This is the Hearst Tower and the view from the 46 stories building near Columbus Circle. Hearst Tower is a “green building” the first building to receive a Gold LEED certified rating for “core and shell and interiors” in New York City. * Over 90% of structural steel contains recycled material * The cost of foreign-sourced materials represents less than 10% of the cost of the construction of the Tower itself. * The “diagrid” frame of the Tower contains roughly 20% less steel than would a conventional perimeter frame ‹ saving approximately 2000 tons of steel. * The waterfall inside uses water collected as rainfall. * Each triangle in the diagrid is four stories tall, or 54 feet. * Daylight sensors to control lighting and reduce energy use The environmentally conscious approach began prior to construction. When demolishing the interior portions of the existing, six-story structure, Hearst and its team of building professionals went to great lengths to collect and separate recyclable materials. As a result, about 85 percent of the original structure was recycled for future use. Hearst executives also selected an innovative type of glass that wraps around the exterior of the building. The glass has a special “low-E” coating that allows for internal spaces to be flooded with natural light while keeping out the invisible solar radiation that causes heat. Hearst also will utilize technology that senses activity level. At lunchtime, when some employees are leaving or not using …
Enjoyed this article?
More information on Go Green Tips!
