Jan. 23, 2008 -- The HSBC Bank Headquarters Tower in Mexico City has become the first project in Latin America to achieve LEED Gold status from the U.S. Green Building Council.

HSBC bought the building on the Paseo de la Reforma - Mexico City's main thoroughfare - when it merged with a local bank in 2002. Green features in the subsequent office redesign include a 4,000 square foot "green roof" and an on-site graywater treatment plant that directs treated water to restrooms and chillers and collects stormwater for irrigation.

"We hope this project serves as an example for greening the community and encouraging the Mexican government to offer more incentives for creating environmentally friendly buildings," says Javier Presas, project manager at design firm HOK, which overhauled the facility. "The project already has created more interest among developers, clients, and architects in Mexico."