Historic moment as Hearst tops off green HQ.

The $500 million, 46-story glass and steel tower that will be the home of The Hearst Organization world headquarters and the first "Gold Rated" green building in the city was topped off this week, with dignitaries from around the globe witnessing the historic event.

"The Hearst Corporation's new headquarters will be a proud addition to the New York City skyline," said Governor George Pataki. "This building is positive proof that economic development and environmental responsibility can work hand in hand. I congratulate Hearst on their dedication to sustainable design which is sure to set an example for corporations across the country and around the world. Thanks to Hearst's commitment to New York, we are not only keeping nearly 2,000 jobs in the City, but we are gaining an innovative skyscraper that will help show the world that New York is the place to do business."

The Hearst Corporation President and CEO Victor F. Ganzi and more than 100 elected officials, business leaders and construction workers at a topping out ceremony marking the completion of steel erection for

Hearst's tower rising 597 feet from within its landmark six-story base on Eighth Avenue between 56th and 57th Street.

During the ceremony, Ganzi announced Hearst's intent to become the first commercial office building in New York City history to achieve a "Gold Rating" from the United States Green Building Council's LEED (or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification program, which recognizes environmental efficient or "green" buildings. Hearst had previously announced its intent to become the first office building in the City to achieve green status for both the exterior and interior of its tower.

"Hearst has long considered itself to be an integral part of New York City and a contributor to its unquenchable passion for boldness and innovation," said Ganzi. "All of us at Hearst consider the tower we are constructing to be pioneering in its architecture as well as in the use of Historic moment as Hearst tops off green HQ sustainable design. When we first embarked up on this project, many doubted that a high-rise office tower in New York City could achieve official 'green' status. We are doing much more than proving it can be done. We are raising the bar for all New York City skyscrapers that are to follow. For that, we are extremely proud."

The "green building" designation is bestowed upon those projects that employ pioneering solutions in a quest to fully utilize renewable sources of energy while offering substantial reductions in pollution and energy consumption. As the project has moved forward, Hearst has continued to incorporate additional green elements.

"The Hearst tower expresses its own time with distinction, yet represents and strengthens the existing six-story historical structure," said Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Chairman of Foster and Partners, London, who designed the skyscraper. "The tower is lifted clear of its historic base, linked on the outside only by columns and glazing, which are set back from the edges of the site. The transparent connection floods the spaces below with natural light and encourages the impression of the new floating above the old."

Tishman Speyer Properties, as the development manager, is coordinating the planning, design, approval, permitting and construction processes on behalf of The Hearst Corporation.

This is a major milestone for a significant addition to our city's skyline," said Jerry I. Speyer, President and CEO of Tishman Speyer Properties. "Inspirational architecture can only be realized by visionary leaders and organizations. This wonderful building, which both respects and complements its celebrated foundation, is a true credit to two men, Victor Ganzi and Frank Bennack."

In addition to construction of the tower, Hearst is implementing a series of much-needed and long-delayed public improvements to the Columbus Circle-59th Street subway station. Contributors to the Hearst project include: Foster and Partners-design architects, Adamson Associates--associate architects, the Cantor Seinuk Group--structural engineers, Flack and Kurtz--mechanical engineers, and Turner Construction--construction manager.

The new headquarters, which is slated for completion in June 2006, will complete Hearst founder William Randolph Hearst's vision for a world-class tower at the site as well as the establishment of a cultural center in the Columbus Circle area. The original landmark structure was designed by Joseph Urban and George B. Post & Sons in 1926 and built by W. R. Hearst in 1928.