Swinerton Builders Starts Work Certified Green Hotel

July 05, 2005
(San Francisco, CA)

Swinerton Builders recently broke ground on the Orchard Garden Hotel, one of the first hotels in the U.S. to seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is a green building rating system administered by the U.S. Green Building Council that promotes sustainable building practices; sustainable site development; water savings, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

The Orchard Garden will be a sister property to the Orchard Hotel at 665 Bush St, another Swinerton project. Both hotels are developed by Mrs. S.C. Huang and managed by Coastal Hotel Group, a privately held Seattle-based hotel management company specializing in small luxury hotels, resorts, inns and lodges.

Design by AI Architects of San Francisco and Scheduled to open in Summer 2006 the Orchard Garden Hotel will consist of a ten-story building with a total of 55,751 square feet. The hotel will feature 86 guestrooms, a fitness center, boardroom, rooftop garden, and restaurant.

"To have one of the first green hotels here in San Francisco demonstrates the viability of green design construction," said Swinerton Builders Green Team Leader Bill Krill. "The hotel's developer, Mrs. S.C. Huang, pursued a LEED-NC certification for several important reasons," states General Manager Stefan Mühle. "Studies prove that LEED certified buildings have lower operating costs, higher employee productivity, and happier, healthier occupants. We're extremely proud to set a nation-wide example with the development of this landmark hotel project in the city of San Francisco."

With offices throughout California and the West, Swinerton Builders is one of the leading general contractors in the U.S. Swinerton's notable projects include the new deYoung Museum and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. For more information on Swinerton Builders Green Building Programs please visit www.swinertongreen.com. For more information on Green Building please visit www.USGBC.org

CONTACT:
Swinerton Builders
Will Cannell
Marketing Manager
415.984.1247
wcannell@swinerton.com