Aug 6 2010
The Saatchi & Saatchi building in lower Manhattan has become the first existing—as opposed to brand new—office building in the city to win a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design "Gold" certification for its environmental friendliness from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The designation of 375 Hudson St. came after a massive retrofitting effort by owner Tishman Speyer. The rating for the 19-story, 1.08-million-square-foot office building is the USGBC's second-highest.
"This achievement at 375 Hudson reflects our global commitment to sustainable development and operations," said Tishman Speyer co-chief Jerry Speyer in a statement. "We want to thank our tenants at 375 Hudson for being partners in achieving this important milestone."
In May, the 950-foot Bank of America Tower at Sixth Avenue and West 42nd Street became the first newly-constructed office tower in New York to win LEED-Platinum certification—the highest rating. But it is a newly-constructed building designed from the ground-up to provide such green goodies as abundantly filtered air and natural light, as well as many energy-conserving features.
At 375 Hudson, Tishman Speyer implemented several sustainability measures to improve energy and reduce water consumption.
At 375 Hudson, Tishman Speyer implemented several sustainability measures. Changes and upgrades at the 23-year-old building include improved heat exchangers to improve efficiency, replacing original restroom fixtures to reduce annual water consumption by 1 million gallons, and installing variable frequency drives on the cooling tower fans that reduce electricity consumption by 110,000 kilowatt-hours per year.
The building has also adopted an expanded recycling program that encompasses batteries, electronic waste and construction debris in addition to office paper and waste. It has also implemented the state's "Green Cleaning" policy, under which it exclusively uses sustainable cleaning and janitorial paper supplies.
In addition, the building between West Houston and King streets has earned the "Energy Star" designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its energy efficiency. To top it all off, anchor tenant Saatchi & Saatchi has even planted a rooftop herbs and vegetables garden.
In addition to serving as the New York headquarters for advertising giant Saatchi & Saatchi, 375 Hudson houses publishing powerhouse Penguin Group and Turner Construction Company.
Source: http://www.tishmanspeyer.com/