Meecorp Closes Landmark Construction Loan to Vive Verde - the World's First Living Office Building.

FORT LEE, N.J. -- Meecorp Capital Markets (a privately-owned commercial real estate lender specializing in value-added commercial real estate projects) today announced it has closed a three-year $6.9 million bridge and construction loan to Vive Verde North, the world's first "living" office building located in historic Lake Worth, FL.

The 4-story, 33,000 square-foot structure at 1005 Lake Avenue is the brainchild of John Romano, a successful personal injury lawyer and keen environmentalist. He commissioned the architectural and engineering firm Living Designs Group, LLC, which developed a process they've dubbed "aqua-techture" - referring to the innovative water-driven design of the building. Vive Verde will collect, treat, and re-use rainwater gathered in a lush rooftop garden, simulating a wetlands ecosystem. The turf will also serve to absorb the Florida heat and insulate the building. A first floor parking garage, paved in a special porous concrete, will allow water to seep through to the aquifer.

Vive Verde has been registered with the Green Building Council and certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED-certified properties typically use 20-50% less energy than traditional office buildings and up to 30% less water.

"We went to Meecorp presenting both a dream and an obstacle," explains John Romano, Owner of Viva Verde. "The dream was to construct the world's first 'living' office building - a cutting edge EcoCenter. The only real obstacle would be putting together a financing package with many unique components requiring a great deal of creativity and innovation on the part of the lender. This was not going to be a conventional loan. In the end, Meecorp did exactly what it said it would do. It came up with a way to develop this package into a workable construction loan. Its representatives were knowledgeable, responsive, and eager to get this loan done."

"We recognized the inherent value of going green," says Daniel Edrei, Director Principles Group at Meecorp. "It's an idea whose time has come. We were very excited to play our part."

ABOUT MEECORP CAPITAL MARKETS

Based in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Meecorp Capital Markets is a commercial real estate lender providing fast, creative funding solutions nationwide. Meecorp offers bridge loans, mezzanine debt, construction financing (including land development) and occasionally equity participation. It specializes in non-conforming transactions ranging from $2 million to $100 million and above. Please visit http://www.meecorp.com.