Sustainability+Project

=** The Hearst Tower  ** =

Among some of the best examples of Green architectural designs lies the Hearst Tower. This unique structure proves to the world that green architect methods and eco-friendly, green design does not have to be boring. This is a building that is highly energy efficient and a role model for the practice of sustainability in the architectural and construction fields. The tower was designed by the Pritzker prize winning architect Norman Foster, structurally engineered by WSP Cantor Seinuk , and constructed by Turner construction. It is 46 stories tall, standing 182 meters with 80,000 square meters of office space.   The uncommon triangular framing pattern (also known as a diagrid ) required 9,500 metric tonso f structural steel. Hearst Tower was the first skyscraper to break ground in New York City after September 11, 2001 . The building received the 2006 Emporis Skyscraper Award siting it as the best skyscraper in the world completed that year.

Hearst Tower is the first "green" high rise office building completed in New York City, with a number of environmental considerations built into the plan. The floor of the atrium is paved with heat conductive limestone. Polyethylene tubing is embedded under the floor and filled with circulating water for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Rain collected on the roof is stored in a tank in the basement for use in the cooling system, to irrigate plants and for the water sculpture in the main lobby. 85% of the building's structural steel contains recycled material. Overall, the building has been designed to use 26% less energy than the minimum requirements for the city of New York, and earned a gold designation from the United States Green Building Counci l certification program, becoming New York City's first Green skyscraper. media type="file" key="Project.wmv" align="center" width="300" height="300"