Joe Albanese, CEO and founder of Commodore Builders tells GlobeSt.com that this market is forcing companies to delineate themselves from the competition, as well as "break the mold" with innovative ideas. The project reduced "white space" in the construction process--waiting for supplies and equipment--and planned out almost every hour of the day to keep the job without overtime, working eight-hour days for only three weeks to complete the renovation.

Some of the features used to help reduce the cost of energy were light-harvesting fixtures, which adjust themselves based upon the amount of natural light in the room. The plumbing fixtures installed reduce potable water consumption by 40% and all the HVAC units are Energy-Star rated.

The original goal, Albanese explained, was for a Gold certification and the Platinum was a pleasant over-shoot. As it stands, the project is the first interior work to earn the LEED-Platinum distinction in what has been called by the Natural Resources Defense Council as the top green city on the east coast.