New York, NY, March 28, 2006--The last to fall on September 11, 2001, and the first to rise again, 7 WTC Achieves Gold Rating for Environmental Sustainability by U.S. Green Building Council.
Earlier this month, Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council joined World Trade Center developer Larry A. Silverstein to announce that 7 World Trade Center has been LEED certified, a first for a New York City office tower.
USGBC, which has developed the nation's only common standard of measurement for a "green" building and is recognized as the leading accrediting body for the industry, certified 7 World Trade Center at Gold status under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The 7 World Trade Center building is being recognized for its pioneering approach to providing occupants with cleaner air and more natural light, while conserving energy and other natural resources.
Governor George E. Pataki said, "The rebuilt World Trade Center site will reflect a new model of a business district--one that breaks new ground in environmental standards and creates a true mixed-use diverse community. The certification of World Trade Center 7 as LEED Gold is confirmation that economic development and environmental responsibility can work hand in hand. Building a 21st century central business district requires environmental consciousness and commitment by both the private and public sectors and I congratulate Silverstein Properties and Skidmore Owings and Merrill for creating a tremendous building that is not only elegant but environmentally sensitive."
"This award is in keeping with our commitment to rebuild in a way that reflects the magnificent spirit of the people of Lower Manhattan," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who has lived his entire life in and represents the World Trade Center area. "Our recovery from the terrorists' attacks must send a message to the world that we are pledged to creating a better and stronger community that offers the best quality of life. I commend Larry Silverstein for working to ensure the future of lower Manhattan embraces the best in modern technology, planning and design to achieve a healthy, clean, inviting environment for all who live, work, shop and visit in this vibrant and exciting community."
"As part of our response to 9/11, we at Silverstein Properties pledged to conserve New York's most precious resources, including water and energy. We pledged to create a healthy, enjoyable and productive environment for the people who work here. And we pledged to safeguard the health of the people who live, work, visit and go to school in Lower Manhattan," said Mr. Silverstein. "That is why the LEED Gold designation is so important. It confirms that we are on the right track, and that with 7 World Trade Center, we have raised the bar for green construction in New York City."
Added Mr. Fedrizzi of the U.S. Green Building Council, "The world looks to New York for innovation, ideas, validation and a skyline that's unlike any other. This new LEED Gold building--the first in this complex--will help us use the language of architecture to build a very different kind of skyline, one whose value is measured not just in beauty but also in operational efficiency, in environmental sensitivity, and in improved health for those lucky enough to occupy the space."
The LEED Gold designation was based on a number of green design and construction features at 7 WTC that positively impact future tenants and the broader community. These benefits include:
More open space, through the creation of a public park on a 15,000 square feet parcel of land which was created when Mr. Silverstein elected to make 7 World Trade Center sleeker than its predecessor in order to reintroduce Greenwich St. through the WTC site;
