LEED Gold

Over two years ago, we wrote about 1870 Eastern Parkway, a 41-unit, 3-building affordable condominium complex in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. The project, which was designed by Dattner Architects and developed by Habitat for Humanity, was completed back in September and is seeking a LEED Gold rating from USGBC. Earlier this week, we were happy to read that 27 families have already moved into the complex and, according to Brownstoner, all 41 of the units have been sold to applicants who earn between 45 and 80 percent of the area's median annual income at an average price of $145,000. Although nearly 90,000 people live in Brownsville, only 16 percent of residents actually own their homes; median household income is less than $21,000. The 41 units at 1870 Eastern Parkway are twice the number that Habitat for Humanity will produce in a typical year, and residents should save up to 30 percent on their energy bills thanks to Dattner's design program, which also specified various low-VOC and recycled-content materials.

On August 6, Westhampton Beach's Village Hall formally earned Suffolk County's first LEED Gold rating from USGBC. The $5.45 million project was completed back in 2006; interestingly, the project's construction manager, Sandpebble Builders of Southampton, blamed the three-year lag on the "slow process" of applying for formal LEED certification. The project earned 48 points under the LEED for New Construction Version 2.2 rating system and the town has noted a 40 percent drop in utility costs since the building opened. Green features include air diffusers in individual offices, carbon dioxide sensors, and LEED-standard low-VOC paints and sealants, efficient lighting and plumbing fixtures, a graywater system, and indigenous landscaping.

USGBC recently awarded to Manhattanville College New York State's tenth Gold rating under its LEED for New Construction Version 2.1 rating system. Located in Purchase, New York, the school's 35,000-square-foot Student Center for the Creative Arts was completed in March of 2008 and is the third LEED-certified project built by contractor E.W. Howell. (We've written about the other two- the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island and Greenburgh Public Library in Westchester). The Manhattanville Student Center was designed by Hastings-on-Hudson-based architects Peter Gisolfi Associates and incorporates a variety of green design features, including recycled-content (18 percent) and locally-sourced (23.2 percent) building materials. 13 percent of the building's electric load is sourced from solar panels and 52 percent of wood products are FSC-certified. Low-VOC paints and sealants and Green Label carpeting were certified throughout. E.W. Howell was also able to recycle 94 percent of construction debris during the project's construction phase.

Last week, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden unveiled a final set of plans for a new Visitor Center pavilion designed by architects Weiss/Manfredi to pursue LEED Gold certification from USGBC. The building would join the LEED Platinum-certified Queens Botanical Garden Visitor's Center, which was the first LEED Platinum-certified building anywhere in New York City. When completed, the 22,000-square-foot Visitor Center will be the first new structure at the Botanic Garden in over 20 years. Funtionally, the pavilion will include an orientation room for visitors, a shop, event space, restrooms, and a cafe.