AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC), the nation’s leading developer, owner and manager of high-quality student housing, announced today that The Suites at Third, a new student community in Champaign, Illinois opening August 2017 is pursuing LEED Homes Gold certification.
LEED is an initiative from the U.S. Green Building Council that encourages the sustainable planning, construction, maintenance and operation of projects around the world. LEED is the most widely used third-party verification for green buildings, with approximately 1.9 million square feet being certified daily. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several areas that address sustainability issues. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then receives one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
The Suites at Third, located at 707 South Third, is a boutique 251-bed community pedestrian to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus and just one block south of “Green Street,” a hub of retail and student life activity. Suites residents will have access to amenities for academic and personal success, including study lounges and G2B® (high speed internet up to 1 gigabit per bed), an Academic Success Center with iMacs and free printing, a state-of-the-art fitness center with separate yoga room and modern student lounges for resident socialization and interaction.
Sustainability was a driving initiative in the design process with the community targeting LEED Homes Gold designation by the USGBC. Features include low emission paints throughout the community, low flow plumbing fixtures to reduce water usage, light efficiency in all common areas and units, outdoor courtyards for student gathering, and native plants that don’t require irrigation.
“We’re proud to deliver a best-in-class student community that is tracking LEED Homes Gold certification,” said Jim Hopke, American Campus Communities president. “The integration of sustainable features into our projects and the education of our employees and residents on the importance of green living are critical components in creating communities where students love living.”
With over 80 percent of the community preleased, The Suites at Third has received strong market acceptance and has limited spaces remaining. For more information on The Suites at Third or to tour a model apartment, students can visit the community’s leasing office located across the street at The Tower at Third, a sister property owned and managed by American Campus Communities. Take a virtual tour by clicking here.
About American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities, Inc. is the largest owner, manager and developer of high-quality student housing communities in the United States. The company is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered equity real estate investment trust (REIT) with expertise in the design, finance, development, construction management and operational management of student housing properties. As of March 31, 2017, American Campus Communities owned 157 student housing properties containing approximately 97,500 beds. Including its owned and third-party managed properties, ACC's total managed portfolio consisted of 194 properties with approximately 127,200 beds. Visit www.americancampus.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements under the federal securities law. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which American Campus operates, management's beliefs, and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict.
