What does New York City have that other places don't?
We'll let you ponder that question for a moment. Besides incredible pizza and more language diversity than anywhere else in the world, what do we have that other places don't?
If you guessed amazing architecture, you were right. We do have some of the most stunning, complex, and environmentally conscious architecture out there.
It only takes one stroll down any of NYC's avenues to be completely enthralled with the stunning architecture all around. Which buildings are the most stunning?
We've compiled a list of 7 of the most architecturally complex, environmentally friendly buildings in NYC below. Enjoy.
1. The Schermerhorn (160 Schermerhorn Street)
Via Inhabitat
The Schermerhorn provides housing for artists, low-income professionals, and the formerly homeless living with HIV/AIDS or mental health needs. The building has on-site social services provided by the Center for Urban Community Services.
It's got rooftop gardens, a high-efficiency boiler system, and LEED certification. It was developed by the Actors Fund and the Common Ground Community for single adults.
The building also has a fitness room, a 2,000 square-foot performance space, and a glass façade. Monthly rent starts at $635, and applicants gross income must be between $21,770 and $36,300.
2. The Bank of America Tower (One Bryant Park)
chris.a.l.edwards Everyone loves this city. The next few days I'm going to post some new images taken from the top of the empire state building. No matter how many times I come up here I'm always amazed at the views and wonder of it all. | | First view is of the Bank of America building, one of the first large scale green buildings in the city. | | #instapicture #ilovenyc #iloveny #cityscapes #instagramnyc #empirestate #SonyAlpha #sony #sonyimage #sonyimages #midtown #ShotwithSony #colourful_shots #sonya7rii #sonya7 #bankofamerica #bankofamericatower #empirestatebuilding #sunset #sunsets
The Bank of America Tower is LEED Platinum certified. It's not just that, though, it was the first tower in the world to ever be LEED Platinum certified.
Its designers emphasized daylight, fresh air, and a connection to outdoors. It's got a thermal storage system, a clean-burning cogeneration plant on-site which lowers the building's electricity demand by 30%, and captures rainfall to reuse it as toilet water.
This concept, along with its waterless urinals and low-flow fixtures, save 7.7 million gallons of water per year.
91.1% of its building material was diverted from landfill, and its still was made from 75% recycled content. It's also got floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls, so the building's tenants can use natural light instead of electricity often. Holla.
3. The Empire State Building (350 5th Avenue)
leonardosp_leo #Repost @empirestatebldg with @repostapp ・・・ Get your cameras ready — it’s time for the 2015 My #EmpireStateBuilding Photo Contest! Today through November 2nd, submit your best photo of or from our building with #ESBHeartofNYC for a chance to win $5,000. Learn more (click our bio link): http://bit.ly/1OJzuFZ Photo by 2014 finalist Kenneth Libo-on.
The Empire State Building underwent a massive green renovation in the fall of 2011, which earn it LEED Gold certification.
The overhaul took more than two years, which included replacing the building's windows with double hung operable windows, and low-flow bathroom fixtures.
The renovation resulted in saving nearly 40% of energy in the building, including 6,000 insulated reflective barriers behind radiator units, and the installation of dimmable lights, proving that a building does not have to be new to be green.
The renovation project saved $4.4 million in energy costs.
4. The New York Times Building (229 West 43rd Street)
Did you know that 95% of the structural steel used in the building of the New York Times Building was recycled?
Yeah, we didn't either. Though not LEED certified, it's super energy efficient that uses a lot of green technologies like sensor-controlled shades, and more than 18,000 dimmable energy-efficient light fixtures.
40% of the building's energy comes from a natural gas cogeneration plant, and multiple air flow features make the building to require less cooling.
,5. 41 Cooper Square (41 Taras Shevchenko Place)
synthesisdna Snuck out of a meeting for a quick peek at #41CooperSquare by @morphosisarchitects. #morphosis #ilookup #architecture #cooperunion #architectureporn
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne and his architecture firm Morphosis, 41 Cooper Square has got to be The Cooper Union's dopest academic building.
In the buildings' design, the environment was Mayne's top priority. It's armed with an array of features that reduce energy and enhance the environment, ringing as true as possible to Peter Cooper's optimistic objective: to provide an education "as free as water and air."
It's got "skip stop"elevators that make stops at the first, fifth, and eighth floors, encouraging people to use the stairs and sky bridges. It's got stainless steel panels that reduce the impact of heat radiation and insulate interior spaces. 75% of its regularly occupied spaces are lit by natural daylight.
Maybe this is why the U.S. Green Building Council awarded 41 Cooper Square with the LEED Platinum rating, its highest certification of a building's green features. It's the first academic building in NYC to do so!
6. Hearst Tower (300 West 57th Street)
dianawdouglas Today was my last day at Hearst Magazines. It's surreal that I won't head back to the tower tomorrow. What an honor it was to work alongside some of the smartest, most hard working people in the media business. I'm incredibly thankful for such a rewarding opportunity. Onward and upward! #HearstMagazines #Hearst #HearstTower #newchapter #thisisntgoodbye #thankyou #HR #lastday
Originally built in 1928 and then renovated in 2006, the Hearst Tower was the first "green" high rise office building completed in NYC!
It was designed by Foster and Partners, and its jagged silhouette was designed to use 21% less steel than other buildings of its type. That's not even the best part, though. The best part is that 90% of its 10,480 tons of steel was derived from recycled material.
Hell yeah, Foster and Partners! That's what we're talking about. It's got heat conductive limestone paving its atrium floor, and rainwater is collected on the roof and then stored in the basement.
It was also the first skyscraper to be built after September 11th. It was NYC's first LEED Gold certified skyscraper, and received the 2006 Emporis Skyscraper Award.
7. Via Verde (700 Brook Avenue - Bronx)
Via Verde won the New York Legacy competition by combining metropolis and nature.
The building contains a series of green roofs to harvest rainwater and grow fruits and vegetables and provide open space for residents. They've also got open air courtyards, a health education and wellness center, a fitness center, and bicycle storage areas.
Its apartments are also available to a range of incomes, providing 151 affordable rental apartments and 71 more expensive co-ops. The building also has a first floor "work" space.
It's also good aluminum, panoramic windows, and solar panels. We're not surprised by the fact that it won the New York Legacy Competition, nor by the fact that its living spaces are completely sold.
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