The Millennium Uptown Becomes First LEED Platinum Midrise Apartments in Houston

HOUSTON TX--(Marketwired - Jul 31, 2013) - The Millennium Uptown, a brand-new luxury apartment community in the Uptown Galleria area of Houston, received the city's first ever LEED for Homes Platinum certification for a multifamily midrise project. Platinum is the highest achievable rating in the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) internationally-recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

"This is a great accomplishment and something we are very proud of. As a company, one of our many goals is to develop the most sustainable, livable, and energy efficient properties possible, not just for our residents, but for the community as a whole. This LEED Platinum Certification is a true testament to what can be achieved through efficient design and quality construction," says Brad Dinerstein, Executive Vice President of The Dinerstein Companies. Dinerstein says the project, a joint-venture between the Houston-based Dinerstein Cos and an affiliate of Heitman LLC of Chicago, was initially expected to earn a LEED-Gold rating but achieved enough points for the higher Platinum level through careful changes during the construction phase.

Located at 2525 McCue, within walking distance to The Galleria, BLVD Place, and the new BBVA Compass Plaza, The Millennium Uptown offers 1-3 bedroom luxury apartments and 3-bedroom townhomes for rent. A long list of green features including Energy Star windows and appliances, energy efficient lighting, air-conditioning, and heating, a high efficiency irrigation system and drought tolerant landscaping, controlled fresh air ventilation, in addition to its walkability, helped achieve the coveted LEED Platinum rating. By virtue of the property's LEED Platinum design, residents will enjoy cleaner indoor air-quality as well as significantly reduced utility bills.

According to Kelsey Mullen, Director of Residential Building Development with the USGBC, "As a LEED-certified Platinum building, The Millennium Uptown at 2525 McCue Street serves as a model of greener living for the entire community. This building is at the national forefront of quality; and this example set by The Dinerstein Companies can help us all to live better by reducing our environmental footprint, cutting our utility bills, and coming home to a healthier place to live."

The certification is one of several LEED firsts for the award-winning Dinerstein Cos. After adopting USGBC's LEED standards in 2008, Dinerstein set multiple firsts in the multifamily housing industry, including LEED for Homes Gold at four new student housing communities across the company, an unprecedented achievement. In 2011, The Millennium Waterway Ave became the first LEED Silver certified apartments in The Woodlands TX. The Dinerstein Companies also developed the first LEED Silver certified luxury apartments in California's San Fernando Valley. Dinerstein currently has two other projects under construction in the Houston-area -- The Millennium High Street on Westheimer near Highland Village and The Millennium Six Pines in The Woodland's Waterway District -- that were designed to LEED-Gold specifications.

For more information about The Millennium Uptown or to schedule a tour, click here or call 713.960.4970. 

About The Dinerstein Companies:
Founded in 1955, the Houston-based Dinerstein Companies is a full-service real estate and development company that has developed over 50,000 apartments in 26 states. Dinerstein is dedicated to creating healthier, cleaner, more sustainable homes and encourages building beyond green.

About Heitman LLC:
Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Chicago, Heitman is a global real estate investment management firm with approximately $27 billion in assets invested directly and indirectly in real estate in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The firm's clients include institutions, pension plans, endowments and foundations, and individual investors.