Premier Automotive Group

Office tower pushed boundaries of sustainable strategies

The Premier Automotive Group (PAG) headquarters was the first LEED NC-certified building in the United States.

In the original design, the 310,000-square-foot office tower, located on an 11.9-acre property in Irvine, California consolidated Ford’s North American headquarters. Each floor of the five-story tower was dedicated to one of the company’s distinctive automotive brands: Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln/Mercury and Volvo. In addition to corporate office space, the complex included a design center and a large above-grade parking structure.

Several innovative, sustainable measures pushed the project to achieve LEED certification. A 50,000-square-foot green roof on the design group building reduced stormwater runoff, provided thermal insulation and provided a visual element from the project office tower. A raised-floor air distribution system reduced power consumption and provided occupants a more comfortable work environment. On-site fuel cells served as an alternative source of energy.

The building exceeded California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards by 25 percent. Ninety percent of the building’s occupants have access to views and natural daylight; 30 percent of the building was built from recycled materials.

The project features a grand entry plaza with an elegant passenger drop-off. Bands of decorative paving are broken up by rows of planters that funnel visitors toward the main lobby. Green screens around the parking garage and public areas helped blend the project with the site, which features abundant trees and drought-tolerant landscaping.

The office building was specifically designed for flexibility and to accommodate potential future tenants. It is now leased to another company.