NEW YORK, NY – October 7, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Rockefeller Group Development Corporation, a subsidiary of The Rockefeller Group, announced today that its signature building, The McGraw-Hill Building, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, has achieved LEED-EB Certification. The 2.5 million square foot property is the largest LEED-EB certified building in New York. LEED-EB is the designation by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for existing buildings.
“We are very proud to achieve LEED certification for the McGraw-Hill Building and we will continue to support USGBC’s efforts towards a sustainable and prosperous future,” said Kevin R. Hackett, President and CEO of Rockefeller Group International, Inc. “This accomplishment was important to us as well as our tenants, who worked with us to incorporate sustainable best management practices for the building for site maintenance, water usage, energy management, waste diversion, cleaning and indoor air quality.”
The Rockefeller Group worked with CodeGreen Solutions, a sustainable building consultant firm based in New York City, to develop a LEED action plan and manage the project team, comprised mainly of Rockefeller Group operations personnel and the building’s engineers. CodeGreen monitored compliance of the building’s operation and maintenance policies and practices, as well as upgrades to the facility’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), credit narratives, credit documentation and template completion. Upon implementation of the LEED action plan, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the building and project team the prerequisites and credit points required for LEED-EB certification.
“It took a large commitment from The Rockefeller Group and its employees to achieve what is only New York City’s 10th commercial building LEED-EB Certification. It is also New York City’s largest LEED-EB-certified building to date,” said Patricia Lee, Senior Project Manager at CodeGreen.
The Rockefeller Group also worked with AKF Engineers, a leading consulting engineering firm. AKF and The Rockefeller Group’s engineers headed efforts to reduce the amount of energy used by the building. This effort led to a consistent Energy Star rating, which is integral to the LEED certification process.
In addition to energy-reduction efforts, The Rockefeller Group’s waste reduction policy emphasizes recycling and diverts from landfills significant office waste leaving the building, and a large percentage of any construction waste. Indoor air quality was improved using high-efficiency HEPA filtration media installed at interior supply fans, reducing particulates in the air system. Lastly, more than 75 percent of cleaning products used in the building comply with industry-wide green standards.
“We would like to recognize the building’s vendors who document their procedures so that the building could be LEED-certified,” added James Haviaris, Senior Vice President of Operations and Management, Rockefeller Group Development Corporation. “Our vendors TAC by Schneider Electric, Pritchard Industries, IESI, Knight Electrical, JamesTown Technologies, Ambient Group, Assured Environments and Julius Roehrs did an outstanding job and we appreciate their support on this project.”
About Rockefeller Group Development Corporation
RGDC is a national owner, developer, and manager of prestigious commercial real estate properties. Its developments include corporate headquarters, landmark properties, multi-use urban complexes, distribution facilities, suburban office and industrial parks, and foreign trade zones. RGDC, headquartered in Manhattan with regional offices in Arizona, California, Florida, and New Jersey is an operating company of The Rockefeller Group, developer of Rockefeller Center in New York City.
