PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Columbia Square, a 313,000-square-foot office building and flagship property in the Melvin Mark Companies real estate portfolio, has been awarded 4 Globes by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) for achievements in green design and sustainable operations. The building was rated under the Green Globes environmental design and assessment tool and the 4 Globes designation is the highest possible rating. Columbia Square is the first existing building in the nation to be awarded the Green Globes prestigious 4 Globes rating and is the first existing building in Oregon to achieve a Green Globes certification at any level. The Green Building Initiative, who own and operate Green Globes in the U.S., is a national not-for-profit organization headquartered in Portland seeking to promote practical green building approaches. Green Globes is the leading environmental assessment tool for existing buildings in North America and is preferred by building owners because it offers an affordable and user-friendly approach to green building certification. "Investments in sustainable practices are good for the environment and a sound business strategy for building owners," said Jim Mark, CEO, Melvin Mark Companies. "They allow us to create high performance work environments for tenants and help us manage our energy costs, which keeps our buildings profitable and competitive. I am proud that our deep commitment to environmentally-friendly practices is recognized by the Green Building Initiative."
