Recently, Charlotte-based Bank of America proudly opened the sterling-green 1 Bank of America Center to much fanfare in Uptown Charlotte. Construction on the 32-story tower commenced several years ago before the historic grand recession began hurting the markets. The adjacent Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte hotel opened prior to the office tower's debut in similar style due to its eco-friendly features.

 

The new office tower desires to achieve LEED Gold certification due to its impressive green options. Beginning with the construction, almost all of the building's construction materials were fabricated and/or delivered from within a 500-mile radius. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to permeate the building, reducing the dependence on artificial light. Individual floor HVAC units allow tenants to set conditions individually, reducing energy costs. Extensive recycling opportunities during construction and usage have saved and will save incalculable amounts of resources from entering landfills.

 

Outside of building construction, the office tower has several conference rooms that are video-conferencing-enabled, ultimately reducing air travel usage and costs. The tower's Urban Atrium features live foliage and restaurants for the public. In conclusion, this new tower, alongside the "green building renaissance" will encourage more developers to build in this green style.