4540 Center Boulevard LEED certification recognized a Long Island City residential tower for combining transit access, efficient building systems and green-design features.
4540 Center Boulevard Added Green Features to Waterfront Housing
–TF Cornerstone’s luxury rental property on LIC waterfront features living roof, heat recovery technology, sensor lighting and efficient plumbing–
New York, NY – (January 22, 2014) – TF Cornerstone Inc.’s 4540 Center Boulevard, a 345-unit luxury rental building on the Long Island City waterfront, has been awarded LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
The property’s certification was based on sustainable features and green design and construction that include occupancy sensors in public spaces (corridors, stairs and amenity rooms) to control the lighting, energy efficient windows, CFL light fixtures for apartment lighting, Energy Star Certified appliances and low flow/water sense plumbing fixtures. Condensing domestic hot water heaters and high efficiency PTAC units were also installed, while Demand Control Ventilation was implemented in the lobby and amenity spaces.
“TF Cornerstone is dedicated to incorporating sustainable and eco-friendly materials in our projects, so we are proud that 4540 Center Boulevard has won this important designation,” said Sofia Estevez, Executive Vice President of TF Cornerstone Inc. “As a whole, the Center Boulevard project is one of the largest and most ambitious in Long Island City, so we’ve been very mindful of its environmental impact, while maintaining the high standards, services and level of comfort our residents expect.”
Heat recovery technology was built into the residential corridor HVAC unit, which will help heat the 32-story building using less energy output and reduce power bills. A living roof, covered with sedum, a low-growing plant that retains water and acts as a natural insulator that helps to cut energy use, covers the second-story terrace.
Designed by award-winning architecture firm Arquitectonica, 4540 Center Boulevard comprises a collection of studios, one- and two-bedroom homes and a gracious lobby designed by the Rockwell Group. Residences at the upscale rental property offer spacious layouts, stunning floor-to-ceiling views of the Manhattan skyline and upscale finishes, including hardwood flooring, closets with built-ins, stainless steel appliances and stylish tile backsplashes in the kitchen.
In addition to a spacious second floor-terrace, residents of 4540 Center Boulevard also have access to 12 acres of waterfront parks and outdoor recreation spaces that are part of the new TF Cornerstone community. The building is within walking distance to numerous restaurants, shops and cultural activities, including Blend on the Water, Sweetleaf, Coffee and Tea, Shi Asian Restaurant, Blue Streak Wines, Food Cellar Market, Duane Reade, and MoMA PS1.
4540 Center Boulevard was the fourth of seven towers built in TF Cornerstone’s Long Island City development, which includes newly constructed waterfront parks, a public elementary school, library, retail and other services. Manhattan and Brooklyn are easily accessible via the G and 7 trains, the East River Ferry and the Pulaski Bridge. Midtown Manhattan is a four-minute subway ride from the complex.
When it is completed, the mixed-use development will encompass 2,615 rental units, 184 condominiums, and be home to more than 6,000 people.
Also see our coverage of the impact of the LEED green building rating system.
Efficiency Was Built Into Multiple Systems
Lighting controls, low-flow plumbing, high-efficiency HVAC and a living roof all contributed to the project’s environmental performance.
For more LEED coverage, see our LEED impact report coverage.
Conclusion
4540 Center Boulevard showed how large urban residential projects could combine location efficiency with building efficiency. That mix remains central to sustainable city development.
Source: TF Cornerstone and USGBC information cited in the original article.
