New D.C. Multifamily Community Aims for LEED Status

By Lisa Iannucci, Green Building CorrespondentWashington, D.C.–JPI East, a division of Irving, Texas-based JPI,  is developing the first multifamily rental community in Washington, D.C. to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification for new construction.Currently known as Jefferson at Half Street, the development will be a 419-unit luxury multifamily community that will include 12,000 sq.-ft. of retail space and will face Half Street, a popular retail destination in the city. To achieve LEED Silver certification for Jefferson at Half Street, JPI will meet a variety of requirements set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Some of the planned eco-friendly measures include low-flow bathroom fixtures; Energy Star appliances and programmable thermostats; central plant mechanical systems (providing 40-50 percent energy savings); low-e windows; commercial-grade high-quality air filters; eco-friendly paints and carpets; and a green roof. The project is part of Capitol Yards, JPI’s master-planned development situated between the U.S. Capitol and the new Washington National Ballpark, which includes a $210 million project with two towers containing 448 and 246 units respectively, to be completed in mid-2008. 237 units and 6,000 sq.-ft. of retail, an additional 421 residential units and up to 35,000 sq.-ft. of retail space will be built on another site.Other features include a large outdoor pool and spa, Internet café, coffee bar, fitness facility, dog park, rooftop outdoor movie theater, club room with bar and billiards, urban studio apartments and two-story loft units with dramatic 18-ft. vertical windows.JPI will break ground on Jefferson at Half Street in September 2008 and the first units will be available by June of 2010.