La Jolla Commons

With several hundred guests in attendance, La Jolla Commons Office Tower was unveiled by its developers and owners, the San Diego office of international developer Hines and its project partner TIAA-CREF. Spicing up the grand opening was news the tower was the region’s first multi-tenant office building to earn LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Among the mediocre events that pass for major office buildings these days, it was a nice affair. It also was no Symphony Towers, One America Plaza or the wild Emerald-Shapery Center. Those were events, not openings. The carbon footprint of those events probably equaled what a floor will operate on in an entire year at La Jolla Commons.

In a celebration of its sparkling energy efficiency, an official with the building council was on hand to bestow the golden honor on Hines. Next a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared the building to be the first in San Diego to receive “Designed to Earn The Energy Star” status. Accepting the honors was Doug Holte, Hines West region partner.

Guests were treated to a wide array of food, both tray passed and from stations - the gourmet macaroni bar was quite popular - along with an open bar. A raffle was held with one winner getting an expensive TEK bicycle - the building has special lockers for those who ride to work - and another a home water purification system about the size of a beefy torpedo.

Paul Twardowski, Hines’ San Diego v.p. who oversaw the project, served as master of ceremonies. Councilman Scott Peters was on hand to lend his congratulations. “I love seeing things finished,” Peters said.

The 13-story, 300,000-square-foot building is located at the intersection of La Jolla Village Drive and Interstate 805. It was constructed using 34 percent recycled content materials and 82 percent of the waste was recycled. A dual water pipe system will provide reclaimed water for toilets, cooling systems and irrigation, reducing the use of fresh water by 87 percent.

Move-ins begin in a month. Paul Hastings has signed a long-term lease for 55,600 square feet. Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial is handling leasing.