Riverhouse

Riverhouse

Book It: LEED Gold Battery Park City Library Set To Open

Wed

Mar

It's an interesting place, Battery Park City. While it effectively exists apart from New York City -- and all the built-in efficiencies that make New York City such a surprisingly green place -- Battery Park City is both a pretty nice place, and very green in its own right, at least in terms of its ultra-green condo and rental buildings. Yes, Battery Park City is also home to Manhattan's first Applebee's, but the views are great and the buildings are nice and if there was one thing that one could grouse about as regards Battery Park City -- besides the aforementioned Applebee's -- it would be that it doesn't have a 23,000-volume LEED Gold branch of the New York Public Library. Those so inclined should do their grousing now, because Battery Park City is getting that LEED Gold public library you're always grumbling about.

Blue Sky Animation: Green Design Studios in White Plains

Tue

Jul

by Stephen Del Percio

1 comment

HOK's New York City office recently executed a 40,000-square-foot design for Blue Sky Animation Studios in White Plains. Blue Sky has produced a number of works which you're likely familiar with (Ice Age, the Sopranos) and the project contemplated both the renovation of the firm's existing space, as well as expansion into an adjacent floor. The project's most prominent green design feature is its reclaimed oak paneling, which was procured from a stockyard in the Midwest and still shows various nail and worm holes. (The wood's supplier, TerraMai, also furnished the teak flooring at the Sheldrake Organization's LEED Gold-hopeful Riverhouse condominiums in Battery Park City). By specifying the worn paneling, HOK was able to provide the space with a natural outdoor character while simultaneously energizing the interiors with bright, creative colors. The design program included storyboard rooms for creative meetings in advance of animation, editing rooms, a sound studio, a cafe/community center, and a variety of open work spaces. HOK's design is also sensitive to light levels appropriate for Blue Sky's animators.