The Only Platinum Certified Commercial Skyscraper

One Bryant Park

The United States represent less than 5% of the world's population but we consume 25% of the world's resources. Buildings use 40% of the energy consumption and Richard Cook, an architect wanted to radically change the way we build buildings and cities. Bank of America, wanted to be on the cutting edge, hired Richard Cook to do just that in Manhattan. 


Because its Manhattan with skyscrapers surrounding the area, it took them a year just to excavate. Once built, the building is 54 stories high. The steel used is 60% recycled. They have a reclamation rain system with grey water tanks in the basement. Green roofs or sky gardens are installed on the 6th floor, which lower the heat island effect. Collection points for rain water are installed as well. $500,000 is saved in water each year. Cook designed the building so that the air it takes in, goes through a ventilation unit, circulates, is cleaned and then goes back out, cleaner than it came in. This saves 30% on energy.

Reclamation system

Water is chilled at night in 44 tanks in the basement. Ice keeps building cool by day. The goal was to reduce energy use by a half more than a traditional building its size.

The difficult is that we continue to add heat to our cities by creating hard surfaces, for example, the Empire State Building. All those hard edges create heat and it reflects onto other hard edges. 

The Hurst Tower was built with triangular sections which needed 26% less energy because it needed less artificial light.

Each one of the dots on the glass windows reflects the suns rays away from the building. It reduces the heat on the inside of the building. This special coating allows light in but not heat.

The concrete used consisted of 45% swag from a steel furnace. It is typically waste but when used in concrete, it makes it stronger. 

By going 'green' it cost Bank of America 5% more than a conventional building, which equates to about $60,000,000. They still felt they wanted to be on the cutting edge and it will pay off in energy and water savings plus less sick days for employees. They set out to create a new standard. As architect, Robert Cook said, "I don't want to just do buildings 'less bad', but make the world a better place."

This by far was my favorite video to watch.