2023 Environmental Stewardship Report

2023 Environmental Stewardship Report

CEO LETTER

Iam pleased to present Rockefeller Group’s Environmental Stewardship Report, which summarizes our approach to building operations and new construction in service of our corporate mission: to develop, own and operate extraordinary properties, delivering exceptional experiences and financial performance while creating value for our partners, customers and communities.

As real estate investors, developers and owners, we recognize our work’s potential to positively impact communities and enhance human well-being. This potential is inextricably linked to our commitment to environmental stewardship.

1271 Avenue of the Americas became the first office building in New York City and the largest in the world to install a full-building disinfecting air-filtration system

In recent years, we have made significant progress in reducing our carbon footprint and promoting energy efficiency across our portfolio. From incorporating cutting-edge building practices to embracing green building certifications, our commitment to sustainable construction and management ensures that each development we undertake and each building we operate strives to employ today’s best practices.

As a case-in-point, last year one of our properties – 1271 Avenue of the Americas – became the first building in New York City and the largest in the world to install a full-building disinfecting air-filtration system. The system allows for extremely high-quality air filtration with lower energy consumption, ultimately reducing the building’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Across our portfolio, efforts such as this have meaningfully reduced our environmental impact. They have also further encouraged our teams to participate in benchmarking efforts and ratings programs at the local, national and international level, such as Energy Star, LEED and GRESB, so that we can continue to monitor our progress and improve.

This report serves as a comprehensive accounting of our environmental stewardship program, highlighting many of the initiatives we have undertaken, the impact they have made, and some of the areas of focus that will help us to elevate our efforts in the future.

Daniel J. Moore President and CEO

ABOUT ROCKEFELLER GROUP

Since 1928, Rockefeller Group has transformed skylines, created economic value and improved lives through the built environment in cities across the United States. We develop, own and operate properties in seven U.S. regions. These include office buildings located in Manhattan, as well as development projects in 13 states around the country spanning multifamily, office, industrial and mixed-use projects.

In all that we do, we uphold five guiding principles:

1. A love for people, a love for the city – this underpins our business and guides our vision of improving people’s lives and the cities where they live and work. We work hard at work worth doing.

2. Integrity & fairness – these are the hallmarks of our brand and reputation, embodied by our employees and reflected in our relationships with colleagues, clients, partners and the communities where we work.

3. Quality – in all of the properties we develop, own or manage, the details matter.

4. One team – we value a diverse workforce, and an equitable workplace, where all team members have the opportunity to realize their full potential.

5. Growth mindset – we’re future focused with ambitious goals for growth.

We anticipate change and embrace opportunities for continuous improvement. These principles integrate with the responsibility to be good stewards of the environment in which we operate. Our team, including business line leaders, strive to reduce the environmental impact of our buildings through a robust and innovative program.

CORE HOLDINGS

Rockefeller Group’s Core Holdings Portfolio consists of ownership and management of 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. For over 50 years, these buildings have graced the New York City skyline and provided open spaces for the public to enjoy, such as the recently redeveloped East Plaza at 1221 Avenue of the Americas.

Being cognizant of our responsibilities as long-term owners of these iconic buildings, our team strives to operate in an economic and environmentally responsible manner. Our strategy includes the following:

Day-to Day Operation: Our property management team considers the environmental impact of our day-to-day operations, seeking to integrate best practices into our operations, such as utilizing green cleaning products to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals in our buildings and adopting an appropriate procurement plan for materials used at our buildings such as environmentally responsible paints and sealants.

Energy Efficiency: By monitoring consumption patterns and identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements, we are able to reduce the buildings’ carbon emissions and operational costs. For example, our use of the Energy Star platform allows our team to compare year-over-year energy consumption and adopt energy curtailment processes to reduce building consumption during peak times.

Waste Management: We promote recycling, composting and responsible waste disposal practices with our tenants to minimize the amount of waste and divert materials away from landfills. At 1271

Avenue of the Americas, 20% of our building’s food waste is composted.

Green Building Certifications: Both 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas are certified Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Becoming LEED Gold certified reflects our team’s dedication to meeting stringent sustainability standards.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Rockefeller Group develops real estate projects across multiple asset classes in various regions of the United States. We are mindful of our environmental footprint as we select, design and construct projects, in an effort to mitigate negative impacts. As a result, we create value for our stakeholders and their communities, optimizing conditions for occupants and reducing operating expenses.

Our development guidelines align with industry standards such as the LEED rating system. In order to minimize environmental risks, for each prospective development project, we perform due diligence that examines the following:

1. Existing Site Conditions (topography, drainage, etc.)

2. Environmental conditions (site remediation, soil/ groundwater contamination, natural resources, water resources, threatened and endangered species, among others)

3. Geotechnical condition (soil characteristics, infiltration, etc.)

4. Zoning/Land Use

Occupant Engagement: We actively engage with tenants and our own employees to raise awareness about best practices and encourage environmentally responsible behavior. Through educational workshops, eco-friendly events and volunteer initiatives we hope to promote a culture of environmental stewardship, as well as help our tenants reduce their operating costs.

5. Legal (due diligence studies).

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

GRESB

GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) is the most popular and widely used assessment of Environmental, Social and Governance factors for commercial real estate companies across the world. The assessment covers both management policies and social and environmental performance of buildings, ranking performance with similar peers. Rockefeller Group is proud to have participated in the GRESB assessments since 2020 and to have been awarded 5 Green Stars since 2022, recognizing our ranking in the top 20% of GRESB participants.

LEED CERTIFICATION

LEED certification is formal recognition of a building’s compliance with a rigorous suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction and operation. The LEED program, begun in 1998 and managed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, is guided by a broad consensus of architects, engineers, developers, government agencies, builders and product manufacturers. Rockefeller Group has achieved LEED certification for a number of its projects across the country, including the office towers at 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. In addition, the Company encourages its professionals to pursue personal LEED accreditation.

FITWEL CERTIFICATION

Our commitment to environmental stewardship and the well-being of building occupants has been recognized recently by receiving Fitwel Certifications for 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas. Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system that recognizes buildings which support the health and well-being of their occupants. Our Fitwel certifications evidence our effort to align our operational practices with two of our Guiding Principles, "A Love for the City" and "Quality."

WIREDSCORE

Rockefeller Group is committed to serving tenants’ growing technological needs and ensuring that our buildings have best-in-class IT infrastructure. In the commercial real estate industry, the WiredScore certification rates in-building digital connectivity and technological capacity for current and prospective tenants. The certification sets the industry standard on wired infrastructure, resilience, and wireless networks, and requires a wholescale assessment of each building’s technology systems for certification. Both 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas have achieved WiredScore Platinum Certification, the highest level possible, due in part to the fact that both buildings benefit from ’dark fiber’ connectivity, which provides tenants access to the fastest possible internet speeds in New York City. This certification underscores our buildings’ state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, which plays a pivotal role in reducing energy waste by enabling smart building technologies and data-driven energy management.

NYC CARBON CHALLENGE

Rockefeller Group understands the impact energy consumption has on a building’s environmental footprint, and we work diligently to reduce overall portfolio energy use. In recent years, we have joined the NYC Carbon Challenge for our Core Holdings portfolio, the goal of which is to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030. We are leveraging new technologies and evaluating more complex and innovative projects to support our emission reduction efforts.

Our Environmental Stewardship 01

Core Holdings Environmental Performance

Innovative Building Management

Core Holdings

Sustainability Policies

Our Commitment to Reducing Emissions

Building Standards and Guidelines for Tenants

Our Commitment to Great Urban Spaces

Our Commitment to Energy Efficiency

Rockefeller Group’s Core Holdings Portfolio consists of the ownership and management of 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York City.

CORE HOLDINGS

ENVIRONMENTAL

WATER WASTE ENERGY

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Equivalent

82,676,887 Gallons Gallons

103,567 34,403 Tons

1,726,131

3,136

69,707,222

Equivalent

871,339 1,032,688

CORE HOLDINGS SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES

In 2022, Rockefeller Group established new sustainability policies to enhance our environmental and wellness performance in our Core Holdings portfolio, helping us to mitigate environmental impact in our everyday operations. In our pursuit of continuous improvement, our Sustainability Policies were further strengthened in 2023 to be Fitwel-compliant.

Our Sustainability Policies cover the following areas:

• Energy Management

• Water Management

• Waste Management

• Indoor Environmental Quality

• Integrated Pest Management

• Greenhouse Gas Management

• Climate Change and Resilience

• Green Cleaning

• Sustainable Purchasing

• Sustainability Engagement

• Indoor Air Quality

BUILDING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR TENANTS

Core Holdings’ tenants are required to comply with Rockefeller Group’s Building Standards, Specifications, and Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), which encourage tenants to incorporate best practices in their space fitouts and align their operations with LEED building standards. Among other things, the Guidelines include the following:

Water – We recommend implementation of strategies to achieve water usage that is at least 30% lower than the baseline specific to their spaces. To further this aim, we advocate for the use of WaterSense-labeled products, which are recognized for their water efficiency and can contribute substantially to reducing overall water consumption.

Energy – We encourage selection of energy-efficient tenant systems. For example, we recommend HVAC systems that exceed New York Energy Consumers Council (NYECC) standards and adhere to the energy-efficiency requirements outlined in the ASHRAE Energy Design Guides for Office and Retail spaces. For office equipment, our guidelines suggest that 70-90% of all eligible equipment and appliances be ENERGY STAR rated, ensuring high energy efficiency. All LED lighting systems should be Design Lights Consortium (DLC) listed, with bulbs that are ENERGY STAR rated, to optimize energy performance while maintaining excellent lighting quality.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – Our standards for IAQ apply during construction of tenant spaces and continue through occupancy. We require the development and execution of a Construction IAQ Management Plan that meets the rigorous standards set by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), including installation of new filtration systems and conducting a building air flush-out to ensure that the indoor environment is healthy and safe. If a flush-out isn’t feasible, the Guide-

lines require a baseline IAQ assessment to be conducted following the completion of construction and prior to occupancy, and continue at periodic intervals during occupancy.

By embedding these standards into our Guidelines, Rockefeller Group not only fosters a healthier environment for our tenants but also sets a benchmark in the industry for responsible building management and operation.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Recognizing the built environment's significant energy demands, Rockefeller Group has made it a top priority to embrace and promote ENERGY STAR throughout its operations. ENERGY STAR, a government-backed program initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aims to help individuals and businesses save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient practices. 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas were selected 25 years ago to become among the first ENERGY STAR buildings recognized by the federal government for having achieved energy efficiency in the top 25% of all commercial buildings.

1271 Avenue of the Americas was recertified for Energy Star in 2023 with a score of 85, ranking among the top 15% of all commercial buildings for energy efficiency.

1271 Avenue of the Americas is ranked in the top 15% of all commercial buildings for energy efficiency

By benchmarking our energy consumption through ENERGY STAR, Rockefeller Group is able to monitor our buildings’ energy efficiency to ensure that we provide exceptional office spaces for our tenants while reducing our environmental impact. We also recommend to our tenants that they install energy-efficient appliances and systems in an effort to provide them with additional cost savings and to further reduce the buildings’ energy consumption.

Our energy conservation efforts extend to our building common spaces, which feature LED lighting fixtures, smart thermostats and ENERGY STARrated HVAC systems.

INNOVATIVE BUILDING MANAGEMENT

In the competitive New York City real estate market where innovation is a key to success, Rockefeller Group is transforming tenant experiences through the integration of cutting-edge technology in our buildings.

Equipped with Advanced Building Maintenance Systems, both 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas can modify indoor air temperatures to the needs and preferences of tenants. The result is often a reduction in HVAC used throughout the buildings.

1271 Avenue of the Americas has been equipped with a new HealthWay Inline Air Purification System. The system, which uses an electrical charge to draw small particles together before they reach the filters, enables the removal of 99.6% of fine particulates, reducing exposure to bacteria and airborne viruses. This performance is near the level of a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which is commonly used in medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing settings and is superior to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendation of MERV-13 filters for commercial buildings, which only eliminate 75% of fine particles.

Rockefeller Group has engaged with our utility provider, Con Edison, to take part in Demand Response Programs for 1221 and 1271 Avenue of the Americas. In so doing, we help ensure a resilient electrical grid for New York City by reducing or shifting electric usage during peak periods. Our participation also reduces our energy consumption, thereby permitting us to pass on savings to our tenants.

At 1271 Avenue of the Americas, we have implemented advanced data analytics to monitor our building systems. This enables a data-driven approach to our management that will help optimize maintenance schedules, predict potential issues and continuously improve overall building efficiency.

OUR COMMITMENT TO REDUCING EMISSIONS

1271 Avenue of the Americas underwent a $600-million redevelopment between 2016 and 2020. Renowned architects Pei Cobb Freed & Partners designed the renovation of this historically significant landmarked tower. As part of the renovation, Rockefeller Group conducted a comprehensive decarbonization study of the building, reflecting our strong commitment to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the building’s overall environmental performance. The study informed Pei Cobb Freed & Partners’ work, and laid the groundwork for designing and implementing effective strategies to achieve the building’s decarbonization goals. The resulting product modernized the building and its systems, including replacng 60-year-old single pane windows with triple-pane glass, which provides 50% more vision area while reducing energy consumption by 40%. Throughout the redevelopment, we focused on opportunities to reduce the building’s carbon footprint, including energy-efficiency upgrades, renewable energy integration and sustainable building practices.

We also conduct tenant engagement events to share energy efficiency best practices in an effort to encourage tenants to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially important in light of New York City’s Local Law 97, which sets strict carbon emissions limits for all buildings and imposes penalties on non-compliant properties. By working with tenants to identify energy saving ideas, we help them save money and achieve their own environmental goals.

OUR COMMITMENT TO GREAT URBAN SPACES

Rockefeller Group completed an historic $50-million investment in the outdoor public space at 1221 Avenue of the Americas. The project transformed the 50-year-old space into a more accessible park with a deep block-long pedestrian area at street level. The plaza has become a new meeting place in Midtown, with the street level and concourse plaza connected by a large staircase with stadium seating for the public to escape the busy sidewalks of Avenue of the Americas and enjoy the open air and views throughout the year. What was once primarily a pass-through plaza became a block-long slice of pedestrian-friendly real estate in America’s largest city. One unanticipated benefit is the new-found popularity of the plaza for holiday photos for the many visitors to the area during the holiday season.

In an announcement regarding the project, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “I applaud the Rockefeller Group for being model New Yorkers and taking action to improve the neighborhood, and I look forward to working with them and others to ensure that Midtown remains a destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike.”

“ I applaud the Rockefeller Group for being model New Yorkers and taking action to improve the neighborhood.”

Eric Adams, New York City Mayor

Broad-based investments like this project that improve the neighborhood and not just the buildings can enhance the experience of the City. The new plaza is a welcome respite located between Bryant Park and Central Park, Fifth Avenue and Times Square. The collaboration between Rockefeller Group’s Core Holdings team and Design & Construction teams has set an example to follow for other cities and municipalities seeking to return more of the streetscape to the public.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Environmental stewardship plays a key part in each new development project. Each project begins with a rigorous environmental review conducted by an independent engineering firm. This critical first step ensures that our initiatives are in full compliance with all environmental regulations and guidelines and that we have identified the environmental challenges we will face if we move forward.

The environmental review evaluates the existing structures and the natural lay of the land, including the topography and surface hydrology. It includes a detailed look at the area’s floodplains and their protective buffers to permit us to mitigate potential water-related issues. The vegetation, soil types and geological characteristics are scrutinized to understand the land’s capacity and resilience. We consider the impact of climate factors, such as extreme weather, on our proposed developments. Furthermore, the study encompasses an evaluation of local wetlands and wildlife, ensuring that natural habitats are preserved and protected. It also assesses the site’s cultural and historical significance, recognizing that some lands hold stories and heritages that deserve respect and preservation.

This review also forecasts possible environmental consequences of the proposed development. It assesses risks related to soil erosion, flooding and the disruption of floodplains. It looks into harm to the local ecosystem, including degradation of surface and groundwater quality, vegetation loss, disruption of wildlife habitats, and impacts on the integrity of wetlands and their buffers.

Environmental reviews are also important because they are integral to the decision-making process of local governing bodies.

We only move forward with a project when we are satisfied with its environmental integrity. Every Rockefeller Group development reflects our commitment to responsible and thoughtful growth.

NEW JERSEY / PENNSYLVANIA

Decades of previous manufacturing use had left the property with environmental concerns that needed to be addressed:

• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soils onsite

• Petroleum compounds from storage tanks

• Asbestos-containing materials in buildings

Spotswood

In November 2021, Rockefeller Group acquired an 86-acre site in Spotswood, NJ. The site was the longtime home of a paper manufacturing plant. The facility operated since 1928 and for nearly a century provided this central New Jersey community with a reliable source of manufacturing jobs. In 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plant closed, leaving the future of the site and the jobs it provided uncertain. Recognizing an opportunity to execute a redevelopment project in a desirable industrial market, and to transform underutilized property, Rockefeller Group acquired the site in 2021 and began construction of a 654,640 SF distribution center in 2022.

Rockefeller Group demolished all the structures, carefully abating all asbestos-containing materials. The project team worked with the NJDEP and EPA to delineate and dispose of all PCB-containing soil and concrete that exceeded EPA thresholds and to design engineering controls to cap any remaining contaminants. Clean concrete and asphalt were recycled and reused as structural fill. Petroleum-containing soils were exported to specialized disposal facilities.

In planning the new development, Rockefeller Group included robust stormwater management controls in accordance with NJDEP’s Department of Water Quality requirements to minimize the risk of flooding at the site. The controls included installation of a bioretention basin to filter runoff, a wet pond to retain water, and onsite artificial wetlands to replace those disturbed by the new development.

Our new building is prepared to accept rooftop solar and will be outfitted with 2 electric vehicle chargers in the parking lot, with infrastructure for an additional 10 chargers. We have also executed a lease with a solar provider to install panels if requested by a tenant or future owner.

Spotswood

MID-ATLANTIC

1901 L Street: The First WELL-Certified Project in the DC Area

The 212,000 SF, 12-story 1901 L Street office tower located in Downtown Washington, DC was redeveloped by our Mid-Atlantic region in partnership with Meridian Group.

It is the first WELL-certified building in the DC area and showcases the improvement that can be made with a strong institutional commitment to occupant satisfaction and welfare. The building had to meet stringent quality standards for air, water, fitness, comfort and wellness in order to be certified. From the design of 1901 L Street to its construction and eventual completion, the joint venture assembled a best-in-class team to construct an exemplary building to lead the way in the competitive DC market.

To meet the rigorous WELL certification standards, the building incorporated several specific health-focused initiatives. Advanced air purification systems and a state-of-the-art water filtration technology were installed to ensure the removal of air pollutants

and the provision of safe drinking water for all occupants. Furthermore, 1901 L Street has been designed with expansive naturally lit areas that improve indoor environmental quality and produce a comfortable space for occupants.

L Street

NORTHEAST

On Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Dupont Street, Rockefeller Group is developing its first New York City project with an afforable housing component. Located within Greenpoint Landing, 16 Dupont Street will contain over 380 apartments, with approximately one-third set aside as affordable. It will also be the company's first all-electric multifamily building, providing a safer, more sustainable building for its residents and cleaner air for the neighborhood.

Being all-electric, 16 Dupont will operate efficiently on today’s grid and be positioned for greater efficiency as New York City increases its reliance on renewable power sources, permitting future owners to avoid expensive retrofitting. Furthermore, the reduced carbon footprint

from being an all-electric building will assure compliance with New York City’s Local Law 97 Greenhouse Gas Emissions limits for years to come. All of this makes the building a more competitive asset for Rockefeller Group.

16 Dupont

Appendix 03

Reporting Boundary

Letter of Assurance GRI Content Index

REPORTING BOUNDARY

LETTER OF ASSURANCE

Methodology

As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, accountability and public disclosure, Rockefeller Group engaged the services of a third-party sustainability consultant to independently assure the data used for our 2023 Environmental Stewardship Report. As part of the review and data assurance process, Rockefeller Group provided the following data for 2022 and 2023:

Sustainable Investment Group (SIG) has been engaged by Rockefeller Group to perform third-party verification and external assurance of energy, water and waste consumption and Scope 1 and Scope 2, GHG Emissions (hereafter referred to as ‘Emissions’) data for the period of 2022 and 2023.

Boundary of Verification

The organizational boundaries for the environmental data inventory are as follows:

1. Aggregate Energy consumption data

2. Aggregate Water consumption data

3. Aggregate Waste production data

4. Aggregate Emissions Data

Responsibilities

The preparation and presentation of the selected information is the sole responsibility of the management of Rockefeller Group.

SIG’s responsibilities were to

• Determine if the measurements of the energy, water, waste and emissions data have been appropriately and accurately prepared, and

• Form an independent conclusion based on the assurance procedures performed and evidence obtained.

Assessment Standard

SIG applied a limited level of assurance to this verification exercise to meet the intended use of public disclosure of environmental performance data.

This level of assurance assesses the environmental data disclosure including energy, water,

waste and emissions data and determines its material correctness.

The report has been prepared in accordance with ISO 14064-3: 2019 for quantification, monitoring and reporting.

Summary of Work Performed

As part of its independent verification, SIG used a combined data and controls testing approach.

Evidence-gathering procedures included but were not limited to:

• Inspect the completeness of the inventory.

• Assess data management controls utilized by the entity: ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

• Review a sample of the consumption and production data against the corresponding source documentation provided by Rockefeller Group.

Assurance Opinion and Summary

Upon the completion of SIG’s review of Rockefeller Group’s Environmental Performance data for the 2022 and 2023 calendar year, we have externally assured the data for environmental data disclosure. We apply an unmodified opinion in accordance with ISO 14064-3: 2019 and assert that there is no evidence that the environmental data disclosure including energy, water and emissions data are not materially correct or are not a fair representation of consumption details.

Our additional findings regarding the data and supplementary comments are as follows:

•The boundaries of the scope were clearly defined and included as part of the sustainability