Polshek Partnership Architects

ML: Richmond County Supreme Court Building by Polshek Partnership Architects

Mon

Dec

It’s not the type of green building legal news we’ve been reporting over at GRELJ recently, but New York City, DASNY, and the borough of Staten Island broke ground last week on a new five-story state Supreme Court building for Richmond County. The $220 million project will rise in the St. George section on the site of a former municipal parking lot and should be completed sometime in 2012. As an attorney who has appeared out on Staten Island, I can attest that the project is sorely needed to consolidate the borough’s outdated court facilities that are currently spread out across separate buildings; the new courthouse will include Supreme Court, criminal court, and jury assembly space.

ML: Platinum Mercy Corps Action Center Set to Open in Battery Park City's Riverhouse

Mon

Oct

by Stephen Del Percio

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We wrote about the Mercy Corps Action Center to End World Hunger earlier this year; the $5.4 million, 4000-square-foot interactive education facility is set to open this Thursday, October 16 (which is World Food Day) within community space at the Sheldrake Organization's Riverhouse condominiums. Designed by Edwin Schlossberg’s ESI Design, the Center is seeking a LEED Platinum rating from USGBC.

The Center's mission is to both educate and inspire visitors to take action against poverty and hunger. Four "training towers" provide case studies from different countries - conflict in Afghanistan, government in Indonesia, global warming in Niger, and land use in Guatemala. Benches made from wood reclaimed from houses destroyed during Hurricane Katrina lace the Center's interiors, while Tina Fey hosted video provides an overview of the Center's offerings. Visitors are encouraged to take action that requires either one minute (emailing themselves information about how to get involved) or one day (hosting a dinner fundraiser).

Monday LEEDoff: Architecture and Sustainability Meet at Riverhouse in Battery Park City

Mon

Apr

by Stephen Del Percio

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One particular critique of LEED that I frequently hear about is how the rating system does not recognize design excellence. Integrating sustainable elements into green architecture that captures the imagination is a challenge, and many architects believe that LEED should provide recognition to projects that are able to do so successfully.