EcoCore Redefines Sustainability in Downtown Des Moines

Our environment is not only a mirror of ourselves, but also a focusing lens on what we can become, noted Lady Bird Johnson, a former first lady and respected conservationist. In Des Moines, this “focusing lens” is integrated into the new EcoCore concept, which is positioning the city’s central business district as one of the world’s most sustainable downtowns.

“We need to be green to compete, and EcoCore reflects a new way of thinking that has a higher environmental standard,” said Suku Radia, Downtown Community Alliance Co-Chair, and president and CEO of Bankers Trust Co.

EcoCore highlights the many ways that downtown Des Moines is inherently a sustainable place in which to do business, with high densities of development, a broad mix of residential and commercial properties, and excellent public transit service. Whether businesses decide to locate in new buildings that were designed and constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards or in newly renovated existing office buildings, their choice is even more environmentally favorable if they choose to locate downtown, Radia said.

“Today we live in an era of higher energy and transportation costs,” he said. “EcoCore is helping building owners assess new ways to remain competitive, such as retrofitting older properties to increase their energy efficiency and lower their operating costs.”
This makes it easier to attract tenants, added Radia, who noted that downtown Des Moines has approximately 1.3 million square feet of vacant office space. In fact, some of today’s highest rent-paying tenants, from large corporations to law firms, are demanding LEED-certified buildings, he said.

Building owners who cater to these desires can command higher rents and benefit from increased occupancy rates. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, which oversees the LEED program, green office buildings can boost occupancy rates by 3.5 percent. Other benefits include reduced operating costs, an average 3 percent increase in building rents and an average 7.5 percent increase in building value.

“We all want to live and work in better, healthier environments, but we know that investments in sustainability must also pay for themselves,” Radia said. “EcoCore is showcasing what is achievable in downtown Des Moines, from new construction to new life for older buildings. As more people choose to work and live downtown, our options keep increasing.”