RANCHO BELAGIO, Calif., Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the leading authority in green building will present the Highland Fairview-Skechers next generation Logistics Facility the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification at a ceremony next Friday, February 22 at 9 a.m. at 29800 Eucalyptus Ave. , in Rancho Belago, CA (eastern portion of Moreno Valley).

The 1.8 million square-foot facility is the largest building of its kind in the United States to receive this honor. 

The USGBC, LEED Gold Certification ceremony will be held Friday, February 22 at 9:00 a.m. at the building and will be attended by representatives of the Office of the Governor of California, County of Riverside and City of Moreno Valley, along with VIPs and community leaders.

"We are honored to receive this unique recognition. A LEED Gold designation is a tremendous achievement for any project. To be recognized as the largest, most advanced sustainable development of its kind in the United States is especially rewarding," said Highland Fairview President & Chief Executive Officer Iddo Benzeevi. "To achieve this level of sustainability at this scale required new and innovative approaches to design, the integration of state-of-the-art technologies and advanced construction systems. I'm proud to have been a part of bringing this national recognition to our region."

"SKECHERS is committed to growing its business in a way that conserves natural resources, protects the environment and reduces waste," said David Weinberg, SKECHERS Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. "In addition to efficiently distributing our product across North America, the SKECHERS Rancho Belago facility is an outstanding example of how large corporations can grow their business while also promoting earth-friendly practices. We're proud of the design innovation and 'green' features that can be found throughout the facility."

The global logistics center, which serves as the North American distribution headquarters for SKECHERS USA, incorporates Highland Fairview's Complete Life Cycle approach to sustainable development which includes extensive use of recycled construction building materials, the latest technology in irrigation and water utilization, storm water treatment, advanced solar power generation systems, and advanced environmentally-friendly materials to name a few. The facility also makes extensive use of parabolic skylights to increase natural lighting in all areas, low water-use fixtures, and recycled water repurposed for irrigation.

LEED, administered by the United States Green Building Council, is a comprehensive system to define, measure and designate "green buildings." Certification in the national recognition program is based on strict standards in five key areas: site planning, water management, energy, material use and indoor environmental quality.

The Highland Fairview-Skechers Logistics Center has become a landmark in the area and is known for its design. With 1.8 million square feet of space, the global logistics center is the first building in a planned eco-friendly logistics campus that will add thousands of new jobs to the area over the coming years.

Highland Fairview
Highland Fairview is part of a privately held real estate development company and is part of TG Group. The Company specializes in the development of large-scale industrial, commercial and residential projects.  Highland Fairview and its affiliate companies currently own approximately five square miles of properties within Southern California, which are in various stages of development.  Highland Fairview is headed by President and CEO Iddo Benzeevi.

ABOUT SKECHERS USA, INC.
SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE: SKX), based in Manhattan Beach, California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of footwear for men, women and children under the SKECHERS name. SKECHERS footwear is available in the United States via department and specialty stores, Company-owned SKECHERS retail stores and its e-commerce website, and over 100 countries and territories through the Company's global network of distributors and subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan, and across Europe, as well as through joint ventures in Asia. For more information, please visit www.skechers.com, and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SKECHERS) and Twitter (twitter.com/SKECHERSUSA)

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Contact Information:
Matt Kovacs / Mandev Khalsa
BLAZE PR
(310) 395-5050 / mkovacs@blazepr.com / mkhalsa@blazepr.com

SOURCE Highland Fairview