The Compass Plaza tenant improvement project brings together three Capstar-owned companies on three floors of one mixed-use building, improving efficiency, facilitating communications, standardizing procedures and providing scalable growth opportunities for the companies.
The project in Austin included tenant build-out of 82,000 sq ft of interior space on floors six, seven and eight.
The eighth floor of Capstar at Compass Plaza, occupied by Capstar Investment Partners, is seeking LEED-silver certification for commercial interiors. Some of the many sustainable project features include dual-flush toilets, aerated faucets and high-efficiency base building core restroom fixtures, resulting in a 40% reduction in water use.
Other sustainable strategies included diverting more than 75% of construction waste from landfills; a high level of FSC-certified wood in flooring, cabinetry and trim; Energy Star appliances in all tenant spaces; and efficient lighting that includes abundant daylighting. These efforts resulted in energy savings 35% below ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) standards.
Clerestories and side lights effectively increased the amount of daylight within the space. All interior finishes are low VOC-emitting materials. Materials and finishes utilizing recycled content were specified throughout the project, as were locally manufactured or extracted materials and certified wood products. The premium associated with implementing the LEED and/or sustainability-related items and strategies amounted to less than 2% of the total construction cost.
Owner-initiated changes to space on the sixth floor required the general contractor, W.G. Yates and Sons, to scramble. Tenant DMX, a provider of digital music, changed its intended use of a portion of its total square footage that was not part of the original scope and schedule. Yates facilitated the construction of a new recording studio with extensive MEP systems and soundproofing without negatively impacting the overall construction schedule.
Key Players
Submitted by: W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Co.
Developer/owner: Capstar Partners, Austin
General contractor: W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Co., San Antonio
Construction manager: Endeavor Real Estate, Austin
Architect: The Lawrence Group, New York
MEP engineer: Bay & Associates, Austin
