Adaptive Reuse The proposed tower of this project will rise dramatically above the designated Landmark facades and is visually separated from the base by flat glass skylights and clerestory windows. This design of the new tower has been approved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and is considered to be a prime example of adaptive reuse. This project integrates both the restoration and preservation of the heritage facades as well as incorporating a dynamic new tower, and utilizes advanced technologies, materials and methods. The base of the new tower will retain 100% of the historically designated facades including the sculptures and ornamental columns. In addition, the exterior walls will be restored to their original state, the majority of the through wall mechanical units will be removed, cracked stones will be replaced and repaired, balconies and cornices will be reset, and new copper flashing will be added. In total, 63,000 sf consisting of over 3,000 tons of building materials will be reused in the adaptive reuse of the facade. The existing windows are to be replaced by thermally broken units of similar proportion, subdivision and operation thus retaining the historical integrity of the exterior facades while minimizing thermal bridging, and incorporating laminated glass for the potential bomb blast mitigation. The strategy of preserving the Landmark facades features the creation of a \'buffer\' wall. The exterior wall is to be restored to the original design intent, a new independent interior wall is to be provided and the middle \'buffer\' zone established by the dimension of the additional seismic reinforcement is used for new environmental control systems. Housed within the restored Landmark facades are new uses such as an enlarged lobby, auditorium, exhibition and food service areas. By integrating the seismic reinforcement and requisite mechanical systems the design of the exterior envelope permits the retention of the existing moisture and thermal dynamic regime inherent of the Landmark facades while enhancing the level of comfort and security of the transformed interior environment. The overall project is a prime example of adaptive reuse in which an existing Landmark Building is seamlessly integrated and transformed into a new cultural icon to the benefit of the general public, the City of New York and the project. The design team would like the USGBC to recognize the union of building reuse, historical preservation, and envelope improvements with a LEED Innovation Credit. Will the USGBC award the project an Innovation Credit for this innovative approach to the adaptive reuse of a fa
No. LEED supports the adaptive reuse of such buildings and the preservation of historic structures by awarding three possible points towards the reuse of existing buildings. The measures described for this project are already addressed in the existing credits for building reuse, as well as the additional credits for optimizing energy performance, and possibly indoor environmental quality based on the limited description provided. Even if your project does not meet the minumum for building reuse, the materials can be applied to Materials Credit 2 for Construction Waste Management. The new windows and enhanced building envelope should contribute significantly to the energy savings, and the improved environmental controls might apply to the EQ Credits for thermal comfort and controllability of systems depending on the system employed. Skylights and clerestories figure into calculations for daylighting, and possibly views. Although the project may provide an excellent example of the integration of building reuse and contemporary green building standards, the measures do not in themselves or combined contribute to significant environmental benefits nor extraordinary savings not already recognized in other LEED categories. Applicable Internationally.