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May 12, 2009

Is NYC The Greenest Building City Today?

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Posted in Construction, Design, Energy, Northeast & New England, Urbanism

Whenever I see my friend James D’Addio, the architectural photographer, I ask him about which new green buildings he’s been shooting. Not surprisingly, in a city with dedicated green building blogs and the NYC Department of Design & Construction’s award-winning programs, NYC may be the greenest city in the United States.  Here two projects in NYC that exemplify where green building is going.

It seems like if a building is going up, its just as likely as not to be green. McGraw-Hill research tells us that 53% of building professionals expect to be dedicated to green on over 60% of their projects in the next five years. It seems like there is ample opportunity for innovation in the building industries despite a downturn in overall building. I guess NYC is as good a place as any to lead the charge.

Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower, which sits atop a 1928 landmark building in Manhattan is engineered to use 25% less energy than required by code and boasts the world’s largest “air conditioner.” The two-story, stepped waterfall is also a huge radiant cooling system that along with other measures saves 1.7 million gallons of water every year. Other interesting facts about the building include:

  • 90% of the structural steel used came from recycled materials
  • More than 80% of the orginal structure was recycled for future use
  • 26% less energy was used during construction
  • Light sensors and controls throughout the building
  • It has a 14,000 gallon water reclamation system in the basement

    • The Visionaire apartment building by Pelli Clarke Pelli, is considered one of the most sustainable residential high-rises in the country. According to The New York Real Estate Journal the building has:

  • a high-performance envelope with a terracotta rain-screen curtain wall, with reflective low-e insulated glass, and over 4,500 sf of integrated photovoltaic solar paneling.
  • high-efficiency fresh-air supply and exhaust system
  • centrally filtered water
  • an in-building wastewater treatment system that resupplies toilets and central air-conditioning
  • rainwater harvested for use on the pesticide-free roof gardens.

    • Apartments also have sustainably harvested wood floors and kitchens finished with “natural materials chosen for…their environmentally responsible and healthful properties.”

    What do you think?  Is NYC the greenest?  James says wait until you see the project he’s shooting right now…

    Photos by James D’Addio Photographer

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