Veolia Energy North America, a leading provider of sustainable energy services and facility operations and management solutions, announced today that the company has entered into an energy provision contract with the developer of the new Four Seasons Hotel and Legg Mason Tower in Baltimore, MD. Designed by California's Hill Glazier Architects and developed by H&S Properties Development Corp., the two newly constructed high-rise skyscrapers are located in Baltimore’s Harbor East between the Marriott Waterfront Hotel and the Spinnaker Bay residential building.
Scheduled to open in Summer 2009, the Legg Mason Tower will help bridge Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and nearby neighborhoods. The Four Seasons Hotel will open in late 2010. As part of its 20+ year agreement with H&S Properties Development Corp., Veolia Energy will provide hot water for heating and domestic hot water production to the two buildings. In addition, chilled water will be used to cool hotel room and common areas, along with entertainment, commercial office and retail space.
“Our partnership with Veolia Energy and access to its district energy system is a great option for us as it streamlines a number of facility and maintenance responsibilities, which allows us to spend more time focusing on the needs of our tenants,” said Michael S. Beatty, President of H&S Properties Development Corp. “As an added bonus, the fact that Veolia Energy’s services increase our overall efficiency creates great alignment with our goals to ensure that our properties are as environmentally sustainable as possible.”
With 256 rooms, the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore will occupy one 370,000 square foot tower. Legg Mason, which is based in Baltimore, will move its headquarters to the new 660,000 square foot tower adjacent to the Four Seasons. Both buildings will sit atop a 1,200-space, underground parking garage. Use of Veolia Energy’s district energy system also eliminates the need for total dependency on boilers, freeing up valuable space and lessening in-house maintenance requirements.
“We are pleased to enter into this long-term partnership with H&S Properties Development, which will give us the opportunity to provide energy services to the Four Seasons and Legg Mason,” said John Gibson, General Manager of Veolia Energy’s Baltimore Operations. “District energy is a proven and highly reliable solution that is used by numerous buildings and facilities throughout Baltimore. Through this contract, we look forward to extending these services to this important waterfront revitalization effort, and to help these developments meet their energy efficiency and sustainability goals.”
District energy plays an integral role in Baltimore’s infrastructure, where Veolia Energy serves approximately 255 commercial, government, institutional and hospitality customers. The heating and cooling systems provide centrally produced steam, hot water and chilled water to customers in the Central Business District and East Baltimore, as well as Inner Harbor East. Fifty percent of the steam delivered to customers is produced by renewable fuel that originates from a waste-to-energy facility.
About Veolia Energy North America
A subsidiary of Veolia Environment, the world’s leading environmental services company, Veolia Energy focuses on controlling energy costs and reducing carbon footprints through energy-efficient, custom solutions. Solutions encompass the production and distribution of highly-reliable thermal energy; on-site operation of customers’ complex equipment to enhance the technical, economic and environmental performance; combined heat and power generation (cogeneration); and the introduction of renewable fuels into the energy mix where it is viable. Veolia Energy serves customers throughout the Continental USA, with a national reach and capability, and owns and operates the largest portfolio of district energy (heating and cooling) networks in the United States. With approximately 335,000 employees globally, Veolia Environment reported revenue of $50 billion in 2008.
About H&S Properties Development Corp.
Formed in 1996 as the real estate affiliate of the highly successful H&S Bakery, H&S Properties specializes in corporate and mixed-use development projects. Current investments range from Class –A commercial office space and luxury residential homes to resort hotels and national/regional retail opportunities. All told, H&S Properties represents over seven million square feet of development on 70 acres of prime waterfront property on Baltimore’s famous harbor.
The company’s signature project – Harbor East – offers five million square feet of upscale, mixed-used development including office, residential, hotel and retail programmed for day and night activity. No other location on the East Coast has such spectacular waterfront views and available acreage, making it one of urban America’s most appealing locations for attracting world-class businesses, retailers and luxury condominium owners.
