Morguard Brings Home Two More HOOPP LEAP Awards for Sustainability Excellence

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 6, 2018 /CNW/ - For the fifth consecutive year, Morguard Investments Limited ("Morguard") has been recognized by Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan ("HOOPP") for the company's exemplary focus on sustainability best practices. In 2018, Morguard adds two Leadership in Environmental Advancement Program ("LEAP") Awards to its collection, which now includes 14 distinctions across nine categories since the program's initiation in 2012.

Morguard's continued commitment to the increased efficiency of its properties is supported by innovative technology solutions combined with strong partnership and collaboration with its investors and property tenants. This year's recognition by HOOPP highlights Morguard's ongoing pursuit of property management excellence as part of an effort to continuously better serve its tenants and the communities in which it operates.

"Our focus on Responsible Property Investing as a best practice allows us to identify and incorporate environmentally responsible initiatives proactively and efficiently. Moreover, effective collaboration with our partners and tenants is fundamental to our ability to uphold and constantly improve sustainability practices at our properties," said K. Rai Sahi, Chairman and CEO, Morguard Corporation. "We are honoured to be recognized as change drivers and pioneers in innovative approaches to sustainability. This is an opportunity for Morguard and our key stakeholders to strengthen our shared commitment to both value creation and operational excellence."

"I am pleased to congratulate our real estate partner, Morguard, for their contribution toward sustainability and energy saving. Last night at HOOPP's LEAP Awards they were recognized for Building Performance: Energy Saver, and Collaboration: Tenant Leader," said Stephen Taylor, Vice President, HOOPP Real Estate. "To have partners like Morguard committed to reducing the overall environmental impact of buildings is something we are pleased to recognize."

Morguard was recognized for excellence in the following categories:

Energy Saver: Performance Award
Robson Central, Vancouver, British Columbia 

Morguard received the Energy Saver: Performance Award for the outstanding reduction in energy consumption in 2017 at Robson Central. The HOOPP LEAP Award recognized a remarkable 20 per cent reduction in normalized energy intensity in 2017 versus the previous year; the building's 2017 energy spend was 54.2 equivalent kilowatts per hour (ekWh) per square foot (SF), down from 68.6 ekWh/sf in 2016.

Morguard shares this LEAP Award with its tenants at the 130,000-square-foot, Class A, office building. These remarkable energy savings are the result of Morguard and its tenants' combined efforts to advance sustainability best practices to achieve energy savings. Project success relied on the tenants' and property manager's collective openness to working together to pursue common benefits and overcome unexpected challenges. Thanks to the continuous involvement, communication and collaboration of major tenants, including media companies Bell Media/CTV and the Globe and Mail, as well as retail tenants Shoppers Drug Mart and Victoria's Secret, among other retailers, the energy savings are consistently sustainable throughout the 24-hour / 7-day cycle on which the building operates and serves its tenants and surrounding community.

Read the Robson Central case study on morguard.com.

Tenant Leader: Commercial Award
BluEarth Renewables, 11^th Avenue Place, Calgary

Morguard received the Tenant Leader: Commercial Award for exceptional collaboration between the property manager at 11^th Avenue Place and tenant, BluEarth Renewables.

The LEAP Award recognizes and celebrates the property's excellence in energy performance and environmental sustainability, made tangible through relevant renovations such as the installation of electrical vehicle charging stations, the construction of bike storage lockers and cages, on-site fitness and shared conference facilities and the installation of utility sub-metering to allow accurate readings of consumption among other energy efficient savvy initiatives.

Built in 2015, the 200,000-square-foot, Class A, office building, which is pending LEED ("Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design") Gold certification, is also a testament to Morguard's commitment to working collaboratively with tenants to promote responsible energy consumption and drive cultural changes toward environmentally-friendly alternatives in the communities it serves. Through forward-thinking initiatives such as active recycling and composting, the building has become a model within the Calgary community of conscious engagement with environmental initiatives resulting in long-term impacts.

Read the 11^th Avenue Place case study on morguard.com.

2018 marks the third consecutive year that Morguard has received recognition in the Tenant Leader category. Prior to this year's Award, Morguard's Beckta Dining & Wine Bar and Performance Court in Ottawa and New Sudbury Centre in Sudbury won the Tenant Leader: Retail Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

About Morguard
Morguard Investments Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morguard Corporation (TSX: MRC), provides real estate advisory services and property management to institutional investors. Morguard Corporation is a major North American real estate company.  It has extensive retail, office, industrial, multi-suite residential, and hotel holdings owned directly, or through its investment in Morguard REIT (TSX: MRT.UN), Morguard North American Residential REIT (TSX: MRG.UN) and Temple Hotels Inc. (TSX: TPH). Morguard's combined real estate portfolio is valued at $15.5 billion. For more information, please visit www.morguard.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
Created in 1960, HOOPP is a multi-employer contributory defined benefit plan for Ontario's hospital and community-based healthcare sector with 548 participating employers. HOOPP's membership includes nurses, medical technicians, food services staff and housekeeping staff, and many other people who work hard to provide valued Ontario healthcare services. In total, HOOPP has more than 339,000 active, deferred and retired members.

As a defined benefit plan, HOOPP provides eligible members with a retirement income based on a formula that takes into account a member's earnings history and length of service in the Plan. HOOPP is governed by a Board of Trustees with representation from the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and four unions: the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The unique governance model provides representation from both management and workers in support of the long-term interests of the Plan. 

SOURCE Morguard Corporation