Jun 22 2016
Arup, the interdisciplinary engineering, consulting and design services firm has announced the certification of LEED® Silver for The Fulton Center. Developed by the USGBC, the LEED rating system is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.
The Fulton Center, a modern subway interchange that revitalizes post-9/11 Lower Manhattan, is an important hub for the more than 300,000 transit riders who pass through the center's 11 subway lines and New Jersey PATH connection each weekday. Reuniting six separate subway stations in the blocks around the World Trade Center, City Hall Park, and Broadway, is the Fulton Center, which also includes the intricate historic preservation and restoration of the landmarked Corbin Building as an entry and retail pavilion and office location.
One of the first transit centers in the United States to seek certification under the LEED system, the Fulton Center was designed in accordance with New York State Governor's Executive Order 111, promulgated in 2001. It is the first MTA subway station facility to be awarded a LEED certification, a designation achieved by implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions to achieve high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. "The use of the LEED rating system," notes Arup Principal Fiona Cousins, "was instrumental in keeping both the design and construction teams focused on realizing sustainable performance over the long life of the project."
Through the celebration of mass transit, adaptive reuse of historic structures, maximization of natural light, and enhancement of the indoor environment, the design team integrated powerful sustainable design concepts in ways that will improve facility performance as well as benefit millions of riders.
The improved subway experience will encourage the use of public transportation for New Yorkers and visitors. In addition, the facility has achieved tremendous outcomes including a 25 percent energy savings and 40 percent water savings compared to similar facilities. Over 50 percent of the electricity consumed in the Fulton Center comes from renewable energy sources while over 30 percent of construction materials used throughout the project contained recycled content and over 50 percent was locally sourced.
Arup's project director, principal Craig Covil who helped lead the project for over 11 years, says, "A fundamental goal was to optimize the Fulton Center's dynamic system performance – in terms of comfort and amenity, functionality, resource and energy efficiency, economic return and the life-cycle value to enhance human health and productivity."
"The Fulton Center's LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership," says Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "The urgency of USGBC's mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before and the Fulton Center is a prime example of just how much we can accomplish."
"As you stand in the space today, you can see the major use of natural sunlight to help intuitive way finding, and reduce energy use. The facility air is tempered and noise mitigation measures have been utilized to improve overall comfort felt by commuters, public, tourists and workers within the facility."