Battery Park City appoints Albanese for 'Green' Bldg.

The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority has selected a proposal by the Albanese Development Corporation that will bring America's first Environmentally advanced "green" high rise apartment building to an 18,000-square-foot waterfront site in lower Manhattan. The developers are expected to apply for tax credits under Governor Pataki's first-in-the-nation "green" building tax credit program.

The 26-story structure, which will offer panoramic views of the Hudson River, the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island, will combine environmentally advanced engineering techniques with excellence in design to create a "green" building featuring.

* On site storage, filtering and recycling of graywater from lavatories, showers and laundry facilities to supply flush water to toilets and other maintenance functions;

* Photo-voltaic panels for generating electric power to light the hallways and common areas, with space allocated for the future use of fuel cells; geothermal technologies utilizing the river and water tables;

* The collection of storm water from the roof in a 15,000 gallon storage tank, and plumbing fixtures that use 10 percent less water than required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992;

* Energy strategies that are 30 percent more efficient that current NYS codes, including dimmable and motion-detector controlled lighting, low-E galzing, high efficiency insulating, 30 percent more natural light, and energy-efficient appliances;

* The recycling of a minimum 60 percent of construction waste material;

* High use of construction materials with recycled content;

* Efficient HVAC systems with high amounts of filtered outdoor air using electrostatic filter enhancement.

The new "green" building will have approximately 250 units, averaging about 1,100 square feet in size. Sixty-five percent of the apartments will be two or three-bedroom units that have their own laundry facilities. Cost of the 335,000 sq. ft. building, which will be located on the corner of River Terrace and Murray Street, is estimated at $95 million.

James Gill, chairman of the Battery Park City Authority, said, "I am very pleased to welcome the Albanese Development Corporation to Battery Park City. We are excited about our "green" building program, the first of its kind in the country. We hope and expect that this pioneering building will show the way to similar developments in the future. Battery Park City is intent on following Governor Pataki's lead and demonstrating to the world that a residential building that is environmentally efficient can also be economically feasible. This is a great day for Battery Park City and all New Yorkers"

Charles J. Urstadt, vice chairman of the BPCA, who is known as the "father of Battery Park City," said, "I am delighted to vote for this important new building. Thanks to the experience and vision of the Albanese Development Corporation and the expertise of their outstanding team, this new "green" building will be a dynamic addition to Battery Park City and a significant step forward for New York. At Battery Park City we are determined to build both wisely and well. I commend BPCA president Tim Carey and his excellent staff for bringing this landmark project to fruition. Our "green" building sets a new standard in healthy, efficient living."

Timothy S. Carey, president of the Battery Park City Authority, said: "Our new "green" building is another milestone in the extraordinary growth of Battery Park City and a major addition to the lower Manhattan community. Thanks to the heroic progress that Governor Pataki has made in cleaning up the Hudson River, this pace-setting building will be right at home on Battery Park City's healthier waterfront. My congratulations to the Albanese Development Corporation for their winning proposal. The twenty-first century is here, and this important building will welcome the new millennium in style. Everyone will benefit from the healthier, more efficient way of life our "green" building represents."

Anthony Albanese, chairman of Albanese Development Corporation, said: "We commend Governor Pataki, BPCA chairman Jim Gill, vice chairman Charlie Urstadt, and president Tim Carey and his first-rate staff, for enunicating a visiion for the development of an environmentally responsible residential building that will meet or exceed rigorous environmental, quality of life and building management standards. In accepting this challenge, ADC and its design and development team, in partnership with the BPCA and its professionals, expects to set a course for future buildings to follow."

Albanese Development Corporation, under the guidance of Anthony and Vincent Albanese, has been a leading builder and manager in the metropolitan area for more than 50 years. ADC is now finishing a 30-story building at Sixth Avenue and 24th Street, and recently completed a 23-story building that will be the home of the permanent mission of the Federal Republic of Germany at UN Plaza & 49th Street. They also built 100 UN Plaza, a 52-story Luxury condominium project at 48th.

Members of the Albanese "green building" team include:

Full Spectrum Building and Development Inc., a minority-owned development corporation, which will be working closely with Albanese on the design and implementation environmental systems. Full Spectrum has provided construction management services for projects such as Stuyvesant High School, and has developed seven buildings in New York;

Cesar Pelli & Associates of New Haven, designers, with experience throughout the world including the World Financial Center at Battery Park City, Canary Wharf in London and Petronas Towers in KualaLumpur, Malaysia. The firm has also been involved in the construction of "green" commercial buildings in Houston, Tampa and Japan;

Schuman, Lichtenstein, Claman Efron, architects, a firm with extensive experience in the design of high-rise residential buildings in New York, including sites at Battery Park City;

Cosentini Associates, engineers, who have worked on sustainable design initiatives in a number of projects including 4 Times Square, and who have extensive experience in engineering high-rise residential projects in New York City;

Dr. Asher Derman of Green October, LLC, environmental consultant, with experience at 4 Times Square and in developing Battery Park City's "Green Guidelines;"

The Cantor Seinuk Group, P.C., structural engineers, who have worked on "green" commercial projects including Columbus Center, 4 Times Square and the Hoffman LaRoche Building;

Feathered Nest, Inc., marketing, under the leadership of Nancy Packes.

And Turner Construction, which will serve as general contractor. Turner is a member of the US Green Buildings Council.

Amenities in the new building will include an exercise room and children's playroom overlooking River Terrace, convenient bicycle storage, laundry facilities, a storage room, high-speed video and telecommunications infrastructure, and 1,400 sq. ft. of rent-free space for public benefit use by the Battery Park City Authority.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2001 be completed in late 2002.

The Battery Park City Authority is a public benefit corporation that was created by the New York State Legislature in 1968 to develop a 92-acre landfill at the south-western tip of Manhattan. Parcels of land are leased to private developers who build in accordance with BPCA guidelines.

Battery Park City is bordered by Pier A on the south and includes Stuyvesant High School on the north. It is adjacent to the World Trade Center and the Wall Street financial district and home to the World Financial Center, the Mercantile Exchange and the Holocaust Memorial and Museum of Jewish Heritage. Battery Park City has established itself as one of America's most attractive and exciting places to live, work and visit.

Under Governor Pataki's leadership, Battery Park City is growing rapidly. A new Embassy Suites Hotel opened earlier this month and a new Ritz-Carlton Hotel is under construction. More than 40,000 people work in the World Financial Center. When residential development is completed, about 15,000 people are expected to live in Battery Park City.

All fiscal surpluses form Battery Park City go to the City of New York. Last year the City received $57 million from the BPCA.