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Hines Polishes Off UTC Landmark, a 14-Story Office Tower

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the first high-rise constructed in University Towne Center in more than 15 years.

Hines is hosting an official opening of La Jolla Commons Office Tower, a “green” landmark owned by Hines and TIAA-CREF, a national financial services firm, on Sept. 18.

The 14-story, 300,000-square-foot structure is located on La Jolla Village Drive near Interstate 805.

“Because we are delivering a standout product in a market that doesn’t have any other new buildings, it has really allowed us to attract all types of tenants,” said Paul Twardowski, San Diego vice president of the Houston-based real estate management company. “We have delivered a state-of-the-art building that is efficient and we are confident the market will embrace it.”

This is the firm’s first office project locally.

The firm owns 525 B St., a 22-story office building downtown, and built Tony Gwynn Stadium and athletic center at San Diego State University. It also is the facility manager at Petco Park.

“Most people know Hines as an office building developer even though we have done almost every type of project,” said Twardowski. “Building in San Diego was extremely important to us.”

Twardowski said La Jolla Commons was built with quality materials, quality design and quality construction.

“We think that will be reflected in our leasing velocity and leasing rates and satisfaction of our clients, which are our tenants,” he said.


Pre-Leases Take Off

Already the office high-rise is 18 percent pre-leased. Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP was the first tenant to sign. The international law office is scheduled to move in late October from Del Mar Heights.

Carl Sanchez, chair of Paul Hastings’ San Diego office, has said expansion to a larger office demonstrates its long-term commitment to the local business community and growing its core practice areas including technology and life sciences.

Hines is also in lease negotiations with several potential tenants.

The building was pre-certified “silver” by the U.S. Green Building Council based on plans that satisfied numerous environmental and high-performance requirements.

LEED certification serves as the benchmark for green and sustainable development.

Hines is recognized as one of the largest green and sustainable commercial builders in the United States, with 75 projects certified, pre-certified or in the application process.

Twardowski said Hines constantly reviews which cutting-edge construction and building technologies make sense for both the environment and its tenants.

“The best technologies are those that are the right thing environmentally and the right thing for business tenants and this building achieves both of those,” said Twardowski.


Environment In Mind

For example, construction waste was sorted and recycled on site during construction. Water and electrical systems will save tenants on utility bills. La Jolla Commons will use 20 percent of the fresh water a comparable office building would use. It was also constructed with a coated glass that lets in light but keeps out heat.

The San Diego office of Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. served as the general contractor and ARB Inc. of Lake Forest as the general contractor for the parking structure. Construction started in November 2006.

San Diego-based Spurlock Poirier Landscape Architects was the project’s landscape architect and DMJM H & N; of Los Angeles was the architect.

Rick Reeder and David Odmark of Grubb & Ellis|BRE Commercial are marketing the project.

Numerous professional and trade organizations will be touring the newest office building in UTC over the next few weeks.

The San Diego chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties will host a tour of office properties in Central San Diego, including a stop at La Jolla Commons on Sept. 20.

The local chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women will host a tour Sept. 23.

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