Lauren Moss, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO), participated in a video interview in conjunction with Nareit’s REITworld: 2023 Annual Conference, held Nov. 14-16 in Los Angeles. Vornado Realty Trust was Nareit’s 2023 Leader in the Light Award co-winner for the diversified sector.
Moss said that Vornado’s 2023 Leader in the Light Award win is a testament to the work that the entire company does because the REIT has focused on the integration of sustainability into its corporate strategy for more than a decade.
“Before it was called ‘sustainability,’ the focus—and it continues to be—is on providing our tenants with the best experience, operating the best buildings, and ensuring that we’re meeting the investment community where we can, with the best product possible,” she said.
Moss added that Vornado makes sure its buildings are “efficient, safe, [and] resilient,” and quantifying and tracking those achievements remains at the forefront of the REIT’s work.
She also noted that a recent “hyper-focus on the tenant experience” is one thing Vornado is most proud of in its sustainability program. This includes gym facilities, restaurants, and access to community, light, and air in its buildings, as well as working directly with its tenants to help them meet their own sustainability goals.
Looking ahead to 2024, Moss said Vornado will continue to focus on community.