Minneapolis Companies Create Living Model of A Healthy Building to Demonstrate Cost-Savings & Environmental Impact of Sustainable Building Design & Property Management

Cities Management Inc., "Recycles" Old Office Building with Dramatic Waste & Energy Reductions, Cleaner Indoor Air, Non-polluting Carpets, Paints, Certified Smart Wood & Even a Worm Bin for Composting

Minneapolis, MN, January 29, 1997-- Cities Management Inc. (CMI), has created a living model of a "healthy building" at 2817 Wayzata Blvd. new downtown Minneapolis. The completely revamped 5,100 square feet of office space has been basically recycled to illustrate the cost-savings and environmental impact of sustainable building design and property management. the forest green painted exterior and rejuvenating interior office serve as the headquarters for CMI.

Built to demonstrate that people don't need to work or live in buildings that literally make them sick, the space features some of the latest principles of building wellness (sustainable office setting). The building boasts carpeting and paints that emit low level volatile organic compounds (VOCs)., a HEPA and CPZ grade air cleaning system to improve indoor air quality, increased use of natural light and retro-fitted electrical lighting (all compact fluorescents which netted a NSP rebate of more than $1,000.00), recycled doors, door frames, the use of certified Smart Wood by Colonial Craft (a locally based company that promoted sustainable timber harvests and wood products made from same), water-saving showers and toilets, purified water and even a worm bin in the kitchen area to make compost from food waste by staff lunches and snacks.

"The total cost of the project, including building acquisition and renovations, came to $290,000 or $57.00 per square foot," according to Tim Broms, Vice President of CMI. "We know these figures represent substantial savings upfront and down the road compared to many design and/or construction and renovation projects, since we see savings and rebates in many of the line items such as in using recycled materials, non-polluting construction materials and lighting."

"As a company interested in cost-savings and as a citizen concerned about renewable resources, wellness issues and sustainable living, we thought we needed a demonstration project first to create awareness about the 'do-ability' of creating a healthy work environment and secondly to show clients and other businesses that there are long-term and short-term cost benefits to be had from sustainable practices," said Kim Carlson, president of CMI, and a 1996 appointee of Governor Carlson to the Minnesota Round Table on Sustainable Development (the first of its kind in the country).

"We wanted a building that would be 'above compliance' in any given regulatory or environmental audit, one that not only makes us feel good but that helps raise everyone's awareness about the things people can do to make a building well while also being environmentally smart and fiscally responsible," added Doug Mosow, the Environmental Director of CMI, which also started The Green Earth Initiative in 1994 in select properties that it manages throughout the Twin Cities. The company subsequently was recognized in 1995 with an Annual Environmental Initiative Award given by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, Minnesota Monthly and the law firm of Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly.

Cities Management, Inc., has annual revenues of $1.2 million and oversees a portfolio of more than 4,000 residential units and several commercial sites. Cities Management also provides services to other property management firms, individual homeowners and the construction market. For more information, or to interview Carlson or Mosow, please call Martin Keller at (612) 729-8585.