HOUSTON--Phase I of Katy Medical Plaza has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Core and Shell green building rating system, according to Transwestern.

Transwestern senior vice president Tim Gregory represents the developer, Jacob White Construction Co., and handles leasing services for the property.

"Katy Medical Plaza is one of the few medical office developments which helps physicians lower their cost of services by providing leasing and ownership opportunities in investment grade real estate," Gregory told GlobeSt.com. "Our leasing and ownership structure has also created a very supportive campus of providers who work together for the benefit of patients and fellow healthcare providers."

Katy Medical Plaza is a 150,000-square-foot, three-building medical office development in Katy. Phase II is scheduled for completion by the end of this month and expected to receive LEED Gold certification in 2016. Phase III of construction is slated to commence in fourth-quarter 2016. The property is located at the corner of Kingsland Boulevard and Cobia Drive with easy access to both the Grand Parkway and Katy Freeway, in close proximity to five major hospital systems.

"Our strategic location, focus on environmental health and energy efficiency has been well-received by our medical tenants," says Jeff Mickler, president of Jacob White Construction. "Another significant benefit has been our lower operating expenses, which are currently 30 percent less than the average operating expenses of Houston medical office buildings. The lower operating expenses will continue to have a positive impact on the bottom line for our medical tenants as future utility costs escalate."

Katy Medical Plaza is the only building in Katy with a green roof, with 95 percent of the base building's roof covered in vegetation. Other LEED efforts at the building include:

• 63 percent potable water use for sewage reduction;
• 100 percent electricity through renewable power;
• and 90 percent of the construction waste diverted from landfill.