by Shane Henson — December 21, 2011—HOK, a global architectural firm that provides planning and design solutions for high-performance, sustainable buildings and communities, has achieved LEED Platinum certification under the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LLED) rating system for its new 35,000-square-foot office in Manhattan. The New York office was certified in the USGBC’s LEED Platinum Commercial Interiors category and represents HOK’s 107th LEED-certified project.
According to HOK, the design incorporates innovative sustainable technologies, such as shades that automatically adjust according to the sun’s position and atmospheric conditions. Task lighting is controlled by occupancy sensors in individual workstations, and overhead lighting is systematically regulated to ambient available daylight. The carpet has a high percentage of recycled content, and the workstations are made completely of FSC-certified wood. The bathrooms are furnished with Kohler low-flow fixtures, the café is outfitted with Energy Star appliances, and office policy mandates participation in a green-cleaning program. The windows were replaced with new, thermally improved and operable windows.
The new office location was strategically selected to provide several mass transit options to employees. More than a dozen subway lines are within a three-block radius, and the office is positioned directly between the Port Authority bus station and Grand Central Terminals. HOK’s people also have access to bike racks and showers in the office.
Working within the building information modeling (BIM) environment enabled the team to analyze existing conditions such as daylighting to make the most sustainable, effective decisions about building systems and overall thermal performance. Collaborating with the contractors in this three-dimensional, virtual world allowed the team to reduce waste and improve the efficiency of all systems.
By designing to the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, HOK expects to save nearly $125,000 in energy costs over the term of its lease and to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 55 tons per year.
