Local Law 86

After taking effect earlier this year, the New York City Green Schools Guide and Rating System (“GSG”) now applies to all new school construction, modernization, and renovation projects in the five boroughs. The GSG and Rating System is based on LEED, but also incorporates elements from the Collaborative for High Performing Schools Rating System (developed by Washington, Massachusetts, and New York States) and the School Construction Authority’s Best Practices. It’s intended to complement Local Law 86 (which mandates LEED Silver for most public projects in New York City).

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. 11 members volunteer their services to the Commission, including an architect, landscape architect, painter, sculptor, and representatives from the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the New York Public Library.

An interesting item appeared in this week’s print edition of Crain’s New York Business. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (“HPD”) is apparently considering the use of the Enterprise Community Partners' Green Communities rating system in connection with affordable housing development here in New York. Crain’s reports that HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan is exploring the possibility of adopting Green Communities as the standard for all HPD housing projects.

The New York Public Library’s Bronx Library Center was awarded LEED Silver certification from USGBC last summer, but USGBC President Rick Fedrizzi officially presented the honor in person at a ceremony last Thursday, January 11th up in The Bronx. The Center is the first publicly-funded green building in New York City to receive LEED certification (noteworthy because the City’s Local Law 86, requiring LEED Silver for many public projects, took effect on January 1, 2007). At five stories, 78,000 square feet, and designed by Dattner Architects, the Center is the New York Public Library’s largest capital project in the past twenty years, at a cost of some $50 million. Green features include FSC-certified desk, door, and interior paneling, an insulated glass curtain wall, and separately controlled heating and cooling areas for office and bookshelf spaces.