New electric vehicle charging stations have been installed at The Colonnade, the first public chargers available at any major retail and office development in the Birmingham area.

The location of the chargers, near the crossroads of Interstate 459 and U.S. 280, make them ideal for use by local owners of electric vehicles as well as interstate travelers passing through the Birmingham area.

“The two chargers are free for anyone with an electric vehicle to use, day or night,” said Rhoda Kattus, real estate manager with the Birmingham office of CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm. CBRE manages The Colonnade for owners DRA Advisors.

“This is a great amenity, not only for our retail shoppers, but for our office tenants in the six office buildings and three hotels,” Kattus said.

Kattus worked with CBRE property managers in Atlanta who serve Atlantic Station, a mixed-use development with public electric car charging stations, to ensure The Colonnade would follow the same successful pattern Atlanta has in place.

Alabama Power has partnered with CBRE to provide electrical service and support the project.

“Expanding access to electric vehicle charging stations is a vital step in making our community more sustainable,” said Bobbie Knight, Alabama Power Birmingham Division vice president.

Alabama Power Market Specialist Emily Breaseale worked with CBRE on the project.

“We were pleased to consult with CBRE on its installation of the charging stations,” Breaseale said. “They are located in a vital intersection of the community, and we know they will be a benefit to residents of Birmingham and people traveling around the region.”

Breaseale said with the surging growth of the electric vehicle market, Alabama Power looks forward to advising other customers in the area on charging station options as the technology becomes more widely adopted by auto manufacturers and drivers.

“We are proud to contribute to the sustainability efforts here in Birmingham,” Kattus said. “This is another, positive step in the greening of our city and the entire region.”

CBRE has been ranked as the No. 1 real estate firm in Newsweek magazine’s “Green Rankings of the 500 Largest Publicly Traded U.S. Companies” list for five straight years.