UBS Tower at One North Wacker earns green certification

CHICAGO -- The UBS Tower at One North Wacker Drive here has earned a LEED-Existing Building certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

One North Wacker is a 1.3 million square foot building at the corner of Wacker Dr. and Madison St. in Chicago’s West Loop submarket. Developed in 2001 by The John Buck Co., the tower predated the LEED-EB program. However, the forethought in building the Class A tower’s advanced systems made achieving certification possible.

Sold in 2002 to a closed-end fund in Germany managed by RREEF, the global alternative investment management business of Deutsche Bank, the building continues to be managed by Buck Management Group, a subsidiary of The John Buck Co.

RREEF, along with the tower’s namesake anchor tenant, UBS, which has approximately 1,800 Chicago-area employees, were significant influences in submitting and achieving the LEED certification.

“Our initial move to the UBS Tower was based on efficiency and the advanced technology of the development, yet the ability to align the environmental stewardship of UBS with the building, only furthers our corporate sustainability objectives,” said Gerry Yumping, UBS director of corporate real estate.

“UBS Tower at One North Wacker is to be congratulated for achieving LEED-EB Certification,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the USGBC. “The certification of the building sends a message that its ownership and management cares about the health of the building’s users and employees. Everyone’s comfort, safety and well-being will benefit from the fresh air and natural daylight.”

UBS is one of the world’s leading financial firms. UBS is a top tier investment banking and securities firm, and one of the largest global asset managers. In Switzerland, UBS is the market leader in retail and commercial banking.

Founded in 1981, The John Buck Co is a privately owned, vertically integrated, full-service real estate company headquartered in Chicago with more than 150 employees. JBC has developed, redeveloped and/or acquired more than 45 properties representing in excess of 28 million square feet of office, retail, hotel and residential projects that have generated more than $10 billion in cumulative transaction volume.