Summit at Washingtonian Achieves IREM Certified Sustainable Property Status

Overview

American Real Estate Partners (AREP), an institutional real estate fund manager and operating company headquartered in the Greater Washington metropolitan area, has achieved a significant milestone in sustainable property management.

The company’s Class A Summit at Washingtonian office property has earned the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Certified Sustainable Property (CSP) designation, reinforcing its existing LEED Silver certification and advancing AREP’s commitment to operational excellence, workplace wellness, and long-term asset value.

In partnership with Principal Asset Management, AREP pursued the CSP designation through a collaborative certification process that aligned investment objectives with environmental stewardship. Together, the teams ensured that each operational enhancement at Summit not only improved energy and resource efficiency but also contributed to a healthier, more engaging environment for customers. This partnership reflects AREP’s broader ESG philosophy—where sustainability and performance go hand in hand to drive both customer satisfaction and asset resilience.

This achievement comes as sustainability becomes an increasingly important factor in commercial real estate. According to CBRE, 77 percent of corporate occupiers prioritize sustainable building features when selecting office space and 43 percent report that the presence or absence of sustainable features would influence their rent negotiations, underscoring how environmental performance has become a key differentiator in today’s market.

This shift highlights the value of assets that combine operational performance with healthier, more engaging workplace environments. These qualities define AREP’s approach at Summit at Washingtonian and across its portfolio.

Strategically located in the mixed-use Washingtonian Center just outside of Washington, D.C., Summit offers a balance of productivity and lifestyle. The Class A office property provides tenants with premium amenities, including a fitness center, café, and locker rooms, as well as walkable access to dining and retail destinations such as Starbucks, Copper Canyon Grill, and Target. With nearly 90 percent occupancy, the property’s limited availability emphasizes its strength as a high-performing, wellness-oriented workplace that continues to attract and retain tenants in alignment with AREP’s vision of creating spaces where people can thrive.

(IREM) Certified Sustainable Property

We documented measurable improvements in energy and water performance, expand waste diversion initiatives, and formalize tenant participation in sustainability programs.

Objective

By aligning property operations with IREM’s CSP criteria, AREP sought to confirm that Summit’s performance exceeded industry benchmarks for resource efficiency and customer experience.

The initiative also supports AREP’s broader portfolio goal of ensuring that each property reduces environmental impact, enhances resilience, and delivers sustained value for tenants and investors alike.

AREP currently manages and applies these principles to more than 8.3 million square feet of commercial office space and has over 32 million square feet of data center and residential assets under development, demonstrating the scale.

Methodology

Summit at Washingtonian’s certification process followed the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) sustainability performance framework and was evaluated by an independent consultant.

Summit’s engineering and property management teams worked collaboratively to document practices, collect operational data, and verify performance across core categories defined by the IREM Certified Sustainable Property (CSP) standards.

The review encompassed the following focus areas:

Energy & Water Benchmarking

The property team compiled and analyzed building performance data to establish baselines and confirm compliance with ENERGY STAR and IREM CSP benchmarks.

Health & Wellness Practices

Operational procedures and building amenities were reviewed to confirm support for customer comfort and wellbeing through facility maintenance and wellness resources.

Waste Diversion & Recycling

Audits were conducted to evaluate existing recycling infrastructure, signage, and collection schedules, and to document service frequency and accepted materials.

Community Engagement & Collaboration

The review captured how the property engages tenants and vendors in sustainable practices, including participation in waste-diversion events and the integration of green lease and vendor sustainability clauses.

Measureable Impact

The certification review translated AREP’s sustainability practices into measurable results. At Summit at Washingtonian, the findings confirmed that operational strategies and tenant-focused initiatives are driving real performance gains across key resource areas.

Through targeted staff training and tenant participation, the property achieved a 10 percent reduction in water consumption compared to baseline levels. It also attained ENERGY STAR scores above certification thresholds, affirming superior energy efficiency. To strengthen alignment across all stakeholders, AREP introduced green and energy-aligned lease provisions and embedded sustainability clauses in vendor contracts, creating a consistent framework for environmental accountability.

Technology also plays a central role in sustaining these results. Continuous commissioning, smart sensors, and digital energy monitoring systems help maintain optimal HVAC and lighting efficiency while identifying opportunities for additional savings. These measures reduce operating costs, extend equipment life, and lower carbon emissions.

The property also demonstrates a forward-looking energy strategy focused on continuous improvement. AREP and the property team continue to evaluate opportunities for additional energy savings through ongoing performance monitoring and technology upgrades, ensuring Summit remains aligned with evolving efficiency standards and best practices.

Together, these outcomes reinforce AREP’s leadership in developing resilient, high-performing, and sustainable office environments. The results at Summit also reflect the company’s investment philosophy—integrating ESG principles across its portfolio at every stage of its investment process to enhance long-term asset performance, reduce environmental impact, and deliver measurable value for customers and investors alike.

10%

Reduction in water consumption

50%

Above
certification thresholds

100%

Continuous
Commissioning

The results at Summit reflect a broader shift in investor priorities, with most office capital now directed toward Class A assets with strong ESG credentials, reinforcing how AREP’s sustainability strategy delivers measurable competitive advantage across its portfolio.

Enhancing the Customer Experience

AREP’s sustainability investments enhance both operational performance and tenant wellbeing, making Summit’s impact visible and tangible—from natural light and air quality to wellness amenities that support physical and mental health.

The property’s management team supports participation in sustainability initiatives, including recycling programs and property-wide waste diversion events. By fostering a shared culture of responsibility, AREP ensures that sustainability becomes part of the daily workplace experience rather than an abstract objective.

Wellness extends beyond building systems. Tenants benefit from the property’s proximity to walkable amenities, waterfront trails, and a dynamic retail environment that enhances convenience and work-life balance. The result is a workplace that supports productivity while improving quality of life, an increasingly decisive factor for organizations seeking to attract and retain top talent.

Environmental and human performance are inseparable. According to JLL, green-certified Class A offices command roughly 7% rental premiums across the U.S. and Canada, while LEED-certified Class A urban offices in the U.S. have achieved nearly a 25% per-square-foot sales premium over non-certified assets. The data is clear: verified sustainability performance strengthens tenant demand, enhances asset liquidity, and accelerates long-term investor value.

Model for the Future

Summit at Washingtonian stands as a model for the future of the workplace—one that is sustainable, high-performing, and people-centered.

Its IREM Certified Sustainable Property designation confirms that environmental responsibility and operational excellence can coexist with an exceptional customer experience. Across its portfolio, AREP continues to advance this integrated approach. The majority of its properties hold certifications such as LEED, Fitwel, WiredScore, WELL Health-Safety, reflecting a holistic commitment to building health, connectivity, and sustainability. The market’s renewed focus on quality, wellness, and efficiency is translating into a clear flight to top-tier assets, driving positive class A absorption over the past several quarters and leading the sector’s recovery. At the same time, U.S. office investment volume rose 42 percent year over year in the first half of 2025, underscoring the value investors place on sustainable, amenity-rich environments and demonstrating how capital is concentrating in best-in-class properties.
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For investors, Summit at Washingtonian demonstrates how responsible management and high-performance operations can strengthen asset value, reduce risk, and deliver measurable returns. For customers, it represents a workplace that enhances daily experience through comfort, connectivity, and environmental quality. Through achievements like the IREM Certified Sustainable Property designation, AREP continues to raise the bar for performance-driven, people-centered, and future-ready real estate. Summit at Washingtonian represents the pathway of sustainable, people-centered real estate. To learn more about AREP’s approach to high-performing office environments or explore leasing and partnership opportunities at Summit, visit americanrepartners.com or contact us here.

Summit at Washingtonian Achieves IREM Certified Sustainable Property Status

American Real Estate Partners (AREP), an institutional real estate fund manager and operating company headquartered in the Greater Washington metropolitan area, has achieved a significant milestone in sustainable property management.

By aligning property operations with IREM’s CSP criteria, AREP sought to confirm that Summit’s performance exceeded industry benchmarks for resource efficiency and customer experience.