Green Guide

THE BANK OF AMERICA TOWER: A Trailblazer in Environmentally Responsible High-Rise Development
By Maureen Traxler

Three years ago, Bank of America, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, and The Durst Corporation, one of New York City’s oldest and largest privately owned real estate firms, broke ground on an ambitious billion-dollar project in Midtown Manhattan. Their collaboration brought about a design and development plan for one of the world’s most environmentally responsible high-rise office buildings.

Upon completion in 2008, The Bank of America Tower, located on Sixth Avenue across the street from Bryant Park, will incorporate hi-tech advancements in energy efficiency, indoor air quality, use of sustainable materials, and environmentally-conscious construction, operations and maintenance procedures. All of these aspects reflect the goals of the U.S. Green Building Council, and gain the Tower “points” on the Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) checklist toward official designation.

Currently, 15 buildings either under construction or contract in Manhattan represent a new generation of sustainable skyscrapers, a concept that means that the new high-rise development must meet the needs of the present without compromising those of the future. The 55-story, 2.2-million-square-foot Bank of America Tower, designed by Cook+Fox Architects, LLP, aims to be the first high-rise building to achieve the highest LEED rating, the Platinum designation. Durst Corporation and Cook+Fox collaborated on Durst’s flagship tower at 4 Times Square, which was recognized as the first “green” high-rise office building in the United States.

The Tower will serve as headquarters for Bank of America’s New York City operations and house its global corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, and consumer and commercial banking businesses. The Bank expects to occupy 34 floors with approximately 4,000 associates relocating from several Manhattan offices, and the building’s footprint will enable Bank of America to operate six major trading floors.

“The new Bank of America Tower will … represent our strong, long-term commitment to New York City and our customers around the world,” commented Kenneth D. Lewis, president and CEO of Bank of America.

Environmental commitment

The Bank of America Tower incorporates innovative, high-performance technologies to use dramatically less energy, consume less potable water, reduce waste, and provide a healthy and productive indoor environment that prioritizes natural light and fresh air. Some of the Tower’s environmental features are outlined below:

• A state-of-the-art onsite 5.1 megawatt cogeneration system produces approximately 70% of the building’s annual energy needs. The system, essentially a small power plant, utilizes clean-burning natural gas and captures and reuses waste heat. Whereas the typical power generation is 27% efficient (due to energy losses in combustion and transmission), the co-generation system achieves 77% efficiency. A ground-water heat exchanger, a first of its type, makes ice with excess thermal energy from the power plant, supplementing the air conditioning system and reducing the peak demand loads on the city's electrical grid. In addition, planting on the roof will reduce the urban heat island effect.

• A filtered under-floor displacement air ventilation system and floor-by-floor air handling units allow for individual floor control and more even and efficient heating and cooling. An advanced air filtration system removes 95% of particulates (a combination of fine particles such as dust, pollen, mold and soot that contribute to air pollution and respiratory irritants), as well as ozone and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) often found in building materials. Carbon dioxide monitors automatically adjust fresh air. Air vented back to the City will be cleaner than the intake, making the skyscraper effectively a giant air filter.

• Higher ceilings and extremely transparent low iron, low-emissive insulating glass in floor-to-ceiling windows permit maximum daylight in interior spaces, optimal views and conserve energy. Perimeter daylight dimming and LED lights reduce electric usage.

• A gray-water system captures, stores, and re-uses rainwater and wastewater. When combined with waterless urinals and low-flow fixtures, 10.3 million gallons of water can be saved annually.

• In construction, the Tower uses recyclable and renewable building materials (steel, slag and drywall).

In all, the Tower will not only hold down operating costs, but also reduce energy consumption by 50% and potable water consumption by 50%, contribute “zero” storm water to the City wastewater system, and create net “zero” carbon dioxide emissions, fostering a healthy atmosphere for the building’s occupants.

Design inspiration

The design for the Bank of America Tower was inspired by the famed New York Crystal Palace, the first light metal frame building in America, erected in Bryant Park in 1853. The Crystal Palace was built for the first World’s Fair on American soil and mimicked the London Palace built in Hyde Park for the “Great Exhibition” of 1851. The building, a source of pride for a new nation, was constructed of iron, covered with 15,000 treated glass panels, in the octagonal shape of a Greek cross. As did the original Crystal Palace, The Bank of America Tower represents the City’s optimism for the future.

Historic preservation

The Tower’s planners have included restoration and reconstruction of the historic Henry Miller Theater, transforming the original 1918 Allen, Ingalls & Hoffman theater into a new, 1,000-seat, fully ADA accessible, Broadway playhouse. Plans include the preservation of the Georgian-style land-marked façade. The oval reception room, doors and decorative plasterwork, including the iconic urns at the 43rd Street entrance, will be salvaged and incorporated into the new design.

Bank of America president Lewis gives “enormous credit” to Bank of America’s partners, Douglas and Jody Durst, for “their shared vision” and “shared commitment to developing a property that will meet our requirements for environmental stewardship.”

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