Green building

One World Trade Center receives LEED Gold certification

The Durst Organization, New York City, and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that One World Trade Center has achieved the rating of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold v2.0 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

One World Trade Center was awarded the LEED Gold v2.0 rating for its standards across multiple categories, including energy, water, lighting, materials, transportation, air quality and people. The 3 million-square-foot office tower is more than 70 percent leased.

Among many positive attributes contributing to the office tower’s LEED Gold certification, the USGBC noted that One World Trade Center:

• used more than 25 percent recycled content, 35 percent regional materials and 50 percent certified wood;
• was designed to reduce its energy use 18.3 percent below the baseline;
• met requirements for 50 percent potable water use reduction for irrigation by using drip irrigation;
• achieved lighting efficiency goals;
• includes ventilation systems that perform well in excess of the minimum indoor air quality requirements, achieved through a substantial air filtration system installation.

One World Trade Center provides direct, weather-protected connections to 11 subway lines, the PATH train, and the Hudson River ferries. In addition, the West Concourse pedestrian walkway—which connects the World Trade Center campus to Brookfield Place and Battery Park City—now offers access to the newly opened World Trade Center Transportation Hub and to the entrance to One World Observatory.

The building provides access to retail shops, restaurants and services, and the new MTA Fulton Transit Center.

Sacramento Kings’ Golden 1 Center certified LEED Platinum

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) certified Golden 1 Center, the new downtown Sacramento, California, home of the Sacramento Kings, as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum.

The Sacramento Kings’ commitment to power the arena entirely with solar energy, in addition to its resource conservation, transportation planning and green design led Golden 1 Center to receive the LEED Platinum certification.

Working alongside Los Angeles-based architect AECOM, the Sacramento Kings focused on creating never-before-seen sustainability features that take advantage of Sacramento’s resources. The arena was constructed with 36 percent recycled materials, diverted 95 percent of construction debris and recycled 99 percent of its demolition debris.

It combines the use of displacement ventilation and crowdsourced feedback to maximize fan comfort. Five massive hangar doors above the grand entrance will open and allow the arena to use the Delta Breeze to control the building’s climate efficiently. The arena’s urban-smart solar energy system provides a solution for generating the power for the venue’s over 200 events all year long.