McWhinney's Lake Vista Lifestyle Community Awarded LEED® for Homes Certification

March 22, 2012 Posted In

LOVELAND, COLO. — March 22, 2012— McWhinney completed the construction of Lake Vista, a 303-unit luxury apartment community located at Centerra on the eastern shores of Equalizer Lake, in 2011. McWhinney designed and built this project with OZ Architecture from Boulder and Denver-based Shaw Construction. A one-of-a-kind premier lifestyle community sits on 15-acres providing residents with quality of life that incorporates elements of sustainable features and community amenities. Lake Vista at Centerra recently obtained LEED Silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Provider, EnergyLogic rating system which is the first LEED for homes certification in Northern Colorado.
The LEED rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for working with eligible LEED for Homes projects and administering a team of Green Raters who, together with the Provider organizations, verify that homes are built to meet the rigorous requirements of the LEED for Homes Rating System.
Located at 2235 Rocky Mountain Avenue in Loveland, Lake Vistas’ sustainable features were formally recognized this month by the USGBC through the certification process, which is a unique aspect of the LEED for Homes Provider, EnergyLogic program.
While incorporating standard LEED features and reducing carbon footprint under the EnergyLogic categories, McWhinney constructed Lake Vista with an emphasis on residential health, comfort, productivity and preserving the surrounding natural environment. Spectacular lakefront and mountain views, immediate access to miles of trails and walkways adjacent to two lakes, wetlands and open space, wild life viewing, a community garden, maximum natural lighting in residential units and the club house, in addition to energy efficient appliances are key features that support sustainable living at Lake Vista in an environmentally-friendly community.
Lake Vista at Centerra sits on the edge of Equalizer Lake, which is part of a 275-acre environmental preserve thus further reinforcing McWhinney’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable building practices. The community site design provides ample open space separating everyday living from the waterfront, creating environmentally sensitive buffer zones that allow daily commerce to occur without disrupting adjacent wildlife and natural areas.
“McWhinney has set a precedent of building green in Northern Colorado in our Centerra master-planned community. We are proud to have Lake Vista join the official LEED for Homes certification list in addition to our already LEED certified medical and office campus,” said Mike Hill, McWhinney vice president of multifamily development and operations.
“The focus of our efforts has been to create an environment to maximize our residents’ experiences and comfort while being sustainable in our building materials selections and energy efficiency. The LEED Certification formalizes our commitment, but we practice this commitment to sustainability on all of our development projects,” said Chris LaPlante, McWhinney vice president of multifamily design and construction.
For more information, please contact McWhinney at (970) 962-9990.

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