Upgrading to earn a first in LEED certification
1401 CROWN CENTER
Opportunity:
Part of the Fort Lauderdale Crown Center on Cypress Creek Road, 1401 Crown Center was a 50,000 square foot plain box office building with great street frontage exposure but very limited improvements. The building was leased to two tenants that were both vacating at the end of their lease terms, one out of State, and the other to a purchased building. Although the building had a two-story height, only a very small area was improved with a second floor.
Revisioning:
Use the space more effectively by adding over 25,000 square feet of second floor, adding first and second floor windows, new central bathrooms, 2 elevators and stairs, 2 new atrium lobbies and a new upgraded building façade. The plans were further upgraded to add hurricane resistant features such as impact glass, structural enhancements, and a new roof to meet new codes.
As construction neared, additional energy and green initiatives were added to enhance marketing and fulfill corporate responsibilities.
Result:
Midgard completed building construction on time and on budget. The building was upgraded to be totally hurricane code compliant.
The real story, however, was the building's upgrade to be LEED registered "Silver" for new construction, the first in the Fort Lauderdale uptown market.
A new international tenant was secured for almost half of the building and they embraced and cooperated in the LEED transition. Their space was designed and completed simultaneously with the building improvements. They will now enjoy business in their new space which is beautifully designed, energy-efficient, a quality health environment and demonstrates their corporate responsibility to take care of the planet. Midgard's Crown Center has added a "jewel" to the Ft. Lauderdale market that makes a positive statement and should attract business and tenants for years to come.
