Green Roofs

Green Roofs

The Roof, The Roof, The Roof is Visually Appealing: Two New Green Roofs in Manhattan

Mon

Dec

I'm not trying to brag or anything, but my apartment building has a roof. Yeah, that's right: a roof, right on top of the building. I'll take your high-fives at the end of the post, thanks. Anyway, it's pretty much like any other roof -- keeps the weather out of the interior of the building, mostly tar paper, a few crappy pavers surrounded by planters and a strongly-worded sign from the co-op board reminding residents that leaving the paver-ed area is strictly verboten. Look, it's not a very cool building -- and don't get me started on the inefficient windows in the bedroom -- but I figure that our roof isn't appreciably less cool than most others in the city. Which means that they're less cool by a factor of a thousand than the two new demonstration roofs that recently went on display. The roofs are a collaboration between Town & Gardens landscapers and greenscreen green walls and to say that they are cooler than my roof (or probably yours) is a dramatic understatement.

Grey Global Moves Into LEED-CS-Hopeful Toy Building at 200 Fifth Avenue

Mon

Nov

by Stephen Del Percio

1 comment

Out of the top 50 commercial office leases that were signed in Manhattan back in 2007, the 6th largest was secured by advertising and marketing firm Grey Global Group for a new 370,000-square-foot headquarters at L&L Holding Company's 200 Fifth Avenue. (You may recall that for both calendar years 2007 and 2008, we identified commercial leases that were secured in green buildings, LEED-certified or otherwise, from CoStar's list of the 50 largest deals of the year here in New York City). Last week, Grey actually moved into its new space at 200 Fifth Avenue, where L&L continues to seek formal LEED for Core and Shell certification from USGBC in connection with its $100 million renovation effort of the 100-year old, 15-story tower, which was formerly known as the International Toy Center and designed by Maynicke & Franke.

Red-Hot Green Roofs a Hidden Green Building Risk for Owners and Insurers?

Mon

Sep

by Stephen Del Percio

2 comments

A number of commercial insurers- including Zurich- expressed concerns in a recent issue of Property Week over the increased installation of green roofs across the United Kingdom, believing that some installations have the potential to dry out and become flammable. Stuart Blackie, a risk management consultant for Zurich, argues that green roofs could become hazardous during drought conditions, identifying schools as particularly at an increased risk. “If roof access is easy, it could be quite an easy way to set fire to a school,” he said. Mr. Blackie recommends that green roofs include means for irrigation and that insurers assist their policyholders during the green roof design phase. Blackie also cautioned that Zurich was not implying that buildings with green roofs would not be insured, only that insurers should be consulted prior to construction in order to ensure that a proper maintenance schedule is established and overall risk assessment program executed.

Monday LEEDoff: Nationals Open Gates at America’s First Green Ballpark

Mon

Mar

by Stephen Del Percio

2 comments

Last week, brand-new $611 million Nationals Park, home to the National League East’s Washington Nationals baseball club, officially received a LEED Silver rating from USGBC, becoming the first baseball stadium in the country to earn the designation. Just a scant few days before Major League Baseball’s 2008 Opening Day, the ballpark earned 33 LEED points for a design by HOK Sport that, among other things, respects the park’s location in Southeast adjacent to D.C.’s Anacostia River. So far, so good for the Nats at their new home; Ryan Zimmerman cracked a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the club a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in the first regular season game at the ballpark on Sunday night.