World’s Largest Fortune Creating® Architecture and “Designed to Meet LEED Platinum” Office Building Opens in Nation’s Capital Area

Washington, D.C., August 13, 2008 – The Tower Companies (TowerCompanies.com) the largest Green Builder in the Nation’s Capital area and one of ten carbon neutral companies in the U.S., and Lerner Enterprises (LernerEnterprises.com) Washington, D.C.’s largest private real estate developer, announce their delivery of the building of the future – 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard (TowerOaks.com) in Rockville, MD, which combines the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) “Designed to Meet LEED Platinum” criteria with the world’s largest application of Fortune Creating® Architecture and making it the healthiest building ever built.

Kishimoto, Gordon, Dalaya, PC (KGD) (KGDArchitecture.com), designed the structure in consultation with architect Jon Lipman with Fortune Creating® Buildings (VedicArchitecture.org) which is built on the Vedic principals of orientation, placement and proportion, and determines how the building relates to the body, mind and the environment to improve the occupant’s health, enhance job performance and success.

“The best buildings are those that make us feel good and at their highest can elevate your success. Tower’s vision transcends beyond green to creating super-charged healthy environments that are assets for the business, generate return on rent and become a rewarding work experience,” states Jeffrey S. Abramson, a partner of The Tower Companies, “and Fortune Creating® Architecture will revolutionize the industry stimulating the next evolution of green.”

“After almost six decades in the industry, our company continues to embrace modern concepts that go beyond the expected and are ahead of the competition and, we believe 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard delivers a world-class downtown corporate experience with an uptown address,” says Mark D. Lerner, a principal of Lerner Enterprises.   Lerner recently introduced LEED Gold certified, 20 M Street, SE, a 10-story, 190,000-square foot office building planned as part of the revitalization of the Capital Riverfront neighborhood surrounding the Washington Navy Yard and Nationals Park, America’s greenest ballpark.  20 M Street  was the first office building in the city to achieve this certification level for Core and Shell.

The 200,000 square foot building’s green efficiencies are “Designed to Earn ENERGY STAR” and reduce energy consumption by 41%, water consumption by 48%; the HVAC system is 30% more efficient than for typical offices; a four-stage air filtration system circulates 30% more outside air, turns over every 51 minutes and removes 85% of airborne pollutants.  Furthermore, 90% of occupants have outside views, 74% have natural daylight, CO2 monitoring increases fresh air when necessary and there is “night sky” protection; no light pollution leaves the site; electromagnetic field (EMF) shielding.  Eighty percent (80%) of all electric equipment is Energy Star-rated, 50% of the materials are manufactured within a 500-mile radius; 75% of the construction waste is recycled.  Over 17,000 drought resistant plantings of trees, ornamental grasses and bulbs compliment the buildings’ landscape in the park-like setting, located along the I-270 Technology Corridor.

The exquisite office building features commissioned art and sculpture in public spaces, luxurious restrooms, a 30-foot lit onyx wall in the lobby, a 2,500 square foot fitness facility, including lockers, showers and Pilates exercise room, and an on-site café which will sell organic and healthy fare.

The Tower Companies’ new headquarter offices are “Designed to Meet LEED” Platinum by KGD and adorned with three sky gardens, original art, and a meditation room. The sun-filled space uses half of the lighting load of most typical offices today. The kitchen features dishes, glasses and floors of recycled glass, corn paper products, bamboo cabinetry, and fresh herb garden; insulation is made from blue jean scraps, composite wood and agrifbre door cores are used throughout and are formaldehyde free, 50% of all wood used for millwork is certified by The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international network promoting responsible management of the world’s forests; 60% recycled ceiling tiles are used throughout; Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certified furniture from Knoll and Technion complete the sophisticated office décor.

The Tower Companies is a winner of the 2008 USGBC of the National Capital Area, Firm of the Year, 2008 Washington Business Journal Green Company of the Year, 2008 Washingtonian Magazine Corporate Green Award and 2007 DC Chamber of Commerce Corporation of the Year.

Lerner Enterprises moves into their new eco-smart and sophisticated 46,000 square foot LEED Gold corporate headquarters at 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard in October, 2008.

Delegations from around the world are visiting 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard because it is the first building to go beyond green to increase workforce success and business growth.  The media are invited to tour and experience 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Lisboa-Farrow/The Oliver Group, Inc./202.494.1977.