Green/Eco Friendly Office Buildings In New York City

The city of New York has been committed to implementing sustainable building practices since 1997. Over the years, the city has made significant advances in greenhouse emissions reduction, energy saving, and in creating a healthier environment. Below is a selection of the most well-known green office buildings in New York City

 Hearst Tower

This office development is located in the vicinity of Columbus Circle and serves as the global headquarters of the Hearst Communications Group. The building is often referred to as the most environmentally friendly office building in the Green Apple. In 2012, it received two LEED Certifications: Gold for New Construction and Platinum for Sustainable Building Operations. Although the tower itself was built in 1928 with no special regard for sustainability, in 2006 it underwent a makeover led by prestigious architect Norman Foster, and soon after it received the Emporis Skyscraper award. Te tower’s sustainable features include low-toxicity furniture and paint, automatically regulated artificial light, innovative cooling and heating systems, the reuse of collected rainwater, and the use of recycled construction materials, which make up 85 percent of the building’s structure. Overall, Hearst Tower is 26 percent more energy efficient than a standard skyscraper.

One Bryant Park

Also known as the Bank of America Tower, this 51-story office building is often listed among the world’s most sustainable buildings of its kind. Construction was completed in 2010 and soon after the building received a LEED Platinum certification, becoming the first skyscraper to receive it in North America. Recent reconstruction efforts have focused on preserving certain architectural elements (such as the early 20th century facade) while adding advanced sustainable elements that improved the building’s overall green ratings. Green features include an innovative air filtration system, rooftop gardens that reuse compost produced at building’s eating venues, water reclamation systems, the installation of waterless urinals, and an ice cooling system that significantly reduces air conditioning usage.One World Trade Center

The tallest building in the Western hemisphere has an exceptional location in the heart of lower Manhattan and boasts excellent sustainability ratings. This impressive office building has received an LEED Gold certification in recognition of its green approach to construction, maintenance, design, and operations. This skyscraper was completed in 2014 and consists of 104 floors where the use of smart technologies results in optimal energy and water use efficiency, while reducing waste and pollution. One World Trade Center has been built to allow natural light into 90 percent of the building’s usable areas, and is fitted with high-performance glass that prevent heat accumulation and reduce exposure to ultraviolet and infrared light. Moreover, the building’s elevator motors are able to work as generators, and there is an advanced building management system in place that adjusts air quality and energy use settings.

Conde Nast Building

This is a 48-storey tower that offers 1.6 million square feet of office space. Although the building lacks an LEED certification, it still is a clear example of high-performance green building practices. This office building was completed in 1999 and boasted a ground-breaking design that reduced the need for heating or cooling except when under extreme weather. The architects went beyond the legal requirements stated in the city’s building code and created an air circulation system that allowed 50 percent more outside air into the building’s work areas. Other notable features include responsive lighting controls that automatically adjust their settings depending on time of day and occupancy volume, and gas-fired absorption chillers to reduce overall energy requirements.

Empire State Building

New York’s most iconic skyscraper is also an example of sustainability. In 2011, the building was retrofitted and subsequently awarded a LEED Gold Certification and a Class A rating . The project was so successful than energy savings exceeded the forecast, and were reduced by $7.5m over a period of three years. The green retrofit project focused on implementing automated building management systems, but also included an overhaul of insulation systems, which entailed the replacement of every single window in the building – and there are more than 6,000 of them!.

 

Sources:

(1) https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ddc/about/sustainable-design.page
(2) https://www.multihousingnews.com/post/hearst-tower-is-new-york-citys-most-sustainable-office-building/
(3) https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/hearst-tower-is-new-york-citys-most-sustainable-office-building-2/
(4) http://www.durst.org/properties/one-bryant-park
(5) http://www.durst.org/pdf/OBP_sustainability_overview.pdf
(6) https://www.onewtc.com/leasing
(7) http://www.som.com/news/one_world_trade_center_becomes_tallest_leed_building_in_the_western_hemisphere
(8) https://www.honestbuildings.com/project/#!/view/64525/the-conde-nast-building-at-4-times-square
(9) https://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/09/13/empire-state-buildings-green-transformation-earns-leed-gold
(10) https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-community/resources/empire-state-building-retrofit-exceeds-energy-savings-cutting-75m-energy-costs-over-three-years/

Business Mentoring In New York City

While there is little doubt that New York offers the optimal environment for business growth and professional development, many employees and entrepreneurs find it challenging to create organised professional development plans without expert guidance.

This is where mentoring schemes come into play. The benefits of mentoring are well documented and are evident not only at individual level, but also have a far-reaching impact since they contribute to the creation of a more skilled and better equipped workforce, which in turns has a direct impact on the city’s prosperity and economic development. A recent study of the tech sector in New York City revealed that mentorship was a key element of success. The study examined 700 tech companies and found that 33 per cent of tech entrepreneurs who had participated in mentoring schemes became top performers. The study went on to cite famous examples, such as Nat Turner (co-founder and CEO of Flatiron Health) or Dropbox’s CEO Drew Houston.

The findings of the study mentioned above can be extrapolated to other industry sectors, so in this blog post we examine the top five business mentoring schemes available to employees and entrepreneurs in New York City.

1. Business Mentor NY

 

This is a free mentoring program developed by the State of New York with the objective of connecting business experts with owners of small businesses and entrepreneurs. The program is delivered by the state’s main economic development agency, Empire State Development. Mentees are expected to spend at least 6 hours per month working on set objectives, and most participants enjoy higher business survival rates and increased revenues after completing the program.

2. Score NYC

Score is another free mentoring scheme that provides on-demand personalized support to entrepreneurs based in New York City. The program is delivered by 60 highly experienced business people who volunteer to act as mentors in their various areas of expertise. Have a look at their website to learn more about the program’s success stories in industry sectors like biomedical engineering, food and beverages, digital marketing, health and beauty, home improvement, and technology.

3. Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator

The Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) is the city’s largest business accelerator program and as part of their services they offer access to New York’s widest mentoring network. ERA’s mentoring program is supported by a network of more than 300 business experts from top organisations like American Express, Cornell Tech, Google, Facebook, Comcast Ventures, Wells Fargo, and Amazon. The program is available twice a year and although it is not available to individual employees, it is open to New York City companies looking to develop the skills of their workforce.

4. WE NYC

 WE NYC is a business support initiative developed by the New York City Department of Small Business Services. This program focuses on female entrepreneurship across the city, where it is estimated that there are more than 200,000 female business owners. Their mentoring program is known as WE Connect and offers support in both general business development and specific business skills, such as negotiating contracts, branding, or pitching an idea. Some WE mentors are multilingual and offer their support in Spanish, Hebrew, Hindi, Portuguese, and other languages.

5. Everwise

Last in this list (but not in terms of importance) is Everwise, a software-as-service platform originally developed in New York to help local employees find a mentor online. The platform’s main objective is to help improve the city’s talent pool by providing tailor-made training and coaching using a predominantly hands-on approach. This mentoring platform is available on mobile devices and has been so successful that its founders recently raised $16m in funding to continue developing this one-of-a-kind digital platform.

 

For assistance with business and office space opportunities in New York City click here.

 

Sources:

(1) https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/22/mentors-are-the-secret-weapons-of-successful-startups/
(2) https://businessmentor.ny.gov/
(3) https://newyorkcity.score.org/
(4) https://www.eranyc.com/why-era/
(5) https://we.nyc/
(6) https://www.geteverwise.co

New York City’s Changing Skyline

The city of New York is known around the globe for its impressive architecture. In the spring of 2017, there were approximately 300 buildings under construction and a further 363 were planned, and it is estimated that in total, the city is home to more than 6,200 high rises and over 900 skyscrapers. New York’s tallest building is currently One World Trade Center, which was completed in 2014 with a total height of 1,774 feet. However, the city’s skyline is always evolving and it is expected that by 2021 new builds will transform the city’s impressive urban landscape. Here’s an overview of the buildings that will give New York a new appearance in the near future

New High Rises in New York City 

New York’s skyline makeover will be mostly brought about by the addition of six super-tall structures (defined as those over 1,000 feet tall). Many of them are already under construction and are expected to be delivered between 2018 and 2019.

30 Hudson Yards 

This 2.6 million square feet and 90-storey high office development will be completed in 2019 and will be the city’s second tallest building after One World Trade Center. The building is part of an extensive office construction plan for the Hudson Yards area, where 4 high-rises will be built in the coming years. The super-tower will feature an open-air observation deck, public gardens, and will be home to many Fortune 500 companies.

The Spiral 

Along with the Hudson Yards project, the Spiral building will play a key role in the revitalisation of Manhattan’s West Side. The high rise will feature sloped landscaped terraces and vertical gardens that will hug the building in a zigzag pattern. This building will add 2.85 million square feet of Class A office space to the city’s inventory, as well as nearly 30,000 square feet of prime retail space.

111 West 57th Street 

This architectural wonder fits criteria for both super-tall and super-slender. Once completed, the skyscraper will rise more than 1,400 feet above the ground, offering breathtaking 360-degree views over the city. Its most distinguishing element is a tapered effect over its western facade and a modern take on Art Deco style. The building is mostly intended for retail and residential use, with office space available on the 5th floor.

Central Park Tower 

Central Park Tower will be located on 57th Street, where other luxury high rises are currently being built. The completion date is set for 2019. At 1,550 feet, this will be the nation’s second tallest building, only below the Willis Tower in Chicago. This development will be so large that everyone will be able to spot it from every borough in the city.

9 Dekalb Avenue 

With its location in Brooklyn and a total height of 1,066 feet, 9 Dekalb will be the tallest building in New York building outside of Manhattan. This is a mixed-used development featuring 73 floors, and the outer facade will be clad in bronze, marble, and glass. With such a glitzy appearance, this high rise will definitely become one of the city’s top landmarks.

Other Additions That Will Transform the City’s Skyline

Queens Library at Hunter’s Point 

This building is part of an extensive urban regeneration project. The library’s location by East River will make it visible from other parts of the city and provide stunning views over downtown Manhattan. The facade will be clad in aluminium panels and will feature curved cut-outs on the front, and the interior will offer open space as well as a rooftop reading garden. The expected completion date is set for summer 2017.

Via 57 West

This 34-storey residential development will soon become one of the city’s most easily recognisable buildings due to its unique sloped pyramidal shape and futuristic-looking design. Via 57 West has already won several design awards, including the International High Rise Award and the CTBUH Tall Building Award in the category of Best Tall Building in the Americas.

56 Leonard Street 

This 821-feet tall luxury condo building is located in Tribeca, between Broadway and Hudson River. The super-slender building is sometimes called the Jenga Tower due to its high-tech architectural style, which certainly stands out in Manhattan’s dense maze of buildings.

 

Sources:

(1) https://www.emporis.com/city/101028/new-york-city-ny-usa
(2) http://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/
(3) http://ny.curbed.com/2016/2/8/10940726/behold-the-spiral-bjarke-ingelss-terraced-addition-to-hudson-yards
(4) http://111w57.com/
(5) https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/the-soon-to-be-tallest-residential-tower-in-nyc-is-being-built-quickly-122816
(6) http://www.shoparc.com/projects/9-dekalb-avenue/
(7) http://www.stevenholl.com/projects/hunters-point-community-library
(8) https://www.via57west.com/#the-building-overview
(9) https://www.dezeen.com/2016/06/01/herzog-de-meuron-56-leonard-jenga-tower-tribeca-new-york-instagram/

Getting to work on the New York Subway.

The New York Subway is one of the largest subway systems in the world, with trains departing from stations about every 2-5 minutes during rush hour and about every 5-15 minutes during the rest of the day.

The Subway is a cheap and convenient way to get around New York City, however traveling on the Subway during rush hour can be also daunting, lots of pushing and shoving, impatient people all trying to get to work at the same time.

We have put together some helpful tips on riding the Subway and ways to minimise risks.

• Position yourself on the platform where the doors of the Subway car open.

• Let passengers disembark before trying to get into the Subway car. Not only is this polite it makes room for more people to get on. It’s not rocket science.

• Remove your backpack if you are wearing one and carry it.

• If there is one seat empty, check to see if there is a good reason why! This also goes for an empty Subway car, especially during the rush hour.

• Carry an anti-bacterial hand cleanser with you.

• Ensure that you get on the correct service, for instance don’t get on the express train if you actually need the local train.

• Make sure you have the right fare, currently $2.25 (as of 2009)

• Keep your wallet in your front pocket or at the bottom of your bag.

The Most Influential Business Leaders in New York City, 2017

New York is without a doubt the business capital of the world. The city has the nation’s third largest economy and its GDP is higher than the one produced by entire countries like Canada, Russia, or South Korea. In this article we take a look some of the most influential business people who are currently contributing to the city’s phenomenal success story.

1. Larry Fink, Blackrock

California-born Larry Fink currently serves as CEO and Chairman of New York-based investment management corporation BlackRock, also known as world’s largest money management company where managed assets are taken into account. After studying Political Science at UCLA and completing an MBA, Fink began a successful career in investment banking in New York. His business acumen is behind some of the largest deals in the city’s asset management history. Fink has acted as consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Google, AT&T, and the United Kingdom’s Treasury. In addition to his role at BlackRock, his influence extends to other executive boards such as New York University, Langone Medical Center, and the Partnership for New York City.

2. Lee Bollinger, Columbia University

Lee Bollinger has been President of Columbia University since 2002 and is one of the most influential CEOs in New York’s not-for-profit sector. Although he has a legal background, Bollinger has been mainly involved in the management of higher education institutions. Under his leadership, Columbia made it to the top-5 business schools in the country. He also led Columbia’s expansion plan with a focus on green building practices and on accommodating some of the university’s most innovation-focused departments. Bollinger is on the board of directors of Graham Holdings and is a board member of Pulitzer Prize.

3. Lynne Doughtie, KPGM LLP

Lynne Doughtie has spent much of her career (approximately 30 years) working for KPGM, known as one of the Big Four accounting corporations. She was put in charge of the Advisory division in 2011, and was behind the team that achieved annual revenue growth rates of 17 per cent. Doughtie is considered to be behind one of the company’s most rapid period of revenue growth. She has been Chairman of the New York-based firm since 2015 and currently serves as KPGM’s Chief Executive Officer. Moreover, she is a member of KPGM’s Executive Committee and Global Board and plays an instrumental role in high-level decision making within the firm. Doughtie has received several awards in recognition of her professional caliber, including the 2015 Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business Award and the 2016 Accounting Today Top 100 Most Influential People Award.

4. Dean Baquet, The New York Times

Dean Baquet is Executive Editor of the world’s most prestigious newspaper, known for its opinion-forming ability in political, economic and social issues. As such, Baquet is one of the most influential names in the media industry in New York. After working in some of the nation’s top newsrooms in Chicago and Los Angeles, he took the city’s top editorial job and brought digital subscriptions to a record-high of 1 million. Baquet has won the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting, as well as three William H. Jones Awards.

5. Chirlane McCray, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City

Ms McCray is a political speechwriter who has worked as a public affairs specialist in the Clinton administration. She is considered the most influential person in local government despite not being in the mayor’s office payroll. McCray’s marriage to Bill di Blasio made her the First Lady of New York City, and she has her own public agenda focusing on public health and diversity issues.
Some of her key responsibilities include vetting high-level candidates for some of the city’s most coveted administration jobs and acting as chair to the board of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, a charity organisation whose key priority areas include mental health, youth employment programs, and support to immigrant communities.

Sources:

(1) http://www.newsweek.com/economic-output-if-states-were-countries-california-would-be-france-467614
(2) http://nymag.com/news/features/influentials/16908/
(3) https://www.forbes.com/profile/larry-fink/
(4) http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-best-ceos-in-new-york-2012-5?op=1&IR=T/#mickey-drexler-j-crew-4
(5) http://www.columbia.edu/node/6439.html
(6) http://fortune.com/most-powerful-women/lynne-doughtie-36/
(7) https://home.kpmg.com/xx/en/home/contacts/d/lynne-m-doughtie.html
(8) https://www.accountingtoday.com/2016-top-100-most-influential-people
(9) http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/05/dean-baquet-new-york-times-first-black-executive-editor.html
(10) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/powerful-people-new-york-media-880895/item/samantha-bee-new-york-power-880908
(11) http://www.crainsnewyork.com/features/most-powerful-women-2015/details/10
(12) http://www1.nyc.gov/site/fund/about/board-of-directors.page

Kids in the City – Childcare in New York

Combining parenthood and a career can be quite a juggling act, and finding someone to care for your little one is of paramount importance. There are different types of childcare available in New York and finding a safe, reliable and licensed practitioner is vital. You need to be able to do your job knowing that your child is being taken care of, is happy and healthy. You, as the parent, know what is best for your child, and finding a warm, friendly environment requires some research.

The Bureau of Child Care provides a wealth of information and advice on childcare along with licensing and registration services for childcare workers. You should start looking a few months before the childcare needs to start, to give yourself time to check out what is available, and what would best suit you and your child’s needs.

Group Childcare

Any out of home childcare provider with seven or more children under the age of six years must hold a license obtained from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Child Care. There should be a minimum of one teacher and one assistant for each group of ten two year olds, fifteen three year olds and twenty four year old children.

Make sure to visit several childcare providers to compare the level of care and activities on offer. If your child has food allergies, ask if the day care provider can cater to their needs. Decide if you would prefer your childcare provider to be close to your home, to minimise travel time for your child, or near to your place of work, so you can pop in from time to time to check on your child, or perhaps go for lunch together. Some office buildings and corporations in New York City offer childcare facilities on site.

Group Childcare options include:

Day Care Centers care for more than six children.

Small Day Care Centers provide childcare for up to six children.

Group Family Day Care Homes provide childcare for between seven and twelve children in a home residence. Note that an assistant must be employed if there are more than six children.

Nannies

If you’re looking for a live in or live out Nanny, be sure to go to a reputable agency, where a full background check has been made and the Nanny has been professional screened. When checking out references call each one and also look into what qualifications the Nanny holds.

Keeping fit during the work day

Keeping fit is important for your well being as well as being a great way to keep stress levels down. Fitting exercise into your work day can be a difficult task, but is well worth the effort. Decide what type of fitness training you would like to do – power walking, yoga, jogging, swimming, or a mixture. Even a short walk will do you good – try getting off a stop before you need to and walk the rest of the way, run up the stairs instead of using the elevator and take a walk in the park at lunch time instead of sitting hunched over your desk.

As far as gyms go, there fitness classes for all abilities, with times to suit office workers. You could take a pre breakfast yoga class, a lunchtime spinning class or go for an after work weight training session. If your office building has its own gym you could come into work a little early and spend twenty minutes using the facilities.

It doesn’t have to be long and drawn out. You will start to feel the benefits of your new exercise regime very quickly. You will be more alert, feel energized and your general well being will be improved. Exercise lowers the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, boosts your immune system and can even help prevent depression, along with maintaining a healthy weight.

Here are just a few of the many gyms, health clubs and exercise classes in New York:

Equinox has clubs in the Uptown, Midtown, Downtown and Brooklyn, Long Island and Westchester areas of New York. With classes ranging from Pilates, martial arts, cardio and yoga, starting from 6.30 am.

Crunch has gyms located across New York City and offers a wide range of action sports, chill outs and dance rhythm classes. You can also have a personal trainer and tailor make your classes to fit you.

Surge Fitness offers a personal trainer service along with nutrition counseling and massage therapies. Trainers are available for personal training in your office, home or gyms throughout New York City.

Method Training offers personal training, yoga and wellness services along with Boot Camps. The personal training gym is situated in Midtown Manhattan and personal trainers are available for in-home training sessions throughout New York City.

So why are you still reading this? Go get fit!

Please note that the above-mentioned links are for your general information only and we do not endorse any of the companies or establishments. NY Offices are not responsible for any of the content on the external sites.