By Lookout Staff
October 20, 2009 -- When Santa Monica Place reopens next August, it will not only boast high-end shops and eateries, it could be poised to become one of the greenest urban shopping malls in the country.
Macerich, which owns the three-decade-old mall, is targeting LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a designation that demonstrates a building project is truly "green," company officials said last week.
From recycling and reusing the building itself to tearing the roof off the air-conditioned mall to adding a solar roof to the tenant areas, the ambitious remodel uses many of the key features that make a building environmentally friendly, officials said.
 |
| Open air court (Image courtesy of Macerich) |
“Santa Monica is one of the most environmentally forward-thinking communities anywhere, and our focus on sustainability aligns us with the interests of our shoppers, which is important to us,” said Bob Aptaker, vice president of development for Macerich.
“We believe the most sustainable building is one that already exists, and our decision to reuse and redesign the existing structure was our first significant step among many.”
The company, Aptaker said, wanted to be environmentally responsible and salvaged as much of the structure as possible, diverting more than 90 percent of the construction waste -- or more than 68.5 million pounds -- from landfills.
“It would have been easier to tear it down and just start over,” Aptaker said during a tour of the construction site last year.
 |
| Bob Aptaker during tour of construction site last year. (Lookout photo) |
The major remodel will open up the monolithic 550,000-square-foot structure by increasing available open space so shoppers can enjoy an open sky and diners take in a sweeping view of the Pacific. The design also connects the structure to neighboring streets with pedestrian walkways and offers preferential parking for alternative fuel vehicles.
In addition, the redeveloped mall will use water-efficient landscaping and reduce water use throughout the center by taking advantage of available technologies. It also will utilize low-emitting paints, adhesives, carpets, coating and other materials.
By making the center court open-air, adding the solar roof and reducing some other common area loads, primarily lighting, Macerich expects to save enough energy to power 90 homes, officials said.
“Our approach to redeveloping Santa Monica Place is part of our portfolio-wide efforts to heighten sustainability at all of our properties and corporate offices,” said Jeff Bedell, vice president of sustainability for Macerich.
“Not only does this make good financial sense because of the operating savings, but our company sees this as the right thing to do.”
