included the cre- ation of public viewing spaces overlooking landscaped open areas, storm water retention ponds and preserved mature forests, as well as the preser- vation of more than 45 acres of vital wetlands. The entire project was de- signed to LEED Gold stan- dards. The design incorpo- rated two existing structures (totaling 450,000 s/f) suitable for revitalization, reflecting a commitment to reuse. Ad- ditionally, more than 1 mil- lion s/f (or 90%) of existing ceiling tiles were recycled, remanufactured and utilized throughout the new building. This effort earned recognition by the Armstrong Companies as the national award winner for the “Largest Quantity of Recycled Materials,” and the “Largest Green Project in New Jersey” for reclamation and recycling in a redevelopment project. n currently being renovated. NJ Transit, whose Raritan line connects Annandale to Newark and New York City, refurbished the adjacent train station after Meurer’s project got the green light. “This community is proof that renewable energy sys- tems can be attractive, func- tional and integrated into traditional neighborhoods,” says Meurer, who is proud to be providing residents and tenants with cleaner, greener energy and lower utility bills. Using The Village Green as a model for energy indepen- dence, Meurer has developed a 23-acre solar farm site in Raritan Township that is scheduled to be installed in 2015. “Solar power is a sound investment in a brighter fu- ture. And we are pioneering that future right here in New Jersey.” n
HIPPANY, NJ — The U.S. Green Building Coun-
Sam Morreale
Project Award. Vision Real Estate Partners ’ Sam Mor- reale, founder and managing partner, will accept the award at the organization’s 12th An- nual Emerald Awards Gala on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Mont- clair State Conference Center in Montclair, NJ. Located in Whippany, the Bayer Headquarters is part of one of the largest-scale, mixed- use redevelopment sites in northern New Jersey. Vision Equities (which Morreale co-founded) and Rubenstein Partners purchased the 194- acre former Alcatel-Lucent ANNANDALE, NJ — The first community of its kind combining modern design, a convenient location and a green lifestyle, The Village Green at Annandale is a shin- ing example of sustainable development. The repurposed mixed-use complex marked its official grand opening with a ribbon cutting on September 10, and developer Richard Meurer is looking forward to showcasing the project’s innovative center- piece: the adjacent two-acre solar farm that fully powers the complex. “We are confident that we have built the premier ecov- illage in the Garden State,” said Meurer, owner of An- nandale-based Meurer Development and founder of Green Power Energy , the sister firm that developed the 322 kW solar farm.
67 Whippany Rd.
opment in our home state of New Jersey. We are proud to be among the commercial real estate practitioners that are helping to fulfill its mission.” According to its website, the USGBC NJ organization supports the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of high-perfor- mance buildings and commu-
nities that are environmen- tally responsible, resilient, cost effective, productive, and healthy places to live, learn and work. As part of the site prepara- tion, the Vision/Rubenstein partnership rectified the ex- isting environmental issues on the campus. Additionally, the partnership incorporated a
Green Transit Village offers town homes, retail and office space in an eco-friendly setting The Village Green at Annandale, a solar-powered mixed- use community, marks grand opening with ribbon cutting
to the village on the former Warren Lumber site. “Solar has the undeniable power to change our lives for the better,” said Meurer, who got involved in the business when he wanted to build a green home in the Long Beach Island area. Unable to find contractors with the expertise needed, he decided to do the job himself. “In the process, I discovered a niche market for green building in New Jersey and saw an opportunity to offer these services to others. Green Power Energy was a logical outgrowth, and install- ing renewable energy systems is now an integral part of Meurer Development’s work.” The old lumberyard’s foot- print was retained, some of its structures rehabbed, and Meurer recycled much of the wood; the original office build- ing, which dates to 1852, is
Two-acre solar farm
Located at 47 East St. in Historic Annandale, just off exit 18 on I-78 and steps away from the NJ Transit station, The Village Green offers town homes, apartments, retail and office space, all built utilizing sustainable resources and
construction methods. What makes the community truly unique is that all of its electric needs are supplied by the bal- lasted ground-mounted solar farm that Meurer constructed through Green Power Energy. The farm is directly adjacent
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