Greenest H-E-B Store Earns Prestigious Architectural Honor
H-E-B's Mueller store in Austin, Texas, has been chosen as one of the top 10 examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE).
The COTE Top Ten Awards program, now in its 20th year, honors projects that take a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology.
“Following two years of collaboration with Lake|Flato Architects, Selser Schaefer Architects and other stakeholders, we were able to deliver a store that reimagines what is possible for energy, water, and overall efficiency with an innovative approach that meets the needs of the community it serves,” said Bill Triplett, SVP of strategic design at San Antonio-based H-E-B. “We are beyond delighted that the greenest store H-E-B has ever designed, built and operated is included on this prestigious list and is recognized with this distinct honor.”
“H-E-B is the first grocery store to receive a national AIA COTE Top Ten Award, the highest honor in sustainable design,” noted said David Lake, FAIA partner and founder of Lake|Flato, also based in San Antonio. “For the Mueller store to receive recognition as one of the top 10 most sustainable buildings in the country is a testament to H-E-B’s achievements in environmental sustainability and continued design innovation.”
Located in the Mueller neighborhood of Austin, Texas, H-E-B at Mueller is an 83,587-square-foot supermarket incorporating a pharmacy, café and community meeting space. The store has both LEED Gold certification and Austin Energy Green Building 4-Star sustainability certification.
While grocery stores and food companies use more energy per square foot than any other commercial building sector and are more than twice as energy-intensive as office buildings and schools, H-E-B at Mueller slashed its energy use by 64 percent over the grocery store national median while achieving a better customer environment.
H-E-B and the other winners were honored at a May 19 ceremony held during the 2016 AIA Convention in Philadelphia.