Hearst Tower Leed Certified in “Gold”
by John Laumer, Philadelphia 
on 09.25.06
We're guessing that Randolph himself would have been proud of a "gold certification". From the press release: Hearst Corporation President & CEO Victor F. Ganzi and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) President, CEO and Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi have announced that "Hearst Tower in Midtown Manhattan has achieved official "green" status--the first office building in New York City to be recognized by the USGBC for high environmental performance both on its exterior (core and shell) and interior fit-out and systems". Key features include Low-E glass in the building envelope, light sensors to control the amount of artificial light on each floor based on the amount of natural light available, activity level sensors that control both lights and computers, high efficiency HVAC systems, and use of outside makeup air for cooling and ventilation for 75 percent of the year, plus, use of Energy Star appliances. See excerpt below the fold for Hearst-provided details on an intriguing rainwater collection and re-use scheme and decor choices.
"Hearst is also employing pioneering technologies in order to conserve and more efficiently use water. For example, Hearst's roof has been designed to collect rainwater, which will reduce the amount of water dumped into the City's sewer system during rainfall by 25 percent. The rainwater is then harvested in a 14,000-gallon reclamation tank located in the basement of the Hearst Tower. The water is used to replace water lost to evaporation in the office air-conditioning system. It also feeds into a special pumping system to irrigate plantings and trees inside and outside of the building. It is expected that the captured rain will produce about half of the watering needs while also serving to humidify and chill the Tower's ten-story atrium as necessary".
“…Walls…are coated with low-vapor paints. Workstations and offices are furnished with desks, chairs and other furniture that is formaldehyde-free. Concrete surfaces are furnished with low-toxicity sealants. The floors beneath and the ceiling tiles above were manufactured with recycled content, and the wood is harvested from sustainable forests."
Photo credit Architectural Record.
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Funny that I just watched a show about steel and they featured this building. One thing they left out is that the building required less steel because if the crossbraced design. The design lets in more light as well. A sort of green feature and a practical one is they offset the core of the building to the side facing the black colored tower next to it so that people wouldn't have an obstructed view. That becomes a green feature when you consider less artifical light is needed.
Anyone have any idea where to review or find e-friendly paints and sealants?
What a cool high rise tower. and green!..........
hey there treehuggers, any chance anybody out there would know where i get some info on the construction of this building, images etc. cheers
It's a vocum tower.
is the the height of the tower from the top of the old buliding or the base?
Great post. I referenced you in a recent post on my blog about the Visionaire...
Treehugger is an awesome blog, thanks for the hard work. :)