The 66,800 square foot, four-story building, which is owned by Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and managed by NAI FMA Realty, was certified under the Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB:O&M) rating system. Meridian Park achieved LEED certification for energy and water use reduction, material and resource conservation and improved indoor environmental quality, as well as a variety of other sustainable strategies.

“At Ameritas, we believe it’s important to take prudent steps to operate our properties in a thoughtful and efficient manner, and with a respect for the environment. Meridian Park is a property Ameritas built in the mid-1980s, but much has changed since that time. With the updates made at Meridian Park, this was an excellent opportunity for us to strive for the LEED designation. We have other investment properties around the country as well, where we have taken steps to obtain LEED certification,” said Jon Weinberg, vice president of real estate of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.

To gain LEED certification the project partners, Davis Design and NAI FMA completed a number of initiatives, including:

• The installation of a new Chiller, which saves $3,800 annually in building energy costs and helped raise the building’s ENERGY STAR rating to 83.
• A Water Audit that led to a 68% reduction in the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
• Two Tenant Meetings held to educate and engage the Tenants in Sustainable Purchasing, Recycling and completion of the Occupant Comfort Survey.
• The Maxim Healthcare Tenant Renovation where the contractor recycled 77% of the construction demolition waste, complied with an IAQ Management Plan during construction and 80.4% of all materials purchased met sustainable criteria. 
• And the Lincoln Green By Design Public Tour, hosted in April 2010 to educate the community about LEED EB: O&M.

ABOUT AMERITAS

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., its subsidiaries and affiliates offer a wide range of insurance and financial services to individuals, families and businesses nationwide. Products and services include life insurance; annuities; group dental, eye care and hearing care insurance; investments; retirement plans and public financing. Securities are offered through Ameritas Investment Corp., member FINRA/SIPC. For more information, visit www.ameritas.com.

ABOUT NAI FMA REALTY

NAI FMA Realty is a locally owned full-service commercial real estate firm within the NAI Global network providing client-focused solutions. Our extensive services include: multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant/buyer representation, lease administration, accounting, investment services, due diligence, property management, facility maintenance, and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.naifmarealty.com.

ABOUT DAVIS DESIGN

The origin of Davis Design can be traced to the formation of the partnership of George Berlinghof and Ellery L. Davis back in 1912. Almost 100 years after our founding, we are pleased to have provided design services longer than any other firm in the region through offices in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska.

We have continued to grow and develop to provide innovative and enduring design in the fields of healthcare, education, commerce, finance, industry, government, the arts and religion. A full service design firm, we offer architecture, engineering and interior design services from our home office in Lincoln and branch offices in Omaha and Vermillion.  

Nearly one-third of our design professionals at Davis Design—architects, engineers, interior designers, construction administrators—are LEED Accredited through the US Green Building Council. Davis Design routinely incorporated energy/environmentally friendly design into both new and renovated facilities, so our clients can maximize the long-term cost effectiveness of their construction dollars and minimize their operating expenses.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting project, approximately 23,000 square feet is available for lease on the top floor.  Contact Chris Vasek or Hank Woods at 402-441-5800.

Meridian Park Office LEED Tour

On Friday, April 16th, Lincoln Green by Design hosted a LEED tour at the Meridian Park Office building to educate the public on Leadership in Energy and Environment Design for an existing building.  The event was well attended and Mayor Chris Beutler was able to make an appearance.  Mayor Beutler thanked Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. for their decision to upgrade Meridian Park’s operations and management to LEED standards and briefly talked about what the city’s efforts are towards a ”Cleaner Greener Lincoln”.  Sponsors for the event included NAI FMA Realty along with Davis Design and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.

Lincoln Green by Design will host a LEED building tour Friday, April 16 at the Meridian Park Office Building.

THE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE TO ATTEND.

Event Sponsors:  NAI FMA Realty, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Davis Design