Profiles of three iconic American skyscrapers highlight the latest efforts to make buildings more energy efficient.
The Empire State Building in New York City is implementing a new sustainability plan that includes insulating windows, maximizing daylighting, and upgrading its chiller. Additionally, tenants will take on some of the responsibility for energy savings through sustainability incentives within lease agreements. (more…)
Office spaces are becoming more sophisticated and flexible as designers respond to technological advances and changing communication needs. This article sees current trends in office design as reflective of the desire to address a multigenerational workforce with supportive and sustainable design. In the words of one expert, “It not only fosters communication, forms a sense of community, facilitates learning, but most of all it addresses generational gaps.” (more…)
On October 25 Canadian developers visited the University of Minnesota’s “Green Bulding North” event hosted by the Center for Sustainable Building Research and the Consulate General of Canada. They came to share their vision of a cutting-edge green building designed specifically for cold weather climates.
The 690,000 square foot 22-story Manitoba Hydro head office being built in Winnipeg will be 60 percent more energy efficient than a modern conventional building. It features a balanced geothermal heat pump system with ventilation provided naturally by a six-story indoor winter garden whose airflow system provides 100 percent fresh air 24/7 year round.
This article gives a background on the project and provides readers with a fact sheet of innovative design elements that Manitoba Hydro executives hope will earn them LEED gold certification. Given the similar climate challenges, this Winnipeg building could serve as a model for future offices construction in cold-weather elements.
Source: U.S. Newswire (Washington), Oct 25, 2007
