The Pinnacle of Sustainability
New York is dotted with iconic structures, from skyscrapers to world-renowned historical sites. But what truly sets a building apart from its peers?
As far as BOMA/NY is concerned, it’s smart management. Designed to determine New York’s entrants for BOMA International’s TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Awards, BOMA/NY's annual Pinnacle Awards program highlights the premiere buildings and people in the city. The winners are iconic in their own right, boasting extra-efficient operations and welcoming environments that could help inform your own FM practices.
Managed by Josiah Brock
Originally designed as the NY Central Railroad headquarters, this historic limestone and brick landmark endured a $100 million renovation spanning eight years. The result: New York City’s first and oldest building to achieve ENERGY STAR, BOMA 360, and LEED Gold for Existing Buildings certifications.
230 Park, which is home to the iconic tower known as the Crown Jewel of Park Avenue, is a 1.4 million-square-foot, 36-story tower whose 15-story wings straddle the avenue with traffic archways leading to Grand Central Terminal and retail arcades. The structure features 3,200 new operable windows, as well as centrally controlled LED illumination that can bathe the tower in cool white light or animated jewel tones depending on the occasion.
The building’s attention to historic detail – from sculptures of Greek gods, bison heads, and eagles to bronze murals commemorating the railroad age – juxtaposed with its state-of-the-art energy-saving engineering systems cemented 230 Park’s award.
Managed by Annie Leone
Built concurrently with Madison Square Garden in 1968, this 30-story International-style tower earned this year’s Earth Award by raising its ENERGY STAR score to 84 (from 79) and achieving LEED Silver for Existing Buildings certification.
A sophisticated Energy Information Portal shows tenants real-time energy consumption data, and the building also boasts a 78% overall recycling ratio with an 80% in recycling electronics. Its energy auditing and retrocommissioning program helps keep building systems running optimally.
Two Penn Plaza has also earned accolades for its eco-friendly commuting. Roughly 95% of its occupants use mass transit every day, and its proximity to retail, dining, and entertainment options earned it a “walk” score of 100.
Managed by Adam Rosner
Formerly the JP Stevens Tower, the 42-story 1185 Avenue of the Americas is entering a new life as one of New York’s latest ENERGY STAR buildings. All four facades feature the multi-tenant headquarters center’s signature black glass and curtainwall, while 26 white, marble-clad columns matching the building’s 580-foot height serve as accents.
The renovated lobby, once a vision of marble, now features a greener sort of sophistication. Stainless steel and white marble accents dot the double-height space, while sustainable bamboo wall paneling adds warmth. Floors and walls feature neutral-colored stone and back-painted, fritted glass. A step through brushed stainless steel turnstiles reveals a further focus on bamboo at the elevator banks and floors.
Further upgrades to infrastructure and operations at 1185 Avenue of the Americas are planned, and obtaining LEED Silver for Existing Buildings is also on the agenda.