First LEED-Certified Residential Complex Completed

St. Paul, MN, June 5, 2007--McGough Companies has said that Reflections at Bloomington Central Station (Reflections), the multi-unit housing complex the firm developed and constructed in Bloomington, Minnesota, has been awarded LEED certification for new construction (LEED-NC) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED® is the USGBC's internationally recognized green building rating system that provides a framework for designing and constructing sustainable, energy-efficient, high-performance buildings.

The USGBC's decision makes Reflections the first LEED-certified housing complex in Minnesota and places it among the first LEED-certified, for-sale, multi-unit residential projects in the United States. This award also demonstrates the success of McGough's "Bright Green Center of Excellence," which the firm established to deliver sustainable development, construction, and facility management solutions.

Reflections was designed by Architects Alliance of Toronto, Canada in concert with local firms: ESG Architects; URS Corporation; oslund.and.assoc.; The Weidt Group; Schadegg Mechanical, Inc.; and others. Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc. was the commissioning agent. McGough and these project partners closely collaborated to ensure that Reflections would meet or exceed LEED standards for efficient, economical, and effective use of energy, lighting, water, and materials.

LEED Certification of Reflections was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

A high-performance, glass curtainwall exterior that:

·         Mitigates noise from the nearby airport.

·         Provides abundant natural daylight and fantastic views of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge to the south and the Downtown Minneapolis skyline to the north.

·         Is well-sealed and well-insulated to reduce energy costs for residents.

·         A sophisticated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) that constantly circulates and filters air so that the air inside the buildings is cleaner than that outside of them.

Immediate access to Light Rail Transit (LRT).

·         Reflections is the first residential phase of a 54-acre Transit Oriented Development (TOD) aimed at reducing reliance on automobiles.

·         Reflections is the first suburban development linked to the LRT System.

 A strategic stormwater management system that naturally filters rainwater as it flows through the site and into the Minnesota River Valley.

 Attractive landscaping that requires half the irrigation levels typically used by similar developments.

 Efficient acquisition of materials. To the greatest degree possible, construction materials were secured from locations within a 500 mile radius of the site to reduce the amount of energy needed to transport them.

 Creative integration of recycled materials.

·         Building systems and components, from the concrete structure to the aluminum exterior frame, include recycled content. For example, slag, a byproduct of steel manufacturing, was used in the concrete mix.

·         Recycled rebar, drywall, and steel were used as part of the construction.

·         The rubber subfloor selected to provide soundproofing between levels is made from recycled car tires.

 Waste reduction during construction.

·         McGough reserved an area on this tightly constrained site for sorting of construction waste.

·         This made it possible for crews to recycle materials that otherwise would have been sent to landfill.

"McGough, the City of Bloomington, and all members of the Reflections Project Team should be congratulated for achieving LEED Certification," said USGBC President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. "This sends a message that they care about the health of Reflections' residents as well as about the impact this development has on the surrounding environment and its community. Reflections will be a showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy buildings and an inspiration for others."

McGough will officially announce that Reflections has achieved LEED-NC certification during the Grand Opening Ceremony for Central Park at Bloomington Central Station that will be held on June 6, 2007 at the Park from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.