Earlier this week, the New York City Art Commission approved Rafael Viñoly’s design for the 49,000-square-foot 121st Police Precinct on Staten Island; the project aims to be Gotham’s first LEED-certified police facility. The Art Commission, which was founded back in 1898, serves as New York City’s design review agency, reviewing permanent works of art, architecture, and landscape architecture that are planned for construction or renovation across the five boroughs.
May 21st, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 1 comment | ContinuedStaten Island
Fresh Kills: A Beacon of Renewable Energy
Staten Island, home to the un-greenest mess in New York City in the form of the former Fresh Kills landfill, has been popping up recently on the sustainable radar. Now, it’s the mess itself that may be the answer to the greening of energy for all of New York City. Well, the beginning of an answer. Last week, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro wrote an op-ed in City Hall (and posed with a rather cute model of a wind turbine for his photo) about a proposal to build seven 400-foot wind turbines that could generate 17 megawatts of energy - situated right at the site of the landfill. All this could be done, he wrote, for a mere $40 million funded by a private operator, at no cost to the city. Unfortunately, those 17 megawatts are only enough to power 5000 homes.
May 19th, 2008 | Alex Padalka | 1 comment | Continued
Rafael Vinoly’s 121st Precinct Stationhouse Lands LEED on Staten Island
It’s not often we hear about Staten Island on the cutting edge of green building. But the oft-forgotten borough is home to at least two bold new LEED projects currently underway: a police station and a mixed-use riverfront. The NYPD’s 121st Precinct Stationhouse has been designed pursuant to Local Law 86, which requires most new city-owned or operated buildings to obtain at least a LEED Silver rating. There is presently scant information available about the 47,000-square-foot, Rafael Vinoly-designed project, which will be the first LEED Silver police precinct in the city. The cantilevered structure extends linearly out from the site’s irregular footprint, connecting the public both to the natural landscape behind the precinct and, symbolically, to the NYPD housed within.
April 9th, 2008 | Stephen Del Percio | 1 comment | Continued