Expert Q&As

Jean Savitsky of Jones Lang LaSalle talks about green renovations at the Bank of America building at One Bryant.

What you do for Jones Lang LaSalle in regards to LEED?
I'm the project director for the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park, so I have overall delivery responsibility for the Bank of America fit-out work in the building as well as oversight responsibility for the core and shell. I also run the sustainability practice for Jones Lang LaSalle's project and development services in the United States.

Can you talk a little bit about the Bank of America building?
We're going for platinum LEED certification on the core and shell, and gold LEED certification for the Bank of America interiors. The Bank of America is a joint venture partner in the building. They own half of it and they’re also the major tenant, so they are going for gold certification on their space. I think we've really done a lot to push the envelope with incorporating green features into this building. Many of the things that we've done are not really cutting edge. I think what makes us different is the fact that we've been able to incorporate so many of these features and systems into one location, and all within an urban setting. We've also been able to address a lot of the criteria for reducing the impact of the building on the environment while still keeping it economically viable. I think that's an important part of this building as well. There are a lot of great features here. We're doing a lot to reduce water and energy consumption while also reducing the impact of the building on the city. However, every decision has a really well thought-out economic component to it. We haven't just done these things because they are interesting or exciting, the numbers had to play out and there had to be a reasonable payback period.

What are some of the other features that are going into the building?
This will be the first big installation of waterless urinals in New York City. We have also incorporated a grey water system into the building that captures rainwater and groundwater and recycles it for non-potable uses. We have an under-floor air distribution system that allows us to deliver the air conditioning at a higher temperature than you would if you had to deliver it from the ceiling. It's more efficient and uses less energy. All of the materials for the fit-out are VOC-free or low-VOC emitting materials. We also have a co-generation plant that will be coming on-line towards the end of the year.

We have installed floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which allow the maximum amount of daylight to come into the space. The glass is treated as such that it is totally clear but the heat gain is minimal on the glass, so you have a maximum light transmission with minimal heat transmission. We also have a green roof. Green roofs provide additional insulation and reduce storm water run-off.

There's been a tremendous focus to buy as much as we can within a 500-mile radius of New York City as well. We’ve been buying locally to reduce trucking costs and support local businesses. We've also worked with a lot of major furniture manufacturers to help them get their Greenguard certification because of the quantity of furniture that was being purchased for the building. Greenguard is basically a way of quantifying that a product is sustainable because it has been created using eco-friendly production methods such as non-toxic stains and finishes.

Was there anything that was really different or challenging about this building as opposed to other projects that you've worked on?
It's been a five-year project. I think it has been interesting to watch the evolution of this building. When we first started, there weren't that many vendors offering green or sustainable materials. Contractors didn't know how to work with those kinds of constraints. That was a challenge because we had to educate people who came onto the project. Now, over the past five years, you can see a real change in the market place. Contractors and subcontractors are familiar with LEED. They know what to do and what the expectations are. There are also a lot more vendors and suppliers to choose from.

It's been an amazing experience to drop something in the center of Manhattan that's an icon on the skyline and that also has a minimal impact on the city infrastructure. I think that building sustainably is going to become common practice. It's just going to become the right thing to do. Occupants and tenants are looking at the efficiency of their space. Much of it is also cost-driven. If you're constructing your building in a sustainable manner, energy costs are going to be less, and occupancy costs could potentially be less. It makes you feel good, but there's also a real quantitative outcome to building your space sustainably. If you're building a fit-out using low-VOC or VOC-free materials, your employees are going to be healthier, more productive, and have less sick days.

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