Inside America's greenest skyscraper
An exclusive look at how One Bryant Park, which was awarded the highest green honor, saves so much energy.
One Bryant Park, a 52-story new tower one block from Times Square, recently became the only tall building in the United States to earn top status -- LEED Platinum -- from the US Green Building Council. The building's designers and developer emphasizes what One Bryant Park will avoid -- excess energy use, overwatering, wasted space -- when touring the space. "There's nothing new here," says architect Bob Fox of Cook+Fox. "It's just put together in a better way."
The real estate business is in a confused state: any available land and investment available goes to buildings with innovative green features, but there's a perception that it takes huge upfront capital to score big in sustainability.
As this guide to the newest and most celebrated green skyscraper in the country shows, that's not always the case. The recipe for any building will vary with site, budget, tenants, and the timing of the business cycle. Here are the principles that shaped Manhattan's most glimmering new address -- and can shape a smart office development anywhere in the country.
NEXT: Use only what you need.