Greentech Media

Although LEED certification generally applies to buildings in the U.S., many international projects are being certified per the LEED rating system in countries such as China, India and Canada.

One Bryant Park rendering Source: Cook + Fox

Bank of America Tower, One Bryant Park, New York City Commissioned by: the Durst Organization and Bank of America Architect: Cook + Fox Architects Additional Collaborators: The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), The New York State Energy Resource Development Authority (NYSERDA), United States Department of Energy (DOE) LEED Status: Platinum

This building, slated for completion in early 2008, will be the first LEED Platinum office building.

Cook + Fox has a reputation for green and sustainable architecture. One of the most notable features of this building is the co-generation plant in the basement. The tower will be creating its own power and then using the excess produced for a thermal storage system. The "thermal storage system at basement level produces ice in the evening when electricity rates are lowest to reduce peak daytime demand loads on the city." (Cook + Fox)

Other features of the building include:

• A filtered under-floor displacement air-ventilation system and floor-by-floor air-handling units;
• Carbon-dioxide monitors automatically adjust the amount of outdoor air when necessary. Unfortunately,
depending on where the building is located, there is no guarantee that the outdoor air is fresh;
• Graywater system that captures and reuses all rainwater and wastewater;
• Waterless urinals and low-flow fixtures;
• Anaerobic digester plant converts food waste into electricity.