Green Building Materials

American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge New York City Earns LEED Gold

Fri

Apr

The American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey announced earlier this week that its Hope Lodge New York City, Jerome L. Greene Family Center has earned LEED Gold certification from USGBC. Located at 132 West 32nd Street adjacent to Penn Station, the project was part of the much larger, 459-unit Epic rental apartment building, co-developed by the Durst Organization and Franciscan friars of the adjacent Holy Name parish on West 31st Street. The Hope Lodge was designed by New Haven-based CAMA, Inc.; SLCE Architects and FXFOWLE were architects for the building superstructure. (Note that The Epic was seeking a LEED Silver rating from USGBC, but it's unclear whether the project actually earned formal certification).

Green Depot Manhattan to Open at Bowery Landmark

Thu

Apr

by Stephen Del Percio

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Brooklyn-based green building materials and products supplier Green Depot announced yesterday that it will begin construction on a 3,000-square-foot Manhattan showroom at 222 Bowery, between Price and Spring Streets. Designed by architects Studio Mapos, the project should get underway on May 1 and will seek a LEED (presumably under Commercial Interiors) Gold or Platinum rating. Details on specific green features at the showroom are unavailable, but Green Depot will also offer patrons a green resource and design center. Founder and CEO Sarah Beatty called the expansion "significant" and "a fundamental recognition of the growing effort amongst customers to make healthier and more eco-friendly living choices." The project should be completed by November and will be Green Depot's sixth- and largest- showroom to date.

Venture Capital Flowing to Green Building Materials Sector

Thu

Jan

by Stephen Del Percio

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According to the Associated Press (via Forbes), during the last two quarters of 2006, several venture investors, including DFJ Element, NGEN Partners, Nth Capital, and Rockport Capital Partners, backed a variety of companies producing sustainable construction materials. NGEN, for example, led the Series B round last August for Hycrete, Inc., a Jersey City, New Jersey-based concrete company that manufactures a water-resistant concrete admixture which makes poured concrete more durable. By using the product, developers can obviate the need for toxic coatings or other treatments for foundation systems.