Green Building Profile: Bank of America (NYC)

Even before its completion in 2008, the Bank of America building in New York City was called the most sustainable high-rise building in the world. While skyscrapers are often tagged as unsustainable, their ability to do more with less land actually makes them environmentally favorable.  This 54-story, 2.1 million square-foot skyscraper also incorporates numerous green building strategies into its design that are expected to earn it an LEED Platinum Certification. What is especially impressive is that the building’s green features are expected to pay for themselves in less than five years.

From the outside, the façade of the building has a peculiar shape that folds inward to let sunlight shine through to the streets below.  This light is also filtered into the building through insulated, floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize the availability of natural light. Photosensors are being used as well to dim or brighten the lights automatically to counter daylight illumination levels and save energy.

A greywater has also been installed and is expected to save 10.3 million gallons of water each year. By collecting rainwater, sink water, and the water that floods into the building’s cellar, which most buildings pump into the sewers, the Bank of America building does not have to use tap water to flush its toilets or supply its cooling towers. The building is also using waterless urinals, which are expected to save eight million gallons of water and 144,000 pounds of CO2 emissions each year.

For ventilation, under-floor systems are used that require far less energy and give building occupants control of the vents below their work spaces.  Additionally, not only is the air entering the building thoroughly filtered, but the building’s exhaust will be cleaned as well, making the tower a large air filter for Midtown Manhattan

The Bank of America building even has its own clean 4.6-megawatt cogeneration plant. Aside from producing energy on site, the heat from this plant is captured using a thermal storage system and is used to produce ice. This ice is then melted and used to cool the building during the building’s peak energy demand the next day.

In addition to the building’s many sustainable attributes, its emphasis on fresh air and natural light are also expected to increase occupant satisfaction. Studies have shown that the availability of natural light and fresh air is linked to greater occupant productivity, fewer days of sick leave, and higher employee morale.