The landscape architecture at the new JW Marriott resort in San Antonio, designed by our client TBG Partners, was featured heavily in Hospitality Design magazine – the top design-focused magazine for the hotel, resort and hospitality industry.

The story was also featured in Hospitality Design’s weekly e-blast.

This is very high-profile coverage in front of a highly qualified audience that hires firms like TBG Partners for their projects.

Read the story here…

SAN ANTONIO, July 27, 2010 — Situated on 600 acres and surrounded by the rolling green hills and dense woodlands of the Texas Hill Country, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa opened on in early 2010 and has quickly become one of the Southwest’s premier destination resorts. Designed to honor both Texas roots and sustainability, one of the resort’s biggest draws is its expansive, native-to-Texas outdoor recreation and water features, designed by TBG Partners, one of Texas’ leading landscape architecture and planning firms. Other amenities and features include 1,002 guest rooms, 140,000 square feet of meeting space, a luxurious spa, seven restaurant and dining options, a media-rich sports bar and two 18-hole Tournament Players Club (TPC) golf courses.

Located just 20 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers the beauty of the Texas Hill Country combined with nearby city and resort luxury conveniences. Inspired by its location at the base of the Texas Hill Country and its sweeping views of a natural landscape (bordered by a bird sanctuary and edged by white limestone cliffs), the design scheme celebrates and reflects the rich cultural history and natural beauty of the area. Specific amenities and features include:

Landscape, Water Features and Outdoor Recreation

Encompassing six acres of the resort is the River Bluff Water Experience, integrating pools, fountains, waterfalls, rivers and an abundance of poolside lounges to soak in the sun. Highlights include a 1,200-foot lazy river that meanders through lush landscaping of native trees and brilliant flowers, and Pedernales Falls, a thrilling, fast-moving 350-foot rapids river ride that begins at the top of a natural bluff and cuts into native rock, quickly turning into an action river ride with rapids and swirling eddies, eventually throwing guests into the lazy river.  Other outdoor recreational features include a serene infinity-edge adult pool, which is located on a bluff overlooking the golf courses, hot and cold plunge pools, cascading waterfalls, whirlpools, a children’s pool area with two kiddie slides (4’ ht and 6’ ht. above the water), and a grand “active” pool, which serves as the centerpiece of the resort’s activity area.

Most outdoor recreation and water structures were designed to blend rock with rough-hewn wood and exposed steel fasteners to provide a more authentic Texas look and feel, while rocking chairs, gliders and casual furnishings are positioned under large native trees – both preserved and planted – all providing for a casual and relaxing environment. The resort’s landscape design also includes a 100-acre bird sanctuary, native grasses and plants, towering pecan, cedar and oak trees, crystal clear streams, healing waters, rolling hills, wide-open spaces and rustic materials such as limestone and hardwood, all of which complement the area’s diverse terrain.

“An important design challenge for the resort was to maintain the charming mix of old-fashioned Texas hospitality with all the amenities and activities expected at a world-class luxury resort,” said Jim Manskey, principal at TBG Partners. “For example, distinctive and recognizable natural features of the Texas Hill Country region – including sections of the Pedernales River – were used as inspiration for the falls, slides and overall environment around the resort. Another example would be the lazy river. It is recessed in the ground by four to five feet and lined with limestone rock outcroppings, just like any river in the Hill Country. Basically, all water features were orchestrated to create a true Texas experience and designed to appeal to all demographics – honeymooners, families with kids, outdoor enthusiasts and business travelers who shun the idea of all work and no play.”

World-Class Accommodations Blended with Texas Hospitality

The resort’s 1,002 rooms, including 85 suites, reflect the comfortable style and hospitality of the Texas Hill Country. The spacious rooms feature custom-designed furniture and finishes that make use of hand-tooled leather, copper and ironwork used throughout the property. Spacious bathrooms also feature the serenity that visitors expect from a luxury resort experience.

Championship Golf

Golfers can test their skills on the newest PGA TOUR Tournament Players Club (TPC) championship golf courses with 36 challenging holes and stunning views. Two of golf’s most legendary names designed the courses – Pete Dye for the AT&T Canyons Course and Greg Norman for the AT&T Oaks Course. The Norman-designed course is the new official home to the annual Valero Texas Open, which took place in May 2010.  The club is private and only accessible to members and resort guests.

Unmatched Convention and Meeting Facilities

With more than 140,000 square feet of customizable indoor space, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers the most expansive event and convention space in the region. The resort has a host of options available to accommodate groups both large and small, including:

• 40,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom
• 40,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall
• 21,000-square-foot Junior Ballroom
• 10,000+ square-foot Pre-Function Space
• 19 Meeting Breakout Rooms
• Three distinctive outdoor venues, ideal for weddings and receptions

Relaxation and Rejuvenation

The resort’s 26,000-square-foot spa offers 30 treatment rooms, including two couple’s treatment suites with fireplaces. Two outdoor private treatment rooms are also available. A complete fitness center and studio features the latest in cardio-training equipment, free weights, and stationary weight training equipment as well as yoga and other fitness classes. Between treatments, guests can enjoy the peaceful serenity of the private, lagoon-like pool, healthy refreshments at the spa’s café or shop at the spa’s boutique.

Dining and Sports

The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers seven distinct dining options. Each restaurant and lounge features imaginative menus, cocktails and beverages with a focus on fresh, sustainable and organic ingredients. The resort’s casual restaurant, Cibolo Moon, serves authentic Texas cuisine that captures the unique flavors of the region. Located at the Golf Clubhouse, 18 Oaks features sweeping views of the 18th greens of the two TPC golf courses and showcases prime cuts and traditional steakhouse fare. High Velocity Sports Bar, the resort’s media-rich sports venue, puts guests right in the middle of the action with wall-to-wall multimedia screens featuring a variety of sport channels.

Green Features

• TPC San Antonio Golf Courses: The 36-hole PGA TOUR golf facility will be certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
• Closed-Loop Water System: The resort’s golf courses feature a closed-loop water system that catches water runoff, which is reused back on the courses. In the words of Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA TOUR, “These will be the most ecologically friendly courses built in the United States.”
• Low VOC Paint and Glue: The resort utilizes all low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) products.
• Bird Sanctuary: The 100 acres north of the golf courses are home to a bird sanctuary for the endangered Golden Cheek Warbler.
• Every Tree Accounted For: All trees on the golf course and resort were numbered and tagged during the construction phase to ensure all were saved.
• Recycled Steel Studs: The interior walls are supported by recycled steel studs, rather than traditional wood studs. For each ton of steel recycled, 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,000 pounds of coal and 40 pounds of limestone were saved.
• Smart Air-Conditioners: The heating and cooling system features a “smart system,” which recognizes when doors to the balcony are open and automatically shut down to conserve energy.
• Low-Flow Showerheads: Low-flow showerheads were installed in all guest baths. Low-flow is commonly defined as having a water consumption rate of 0.5 to two gallons per minute (gpm).
• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Energy Star-qualified Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLBs) were used throughout the resort. CFLBs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
• Linen Program: The Linen Program gives guests the option to have their linen changed every third day, instead of every day, saving water resources and reducing the use of detergents.
• Low-Flow Toilets: Low-flow toilets were installed in all bathrooms. Approximately 1.6 gallons per flush will be used versus the seven gallons of water of yesteryear.

Project Team

The resort was developed by Miller Global Properties and is now operated by Marriott International. Other project team members include Noble Development Group as the project manager; HKS Inc. as the architect; TBG Partners as the landscape architect and site planner; ForrestPerkins as the interior designer; Water Technologies Inc. as aquatics consultant/ contractor; and Austin Commercial as the general contractor. The golf courses were designed by two of the most respected forces in the golf industry, Pete Dye and Greg Norman, with Tour professionals Sergio Garcia and Bruce Lietzke serving as player consultants. Golf Course Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of PGA TOUR, is managing the courses.

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ABOUT TBG PARTNERS

As one of the top landscape architecture and planning firms in the Southwest, TBG Partners designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With a strong commitment to the advancement of sustainable design principles, TBG encourages its employees to become LEED Accredited Professionals and its clients to utilize green building practices for their projects. Established in 1987, TBG has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.tbg-inc.com

ABOUT JW MARRIOTT

JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today’s sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 45 JW Marriott hotels in 19 countries; by 2013, the portfolio will encompass 73 properties in 28 countries.  For more information, visit www.marriott.com.

Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS/FORT WORTH, July 23, 2010 – DFW drinkers now have a quick, easy and secure way to pay their bar tabs without opening their wallets, thanks to TabbedOut, a free smartphone app that enables users to open, review and close their bar tabs – and even tip the bartender – all from their iPhones and Android phones.

TabbedOut got its start in Austin and has expanded to North Texas, where a number of bars and restaurants have already signed on to accept these new electronic payments. Participating bars and restaurants in the DFW area include The Back 9 (Addison), Trees (Deep Ellum), Lakewood Bar and Grill, Lucky Lou’s (Denton), Riprocks (Denton) and Brick & Joe’s (Oak Lawn). Several others will come online in the coming weeks.

While convenience is one of the key benefits of TabbedOut, security is equally important. Gone are the days of flashing a credit card or leaving it with the bartender.

“TabbedOut was not only developed to save bar patrons, and the bars themselves, time opening and closing their tabs. It also eliminates the need to hand your credit or debit card over to a stranger or the risk of leaving it behind by mistake at the end of the night,” said Rick Orr, CEO and co-founder of TabbedOut’s Austin-based developer, ATX Innovation.

Credit and debit card payment information is stored securely on the phone, not on TabbedOut’s servers, and only the last four digits are displayed on the screen. A random secret code is displayed on the screen each time a tab is opened – that’s the only information that a user needs to provide the bartender. TabbedOut is securely integrated directly into the bar’s point of sale (POS) system. Once a tab is opened, users can review the details of their tabs in real time for accuracy, and when they’re ready to leave, they simply enter a tip and pay with the press of a single button.

“Users and bartenders alike love TabbedOut. The time traditionally spent waiting to close a tab can instead be spent with friends or helping other customers,” said Orr.

Additionally, users can receive copies of their receipts via email, review a complete history of previous purchases, and even resend previous receipts via email.

“It’s also a great tool for business people who entertain clients and later need to keep track of their receipts for expense reports,” added Orr.

TabbedOut is available for free download on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch via the iTunes App Store and Android phones via the Android Market. There’s a 99-cent charge per use (first three uses are free).

TabbedOut is currently active in Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as a handful of bars in southern California and Ohio. It will launch soon in additional major U.S. markets including Houston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and more.

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To learn more about TabbedOut, visit www.TabbedOut.com.
Download for free on iTunes. Also available in the Android Market.

Media Contact:
Cooper Smith, (214) 329-9191
cooper@coopersmithagency.com

Our press release about Daltile signing on for its fourth season of product placements for DIY Network’s “Kitchen Impossible” was featured in today’s FloorDaily e-newsletter, which is one of the top news sources for the floor covering industry.

Daltile in Fourth Season of ‘Kitchen Impossible’ – FloorDaily.net.

DALLAS, July 22, 2010 – Daltile, the largest U.S. manufacturer and distributor of ceramic tile and natural stone, has signed on for its fourth season as tile provider for DIY Network’s Kitchen Impossible. The show’s host, carpenter and electrician, Marc Bartolomeo, helps overwhelmed and frustrated homeowners renovate their “impossible” kitchens. Each renovation is up against a grueling and almost impossible deadline, but with a little work and ingenuity, “Kitchen Impossible” makes dream kitchens come true.

In season four, the show’s designers have used a variety of stylish Daltile products, including Castle Metals, Kimona Silk, Egyptian Glass, P’Zazz, Timber Glen, Cristallo Glass, Tumbled Stone, Rittenhouse Square, Continental Slate and Castle de Verre.

New episodes of Kitchen Impossible air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. Central). Visit www.diynetwork.com/kitchen-impossible/show/index.html for more details.

As part of Daltile’s public relations efforts, the company provides tile to numerous high-profile television programs on Discovery Channel, DIY Network, HGTV, A&E, and most notably ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

About Daltile:

Daltile, a division of Mohawk Industries, is the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of ceramic tile and natural stone in North America. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company has more than 7,000 employees at its North American facilities and sells its products through a network of more than 250 company-owned sales service centers, independent distributors and leading home center retailers nationwide.

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Media Contact: Cooper Smith
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Designed by TBG Partners, the new $1.5 million park and recreation destination provides open-air gathering spaces, playgrounds, water features and mosaic art walls created by local students

HOUSTON, July 20, 2010 – The four-acre Magnolia Park at Altamira in Mission Bend MUD No. 2 is complete after years of local efforts to provide a new park and recreation destination for Mission Bend-area residents and guests. The $1.5 million park is the result of significant efforts and close cooperation between Mission Bend Municipal Utility District (MUD) No. 2, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCHA), and TBG Partners, all of which partnered with the goal to transform the area previously-home to minimal green space into a multifaceted state-of-the-art public amenity that will have a significant impact on local economic growth, improve local quality of life, and create added value to the west Houston community.

Magnolia Park was designed with an array of enticing recreational opportunities within a cohesive park layout serving all users, including families, schoolchildren, walkers, joggers, bicyclists, dog-walkers, handicapped and more. It contains pathways/trailways connecting the park to neighborhood schools, greenbelts, playgrounds, a serenity garden, and a community-based public art installation, which opened in June 2010 and is composed of five new mosaic murals facilitated by public artist Reginald Adams, director of MOCHA, in collaboration with neighborhood elementary, middle and high school students’ artwork.

“Our goal for Magnolia Park was to provide a community improvement that will, hopefully, create a better quality of life, provide recreational and educational opportunities, and be a source of community identity and pride,” said Bill Odle, managing principal of TBG Partners’ Houston office. “At the same time, the plan strives to respect private property and provide neighbors with a safe environment to gather and celebrate the rich culture and history of Mission Bend with family and friends. It’s readily apparent that Mission Bend and west Houston residents recognize the value added to their community and to their property.”

In 2003, Texas voters passed Proposition 4, allowing the Texas State Legislature to authorize certain districts to issue bonds for the development and maintenance of recreational facilities, ultimately leading to the creation of parks and amenities like Magnolia Park at Altamira in Mission Bend MUD No. 2.

ABOUT TBG PARTNERS

As one of the top landscape architecture and planning firms in the Southwest, TBG Partners designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With a strong commitment to the advancement of sustainable design principles, TBG encourages its employees to become LEED Accredited Professionals and its clients to utilize green building practices for their projects. Established in 1987, TBG has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.tbg-inc.com

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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS, July 20, 2010 – Fitness buffs have a new way to create a barrier between themselves and the millions of germs found on their gyms’ workout equipment, thanks to PhitGrips, a new palm-sized, antimicrobial cushioned grip that fits snuggly around dumbbell bars and handrails found on most workout equipment.

Each PhitGrip is American made with rubber that has been liquefied, then injected with oxygen to give it a light, cushioned feel. The ink used to print PhitGrip’s logo onto the grip is infused with an antimicrobial agent that helps inhibit the growth and spread of bacteria. Users simply rub their hands together occasionally to spread the microbial agent over the entire surface of the palm. When the logo wears off, it’s time for new PhitGrips.

Additionally, PhitGrips pairs a textured inner tread with a thin, soft outer shell for a secure, firm grip, while helping prevent calluses and blisters commonly found with glove and straps. And since the user’s hands are not encased in leather, they can breathe freely between sets, keeping them clean and dry.

“Most infectious diseases are transmitted by contact. Since you don’t actually touch the bars or handrails of gym equipment when using PhitGrips, germ transfer is not an issue. The end result is a cleaner, healthier workout,” said Dawn Meifert, founder and inventor of PhitGrips. “Additionally, PhitGrip provides a more secure grip than gloves or straps, allowing you to focus on your workout, not on your slippery, sweaty hands.”

PhitGrips are available online at www.phitgrip.com for $9.99 per pair, and will soon be available in gyms and fitness centers throughout the United States.

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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS

Created and written by Gerard Alessandrini, the production offers amazingly funny takes on some of your favorite shows. Annie, West Side Story, Les Misérables, Rent, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof and Mamma Mia! are just a few of the shows hilariously skewered in this tongue-in-cheek tribute to some of the biggest shows to ever grace the Great White Way. No show is safe, and there’s nothing standard about this Broadway revue!

Since its first performance in 1982, Forbidden Broadway has played thousands of shows and has become nothing short of an Off-Broadway institution. Even if you’ve never been within 1,000 miles of Broadway, you’ll still love Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits!

The production stars Beth Albright, Melissa Farmer, Tyce Green, Jim Johnson, Drew Kelly, Sara Shelby-Martin, Shane Strawbridge and Wendy Welch and is under the direction of B.J. Cleveland, with music direction by Kevin Gunter.

The production runs August 6 through August 29, 2010, with shows at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. There is no matinee August 8, but there is an added performance at 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 26. Performances take place at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Boulevard (entrance off Blackburn) in Dallas.  Tickets are $30-40 and can be purchased online at www.uptownplayers.org or by phone at (214) 219-2718.

Uptown Players made the move to the historic Kalita Humphreys Theater, former home of the Dallas Theater Center, in January and will now be presenting its entire 2010 season in this larger venue. For more information, visit www.uptownplayers.org.

About Uptown Players:

Now entering its ninth season, Uptown Players has gathered a dedicated following with an annual audience base of more than 12,000 patrons, including nearly 1,000 season subscribers. The response from the community and critics has been remarkable, including more than 25 Leon Rabin Awards from the Dallas Theatre League, several hundred “The Column” Awards and 15 Theatre Critics Forum Awards in its first seven seasons. Uptown Players has also been named the best theatre company by the Dallas Voice Readers Awards for the past three years and by the Dallas Observer in 2004 and 2005. Uptown Players is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, presenting plays and musicals that challenge audiences artistically, build cultural bridges, and strive to create greater positive public awareness and acceptance through the performing arts. There is no other theater group with this unique mission in the Dallas area.

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Media Contact: Nina Koch
nina@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

TBG’s design of Little River Casino Resort is in the June 2010 issue of Indian Gaming Magazine, the official publication of the American Indian Gaming Industry.
Read the full story

DALLAS, July 19, 2010 – The new 17Seventeen McKinney and Park 17 mixed-use project, designed by landscape architecture and planning firm TBG Partners’ Dallas office and Dallas-based Good Fulton & Farrell, has officially opened. The development is one of the largest mixed-use projects in Uptown Dallas, one of Dallas/Fort Worth’s most dynamic and desirable commercial and residential locales. The two buildings, a 19-story office tower (17Seventeen McKinney) and a 25-story residential tower (Park 17), are connected by a six-level parking garage podium topped with a one-acre amenity pool deck and roof garden. The project also includes 15,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space wrapping three sides of the block.

A signature element of the project, the one-acre rooftop deck on the 7^th floor (on top of the parking garage) allows both office and residential occupants to take advantage of an incomparable space, including the ability to work outside using its Wi-Fi access, dine or drink in an open-air setting, or simply enjoy the dramatic, unobstructed views of Dallas’ urban fabric. Other amenity deck features include a first-rate, 4,000-square-foot fitness center, an outdoor, infinity-edge swimming pool, tree-lined paths and a lushly landscaped park with gardens.

“Equidistant from the Dallas’ new Victory development and the Arts District, and sited at the crossroads of uptown and downtown, this project is arguably at the epicenter of the new Dallas urban landscape,” said Jim Manskey, a principal in TBG Partners’ Dallas office. “And the fact that we have more than one million square feet on two acres of land exemplifies the complexity of this undertaking.”

The 17Seventeen McKinney office tower recently received pre-certification at the gold level of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, which is the industry’s green building standard. It will be the first LEED Gold high-rise office building in Dallas. The Park 17 residential tower is currently pursuing LEED-NC certification.

Construction began on the 361,542-square-foot 17Seventeen McKinney Class AA office building during the summer of 2008, and, just two years later, the first tenant moved in on July 1, 2010. The concrete, steel and glass high-rise office building overlooks the planned Woodall Rodgers Park and has views of the Dallas skyline, up McKinney Avenue and down Cedar Springs Road. The ground-floor lobby is finished with polished wood, travertine, granite and limestone and is decorated with works from Texas artists. The tower’s exterior also features captivating visuals that include a 32-foot-wide LED illuminated glass panel capable of changing colors in accord with seasons, community happenings and special events. The tower’s 17^th floor includes a 1,519-square-foot terrace cut into the top of the building.

The 292-unit Park 17 residential apartment building also broke ground in the summer of 2008 and moved in its first residents in July 2010. Project team members say that its luxurious amenities – such as oversized balconies, 10-foot ceilings, eight-foot doors and views of the Trinity River, Victory Park, Uptown and the future Woodall Rodgers Park – are the main features that will draw Dallas residents to reside in the building.  Its exterior also features concrete, stone and aluminum finishes.

Designed with sustainability as a guiding principle, the project demonstrates contemporary urban design’s emphasis on community connectivity and development density. The frontage along Cedar Springs Road, Akard Street and McKinney Avenue is planted with native trees and elegantly landscaped sidewalks to enhance pedestrian movement. The project also flanks the Woodall Rodgers Freeway in downtown and will have spectacular views of the future Santiago Calatrava-designed bridges at the Trinity River. The parking garage also has a section below-grade for private residential parking and a separate section above-grade for joint use between the project’s residential, office and retail components. The landscaped amenity deck, along with the tree-lined streets, establishes exemplary open space and enhanced outdoor urban living space. In addition, access to public transportation is provided at the corner of McKinney Avenue and Akard Street via the McKinney Avenue Trolley and regional Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) bus lines. Preferred parking is given to low-emitting vehicles, carpools and fuel-efficient vehicles, changing rooms and bicycle storage is available to occupants of both towers, and the native landscaping helps conserve precious water resources.

Other specific factors contributing to its LEED certification include the following:

Sustainable Site

• Sustainable Site Selection – The site is a previously developed paved parking lot;
• Development Density & Community Connectivity – ½ mile radius includes the Arts District, Uptown, Victory Park, the Crescent and the West End;
• Brownfield Redevelopment – The site is on the edge of the Victory Park redevelopment, which is a nationally recognized EPA exemplary brownfield redevelopment;
• Public Transportation Access – The site is within ½ mile of DART, TRE and MATA services;
• Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms – The project is providing 14 bike racks and five showers;
• Low Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles – The project is providing 50 preferred parking spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles;
• Parking Capacity – The project is sharing parking spaces between the office and residential towers to minimize the number of parking spaces provided;
• Protect and Restore Native Habitat – The landscaped 7th floor amenity deck provides more native habitat than there is site outside of the building footprint;
• Maximize Open Space – The open space at the amenity deck plus the open space at street level equals 43% of the site area;
• Non-Roof Heat Island Effect – The project includes 100% covered parking;
• Roof Heat Island Effect – The project includes 100% light-colored roofing materials;
• Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines – Design and construction guidelines have been developed for the future tenants including requirements to meet LEED-CI certification.

Water Efficiency

• Water Efficient Landscaping – 62% of the plant material will be drought-tolerant native and adapted species, irrigated with an evapo-transpiration controller and a drip-irrigation system;
• Water Use Reduction – Plumbing fixtures will be selected to exceed the 30% level based on LEED version 2.2 requirements and meet the 30% level for LEED version 3 requirements.

Energy and Atmosphere

• Enhanced Commissioning – In addition to the commissioning agent’s involvement during the design process, the facilities management team is receiving training prior to the completion of construction;
• Enhanced Refrigerant Management – Refrigerants are not being used on the project;
• Measurement & Verification (M&V) of Base Building – The M&V Plan will be applied to the overall building energy use;
• Green Power – 35% of power purchased for the building will come from renewable resources.

Materials and Resources

• Recycled Content – The project is being constructed with materials that include 22% recycled content;
• Regional Materials – 41% of the project’s building materials are from regional resources.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring – Carbon Dioxide monitoring will be provided for all densely occupied spaces and 15% additional air will be provided for non-densely occupied spaces;
• Increased Ventilation – The HVAC system will include a Building Management System (BMS) that adjusts the Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes to provide increased ventilation as needed;
• Construction IAQ Management Plan During Construction – The contractor is following the IAQ Management Plan during construction with new filters provided prior to occupancy;
• Low-Emitting Materials
  • Adhesives and Sealants – The project has been designed and built to use low-VOC adhesives and sealants;
  • Paints and Coatings – The project has been designed and built to use low-VOC paints and coatings;
  • Carpet Systems – The project has been designed and built to use low-VOC carpet systems;
  • Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products – The project has been designed and built to use composite wood products that contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins.
• Thermal Comfort Design – The project is designed to meet the ASHRAE Standard 55 – 2004 Guidelines.
• Daylight & Views
  • Using the Glazing Factor Calculation Method, 81% of the occupied space is day-lit to a minimum level of 2% glazing factor;
  • From a seated position, views to the outdoors will be available to 91% of the occupied spaces.

Innovation in Design

• Exemplary Performance SSc5.1 was achieved for the protection and restoration of native habitat due to the large amount of native and adapted plant material at the amenity deck;
• Exemplary Performance SSc5.2 was achieved for the maximization of open space due to the large amount of open space at the amenity deck;
• Exemplary Performance SSc7.1 was achieved for the reduction of non-roof heat island effect by parking 100% of the vehicles for the project under cover;
• Exemplary Performance MRc5 was achieved for the use of regional building materials by exceeding the 40% level of regional materials;
• LEED Accredited Professionals – The majority of team members involved in the project’s design were LEED Accredited Professionals.

In addition to Dallas-based Good Fulton & Farrell as the architect and TBG Partners’ Dallas office as the landscape architect and site planner, other project team members include Dallas-based Austin Commercial as the general contractor; Dallas-based Pacheco Koch as the civil engineer;  Dallas-based L.A. Fuess Partners, Inc. as the structural engineer; Dallas-based JJA, Inc. as the mechanical engineer; Dallas-based Granite Properties as the developer for the office building; and Dallas-based Gables Residential as the developer for the residential building.

ABOUT TBG PARTNERS

As one of the top landscape architecture and planning firms in the Southwest, TBG Partners designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With a strong commitment to the advancement of sustainable design principles, TBG encourages its employees to become LEED Accredited Professionals and its clients to utilize green building practices for their projects. Established in 1987, TBG has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.tbg-inc.com.

ABOUT GRANITE PROPERTIES

Formed in 1991, Granite Properties is a privately held commercial real estate company with offices in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Denver. Granite Properties owns and operates more than 10 million square feet of real estate, consisting of a diversified product base of office, industrial and retail, both through acquisition and development.  Granite also has been recognized as one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies by Inc. magazine and as the 2008 Developer of the Year by the North Texas chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). For more information, please visit www.graniteproperties.com

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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191