High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013 - (Page 64)

t e c h n o l o g y n e w & n o t a B l e NYC MetaMorphosis Above and Below Views of the green roof from above during the day and at night. Because many of the buildings’ residents look down on the space, it was important that the green roof have visual interest from above as well as within the garden. O wners want green (vegetative) roofs because they provide connection to nature, absorb storm water, lower energy costs and reduce the heat island effect. However, in the case of the Royal York cond-op in New York’s Upper East Side, no one thought about a green roof when major leak repairs needed to be done on the roofs of a two-level parking garage between the two 12-story buildings. A committee made up of the building manager, managing agent and board had planned on repeating the previous ho-hum combination of boxwood and brick planters. Although the existing public roof space could be accessed from each building, the roofs weren’t intended to be an amenity for residents. Michael Franco and his team at Town and Gardens had to think outside of the box to sell the committee on doing more with this space. They needed a strong concept to drive the metamorphosis from plain roof to residential garden. 64 HigH Performing Buildings fa l l 2 0 1 3 “We couldn’t figure out what to do with such a large space that had no other feature except the doorways,” says Franco. “Then, we looked at a map of the New York harbor and started to look at its lines and translate them to the roof.” The concept of navigation included moving people through the space and connecting the two buildings through the design. Other maritime themes included trees in planters that provide screening and also make up the “sails” on the roof, and LED pavers that change color from white to dark blue to give a feeling of waves. The harbor concept was so strong that it sold the project to the committee and also provided solutions to fulfilling the program. Privacy was an important component for the project, and the strong lines inspired by the harbor redirect, drawing the eye away from the residences. more information about the royal York green roof is available at http://tinyurl.com/cu92mso. Reported by Sarah Foster http://www.tinyurl.com/cu92mso

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013
Commentary
Contents
Alliance Center
Malaysia Energy Commission HQ (Diamond Building)
IAQ in HPB Case Studies
EcoCommercial Building, Noida
25 York Street
Technology
Advertisers Index

High Performing Buildings - Fall 2013