NCR Global Headquarters, managed by Cousins Properties, received the 2022 Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award from CRE Insight Journal. The award recognizes a building or building complex that has undertaken significant environmental sustainability efforts and/or has achieved long-term success in environmental sustainability.

NCR Global Headquarters, located at Spring and 8^th Street in Atlanta, Georgia, is a 765,000-square-foot property that serves as NCR’s corporate headquarters. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) develops, owns, and manages a portfolio of more than 20-million square feet across Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Tampa, and Phoenix.

A Culture of Conservation

NCR Global Headquarters implemented several successful sustainability measures, such as introducing aggressive recycling and composting programs, using green-friendly products, and educating staff on energy conservation and sustainability. Preventative maintenance programs are in place to monitor the efficiency of equipment and building systems. As a result, the building has been able to reduce energy consumption by 40 percent compared to traditional buildings.

The building’s HVAC system also plays a crucial role in conserving energy, with the Dedicated Outside Air Supply supplying more than 25,000 cubic feet per minute of conditioned outside air and reducing the use of larger air handling units. Additionally, over 400 solar panels installed above the parking deck can produce 120kVA AC power to the bus duct, allowing the building to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel-generated power. The building generated 164.22 MWh in 2022.

“We have taken various steps and implemented a number of programs by partnering with service providers and bringing them onboard,” explained Blair Powell, Cousins Properties, Assistant Property Manager at NCR Global Headquarters. “We are really big on educating staff on energy conservation and overall sustainability, and it’s what we will continue to do.”

Outside of their incredible conservation efforts, has been highly awarded for their efforts, achieving a 2022 ENERGY STAR Score of 93, a BOMA 360 certification in October 2022, LEED Platinum in Core and Shell in 2018, and LEED Platinum in Commercial Interiors in 2020. The property was the first LEED platinum in Core & Shell in Georgia, and the first double platinum in the Southeast. It has also received the BOMA Georgia The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Award for a Corporate Facility in 2022, the 2022 BOMA Southern Region TOBY Award for Corporate Facility, and the Most Intelligent Building Award in 2018 from the Intelligent Buildings Conference.

Recycling Projects

By using reclaimed water to conserve water usage, the property has reduced 85 percent of potable water usage by collecting reclaimed water from rainwater; rooftop air handling units’ condensation; and nuisance groundwater. The management team has also created a highly successful glass recycling program, which has recycled approximately 600 pounds of glass since October of 2022.

“We spoke with our tenant about how we wanted to proceed,” explained the Senior Property Manager at NCR Global Headquarters, Ashley Simien, CPM, BOMI HP, with Cousins Properties. “It took a few months to implement, but it is one of the things we are super proud of at the building. I believe at this point, we have done the program for about a quarter and recycled over 4,000 pounds of compost.”

Cousins Properties also partnered with food provider partners at NCR Global Headquarters for composting efforts, diverting more than 4,000 pounds of food waste from landfills with back of house composting. The building also participated in fluorescent light bulb recycling, recycling 422 lamps in 2022.

The building transitioned its cleaning contractor in July 2022 and introduced a green cleaning program, ensuring that all products and equipment used on-site are sustainable and mindful of hazardous chemicals that could impact air quality, health, and the environment.

The management team has engaged tenants to help them better understand their impact on environmental sustainability, hosting an annual Earth Day event to provide practical tips and eco-friendly products such as LED bulbs, succulent plants, wildflower seeds, and microfiber cloths.

Through its dedication to energy efficiency, effective recycling initiatives, green cleaning programs, and strong tenant engagement and education, NCR Global Headquarters, managed by Cousins Properties, has received the 2022 Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award from CRE Insight Journal.

Commercial Real Estate Insight Journal is the leading, on-demand resource for real estate professionals. It features a rapidly growing collection of real estate industry insight recorded in articles, webinars, publications, and videos. The CRE Insight Journal Awards program recognizes excellence in the real estate industry in areas such as tenant care; environmental sustainability; collaborative service; thought leadership; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and more.

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