The 100 Mill project in downtown Tempe has earned the prestigious LEED Silver certification for its sustainability and environmentally friendly construction, according to a news release from developer Hines. 

The 100 Mill office and mixed-use building, developed in a partnership with Cousins Properties, was built with a number of environmentally friendly building techniques that helped it to achieve LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. 

“We are proud of the exceptional quality the 100 Mill project brings to downtown Tempe, including its outstanding approach to sustainability,” stated Brad Kanwischer, Construction Manager with Hines. “100 Mill has already been one of our most successful office projects in memory and this recognition is another sign of the positive impact it will have on the Valley commercial real estate market.”

Features include pedestrian-oriented architecture that allows the connection from the light rail station to the south to continue through the project site and connect to Tempe Beach Park to the north. The contractor’s recycling program assures that building material waste does not end up in the landfill and recycled properly. 

The site is ideally located to capture views around the city. Energy efficient glazing offers panoramic views of Tempe Town Lake and allows natural daylight for the tenant spaces. The roof terrace offers opportunities for tenants to work outside encouraging a healthier work environment along with places to relax.

“The prominent southwest corner of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway pays respect to the historic Hayden House and activates pedestrian usage,” said Buck Yee, Principal and Project Architect with DAVIS, the building’s architect. “The lakefront architecture with aqua blue glass references Tempe Town Lake and complements the surrounding architecture. We worked hand in hand with Hines and the City of Tempe to create this iconic gateway to the city.”

LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — is a certification program that sets the standard for environmentally responsible construction in the U.S. Buildings are measured based on the number of points they earn across the categories of green building, such as energy, water, indoor environment, location and materials.

This is the third environmental and healthy construction recognition Hines has earned for this building, with the other two being certification from the International WELL Building Institute and Fitwel Certification for healthy building. 

WELL Building is a system that promotes the health and safety of the building occupants, maximizes real estate values and optimizes the human and social performances of the building. WELL Certification is achieved through the Integral Design Approach Initiative by use of art, pedestrian oriented architecture, wayfinding mechanisms, ADA and universal accessibility concepts.

100 Mill is located at 100 S. Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe, and is a 279,531-square-foot building. Future plans for the property include the construction of an adjoining hotel. 

100 Mill is the first building in the state to draw lease rates of more than $50 per square foot. Opened earlier this year, the building was already 92 percent leased six months before its completion. Tenants include such well-known companies as Amazon, Deloitte, Mov, LiveRamp and others.