The city of New York has been committed to implementing sustainable building practices since 1997. Over the years, the city has made significant advances in greenhouse emissions reduction, energy saving, and in creating a healthier environment. Below is a selection of the most well-known green office buildings in New York City

 Hearst Tower

This office development is located in the vicinity of Columbus Circle and serves as the global headquarters of the Hearst Communications Group. The building is often referred to as the most environmentally friendly office building in the Green Apple. In 2012, it received two LEED Certifications: Gold for New Construction and Platinum for Sustainable Building Operations. Although the tower itself was built in 1928 with no special regard for sustainability, in 2006 it underwent a makeover led by prestigious architect Norman Foster, and soon after it received the Emporis Skyscraper award. Te tower’s sustainable features include low-toxicity furniture and paint, automatically regulated artificial light, innovative cooling and heating systems, the reuse of collected rainwater, and the use of recycled construction materials, which make up 85 percent of the building’s structure. Overall, Hearst Tower is 26 percent more energy efficient than a standard skyscraper.

One Bryant Park

Also known as the Bank of America Tower, this 51-story office building is often listed among the world’s most sustainable buildings of its kind. Construction was completed in 2010 and soon after the building received a LEED Platinum certification, becoming the first skyscraper to receive it in North America. Recent reconstruction efforts have focused on preserving certain architectural elements (such as the early 20th century facade) while adding advanced sustainable elements that improved the building’s overall green ratings. Green features include an innovative air filtration system, rooftop gardens that reuse compost produced at building’s eating venues, water reclamation systems, the installation of waterless urinals, and an ice cooling system that significantly reduces air conditioning usage.One World Trade Center

The tallest building in the Western hemisphere has an exceptional location in the heart of lower Manhattan and boasts excellent sustainability ratings. This impressive office building has received an LEED Gold certification in recognition of its green approach to construction, maintenance, design, and operations. This skyscraper was completed in 2014 and consists of 104 floors where the use of smart technologies results in optimal energy and water use efficiency, while reducing waste and pollution. One World Trade Center has been built to allow natural light into 90 percent of the building’s usable areas, and is fitted with high-performance glass that prevent heat accumulation and reduce exposure to ultraviolet and infrared light. Moreover, the building’s elevator motors are able to work as generators, and there is an advanced building management system in place that adjusts air quality and energy use settings.

Conde Nast Building

This is a 48-storey tower that offers 1.6 million square feet of office space. Although the building lacks an LEED certification, it still is a clear example of high-performance green building practices. This office building was completed in 1999 and boasted a ground-breaking design that reduced the need for heating or cooling except when under extreme weather. The architects went beyond the legal requirements stated in the city’s building code and created an air circulation system that allowed 50 percent more outside air into the building’s work areas. Other notable features include responsive lighting controls that automatically adjust their settings depending on time of day and occupancy volume, and gas-fired absorption chillers to reduce overall energy requirements.

Empire State Building

New York’s most iconic skyscraper is also an example of sustainability. In 2011, the building was retrofitted and subsequently awarded a LEED Gold Certification and a Class A rating . The project was so successful than energy savings exceeded the forecast, and were reduced by $7.5m over a period of three years. The green retrofit project focused on implementing automated building management systems, but also included an overhaul of insulation systems, which entailed the replacement of every single window in the building – and there are more than 6,000 of them!.

Sources:

(1) https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ddc/about/sustainable-design.page
(2) https://www.multihousingnews.com/post/hearst-tower-is-new-york-citys-most-sustainable-office-building/
(3) https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/hearst-tower-is-new-york-citys-most-sustainable-office-building-2/
(4) http://www.durst.org/properties/one-bryant-park
(5) http://www.durst.org/pdf/OBP_sustainability_overview.pdf
(6) https://www.onewtc.com/leasing
(7) http://www.som.com/news/one_world_trade_center_becomes_tallest_leed_building_in_the_western_hemisphere
(8) https://www.honestbuildings.com/project/#!/view/64525/the-conde-nast-building-at-4-times-square
(9) https://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/09/13/empire-state-buildings-green-transformation-earns-leed-gold
(10) https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-community/resources/empire-state-building-retrofit-exceeds-energy-savings-cutting-75m-energy-costs-over-three-years/