Located in downtown Philadelphia right above the Suburban rail station, the Comcast Center has been awarded the title of “tallest LEED certified building in the US” after earning a Gold Certification for LEED-CS (Core & Shell). The obelisk-like 58 story tower is covered in high-performance glass and sunscreens, and features louvers in the atria to help optimize daylight inside the building. Many other green design features help this mixed-use skyscraper reduce energy consumption, making it a great example of environmentally responsible urban growth.
A new super skyscraper has just been announced for South Korea and will tower over all other buildings in Asia when it is complete in 2014. From a global perspective, Lotte Super Tower 123, designed by Kohn Pederson Fox, falls just short of taking the title, and will be not the tallest but the second tallest skyscraper in the world. The structure will serve as the new corporate headquarters for the Lotte Group, whose subsidairy, Lotte Construction, will build it. Zoning has been approved and excavation is nearly complete. With aims towards LEED silver certification, the tower will have a strong environmental component and will offer Seoulians mixed-use areas such as shops, apartments, offices and a hotel.
The White House is doing its part in leading the way to a more sustainable nation. Not only are they growing their own food on site with Michelle Obama’s garden, but now even they’re aiming for LEED certification! The Obamas are trying to show that reducing energy use and leading a greener life really aren’t that hard. This certainly isn’t the first attempt to green the White House, but it’s definitely the most significant attempt to date. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are leading the effort to upgrade to more energy efficient equipment, improve procurement, reduce waste and toxins and lower the overall carbon footprint of the complex.
As you may already know, New York is the home of Inhabitat’s main headquarters and we are super proud to announce that Governor Paterson has just signed the State Green Building Construction Act mandating that all government-owned new construction and major renovations must meet green building guidelines! We think it’s highly commendable of Governor Paterson to lead our state towards a more sustainable future by setting this momentous example. Hopefully, we will soon see a day where all buildings in New York, government-managed and otherwise, will meet sustainable standards.
Dockside Green’s Synergy Named to AIA/COTE Top 10
We reported on Dockside Green last summer and now the Victoria, BC project is back in the headlines. Dockside is slated to be the world’s first Platinum LEED-certified community, and Synergy, its first phase, has just been listed as one of the AIA Committee on the Environment’s (COTE) top 10 sustainable architecture and green design solutions. The project’s environmental features focus on energy, health, indoor air quality, urban ecology and water conservation. The community is going to treat 100% of its waste water on site and use 45-55% less energy than the Canadian Model National Energy Code.
LAST DAY To Register for LEED AP Exam in NYC!!
Calling all aspiring green builders and LEED professionals!
Today is the LAST DAY to register to take the old LEED AP exam in NYC. The new test after June 30th will be much harder, so if you are hoping to get LEED certified, now it the time to do it! The last day to take …
1st LEED PARKING GARAGE: Santa Monica Civic Center
Eye-catching aesthetics and implementation of a bevy of green building practices have brought a new oxymoron into consideration in the form of the Santa Monica Civic Center parking structure. This building is on its way to becoming the first LEED certified parking garage in the United States, shifting the sustainability merits of LEED debate into impassioned overdrive with plenty of fuel fodder for both sides of the argument.
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
