Sustainability
Our journey
Stratus Properties Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, Stratus) is a longtime leader in residential and commercial real estate development in Austin, Texas. We emphasize thoughtful sustainable design, construction, and operations as essential company goals in developing and operating our properties. Our approach is both pragmatic and bold, underscored by the fundamental values of creating healthy environments and supporting thriving ecosystems.
Stratus began a long and valued partnership in 2002 with The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS), an early leader in environmentally sensitive architecture and building practices. Gail Vittori, co-director of CMPBS, helped create the internationally recognized Austin Energy Green Building Program. She also contributed to the development of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and served on the USGBC Board for nine years, including as its Chair in 2009. Her early mentorship of Stratus in sustainable development and building practices helped us better understand and execute sustainable design on several notable projects, setting a leadership bar with a comprehensive, holistic approach. The CMPBS relationship continues today to help grow our knowledge and capacity, and refine and implement the most current and consequential sustainability practices.
Our Chairman, President and CEO, William H. Armstrong III has long been involved in sustainable development and building practices. He currently serves as secretary-treasurer of Green Business Certification Inc., the premier organization for independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally, through third-party verification services for certification and credentialing, including the LEED rating system. He has also been active with the Real Estate Council of Austin, the Urban Land Institute, and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.
Stratus continues to push the envelope on sustainable architecture and planning, refining our strategies from 2002 to today. As the world and market have evolved and the threat presented by climate change becomes more widely acknowledged, sustainable development has become even more integral to everything we do.
Our commitment to sustainability
Stratus is committed to protecting the environment and developing sustainable properties. We emphasize sustainable design, construction and operations as essential goals in developing and operating our properties. Our projects begin with a careful site assessment, taking into account unique and environmentally sensitive site features, including vegetation, slopes, soil profiles and water resources. Our sites are then engineered to protect our environment and promote their natural attributes. Our buildings and homes are designed to take full advantage of each site's attributes, to incorporate energy efficient mechanical systems, and to create healthy and resilient living spaces. Construction of site infrastructure, buildings and homes is managed to make appropriate use of properly sourced materials and to utilize construction techniques that minimize impact on our natural environment and promote long-term sustainability. As a USGBC member, we work along with council members to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated with the goal of creating environmentally and socially responsible properties for a more sustainable life.
For more than 15 years, we have partnered with leaders in sustainable development, engineering and design, including, among others, USGBC and CMPBS. We have built a range of projects recognized as being on the leading edge of sustainable practices, including Block 21, the first mixed-use high-rise tower in Austin to receive the USGBC LEED Silver certification, and many of our residential communities and retail developments. We believe that our markets recognize our environmental stewardship and will continue to reward thoughtful and sustainable development.
