6 Green Skyscrapers in New York City! (Part 2)

One World Trade Center

While One World Trade Center is not yet complete, the massive tower will be a green beacon on the New York City skyline. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merill, the 1,776-foot tall building will have a fuel cell that will generate 4.8 million watts (MW) to power its various systems and will also use waste steam for electricity. Rain water will be harvested to be used in the high-efficiency cooling towers and to water the extensive greenery on the site. Water will also be the key to keeping WTC employees cool. A highly efficient Central Chiller Plant will siphon water from the nearby Hudson River, converting it to cool air for the entire site. Daylighting plays a huge role in One WTC, and sensors will automatically adjust interior lights depending on the sunlight. Even the construction process is green, with “clean diesel” construction vehicles and recycled building materials.

The New York Times Building

The New York Times Building, though not LEED certified, is a sustainable and energy-efficient building incorporating a slew of green technologies that provide energy savings of 30 percent. Designed by Renzo Piano and FXFOWLE, the tower has a curtain wall, fully glazed with low-e glass, that maximizes natural light while a ceramic-rod screen helps block direct sunlight and reduce cooling loads. Sensor-controlled shades reduce glare, and more than 18,000 individually-dimmable energy-efficient light fixtures supplement the daylight. Forty percent of the building’s energy comes from a natural gas cogeneration plant, and multiple air flow features help the structure require less cooling. To top it off, more than 95 percent of the structural steel is recycled.

Condé Nast Building

Located at 4 Times Square, the Condé Nast Building, like the New York Times Building, is not LEED certified, but is most definitely a green tower. Completed by Fox & Fowle Architects (the firm now known as FXFOWLE) in 1999, the Condé Nast Building uses eco-friendly gas-fired absorption chillers that are coupled with a high-performing insulating and shading curtain wall, negating the need for heating or cooling during most of the year. An air delivery system provides twice as must clean air as required by the city building code, solar power and fuel cells provide clean energy, and recycling chutes serve the entire building.