Page 40 - Green Building Through Integrated Design

18 GREEN BUILDINGS TODAY

Figure 2.2 Designed
by Cook + Fox Architects,
with abundant daylighting
and use of local materials,
the $1 million Bank of
America Tower at One
Bryant Park in New York
City is aiming for a LEED-
NC Platinum certification.
The project begins move-
in during the spring of
2008. ©Gunther Intelmann
Photography, Inc.

What will likely become the world’s largest LEED Platinum–certified building, the
Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park in New York City, scheduled to begin occu-
pancy in 2008, provides a new standard for high-rise green buildings worldwide. Shown
in Fig. 2.2, this 52-story high-rise commercial building in the heart of New York demon-
strates a commitment to sustainable design, as well as investment in the future by the
building’s owners, Bank of America and the Durst Organization. The project involves
2.1 million square feet of office space, onsite water recycling and an onsite cogeneration
plant with ice storage for peak-load reductions. Architectural features include a high-
performance glass curtain wall and a crystalline glass look; the building’s faceted crys-
tal form allows more sunlight to hit the street, and the reflections off the building will
capture the changing angles of the sun. It also reduces wind loads on the building.
The project architects, Cook + Fox, are great supporters of an integrated design
process and employed it in this project. According to architect Robert Fox, the keys to
integrated design and eco-charrettes for such projects (and which will be found in
many of the other projects) are*

*Interview with Robert Fox, Cook + Fox Architects, January 2008.