News
LADY GAGA OF REAL ESTATE
May 21, 2010
| Like the "Poker Face" diva, the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park has gone Platinum (LEED-CS style). It's now officially the most environmentally advanced high-rise office building in the world. Last night, during the grand opening, owners The Durst Org. and BoA, along with USGBC made the announcement. |
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| Grand opening? Never mind that the 2.1M SF building has been occupied since '08—what's another two years among friends, jokes Durst prez Jody Durst (second from left), noting the idea for the building was first thought up in '67. Here, he's joined by USGBC CEO Rick Fedrizzi, Mayor Mike, BoA chief marketing officer Anne Finucane, former VP Al Gore (a tower tenant), Durst assistant VPs Alexander Durst and Helena Durst, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, architect Cook+Fox's Rick Cook, and students from PS 43. Gore spoke as a tenant and green champion, saying the building is a fresh reminder to pay attention to architecture and development, as commercial buildings are responsible for 30% of carbon emissions. |
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| Here, the group ceremoniously waters a vegetable garden—the owners say they back Bloomberg's school garden initiative, and BoA announced that it's donating $125k to help 100 NYC schools. (Hizzoner reminded us what his favorite vegetable is—steak—but admits he likes broccoli and brussels sprouts, too.) The building is a new testament to the boldness and innovation that have long been the city's hallmarks, he says. Nifty features: a high-performance glass-curtain wall, under-floor air delivery system, an on-site co-gen plant, close proximity to mass transit, and the capture and reuse of nearly all rain and sink water. The project includes the newly opened Stephen Sondheim Theatre, the first green theater on Broadway. (Just announced: It'll host "The Pee-wee Herman Show" this fall.) |
