by Shane Henson — January 23, 2012—Now boasting a host of sustainable and energy-efficient features after its successful renovation, JPMorgan Chase’s global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in Manhattan was recently awarded LEED Platinum status from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The building now stands as the world’s largest renovation project to achieve the USGBC’s highest level of accreditation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
According to JPMorgan Chase’s leadership, earning the Platinum rating meant upgrading and modernizing every system and feature in the 50-story, 50-year-old building. The building’s green design and construction features include:
- New systems to improve energy efficiency, including heating and air conditioning equipment; lighting with occupancy sensors and daylight dimming controls; Energy Star kitchen appliances, computers and monitors; and new building insulation and window tint to reduce glare, heat gain and air conditioning load.
- A 54,000-gallon tank in the cellar that collects rain water from drains on the roof and plaza, which is stored and filtered, and then used in landscaping and to flush toilets in the lower part of the building—saving more than 1 million gallons of water a year. Combined with other plumbing upgrades, the building will use half as much water as pre-renovation.
- Nearly 16,500 square feet of new landscaping, including green roofs, that feature low-maintenance plants to help lower building temperatures in the summer while reducing stress on the city’s sewer system on rainy days. Soil in the planters acts as a filter to remove pollutants from rainwater. In addition, an herb garden was planted on the 11th floor roof to provide fresh herbs and vegetables for client dining.
- Reusing more than 99% of the original building and recycling more than 85% of construction waste, including 990,000 square feet of carpeting. More than 12,000 tons of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
- New floor designs and layout to give 85% of employees natural daylight at their desks, with more than 92% having exterior views.
- Approximately 266 bicycle racks to encourage employee well-being and greener commutes.
- A 54,000-gallon tank in the cellar that collects rain water from drains on the roof and plaza, which is stored and filtered, and then used in landscaping and to flush toilets in the lower part of the building—saving more than 1 million gallons of water a year. Combined with other plumbing upgrades, the building will use half as much water as pre-renovation.
