Stonehill & Taylor also designed the building to help reduce the heat island affect in the surrounding neighborhood -- an issue that is widespread in the concrete jungle of New York City.

Crosby Street is the first New York property for the Firmdale Hotel company based in London, and has 86 individually designed guest rooms on 11 stories. Stonehill & Taylor Architects designed the Crosby Street Hotel, which opened in 2009, to fit seamlessly into the distinct and well-trafficked SoHo neighborhood. With an interior that is a mix of clean modern lines and old world decor and an exterior of brick, steel and wide open windows, the hotel is a perfect example of how to design a building that is mindful of the environment without shouting from the rooftops that you’re doing so. Though if you were to shout from this rooftop you’d be in pretty great company — the hotel boasts a vegetable garden on one of its terraces.

The hotel’s green features extend well beyond its function and consumption. While undergoing demolition and construction the crew recycled and repurposed as much building supply material as possible in order to divert it from the landfill. Stonehill & Taylor also designed the building to help reduce the heat island affect in the surrounding neighborhood — an issue that is widespread in the concrete jungle of New York City. The building has two luscious gardens, terraces for dining outside, and an outdoor sculpture garden for lounging. The vegetable garden in the hotel was designed by the Crosby Street’s head Chef, Anthony Paris, it supplies the on-site restaurant with melons, blueberries, tomatoes and herbs. The hotel is also home to a chicken coop which shelters four Araucana chickens that supply the kitchen with fresh eggs.

Crosby Street’s flower gardens, including the American Woodland Meadow, the bar’s terrace and the Sculpture Garden, are planted with native plant species and provide a touch of green in the stark surroundings of the SoHo neighborhood. All in all this newcomer in the New York Hotel scene seems not only deserving of its new LEED Gold honors but also of a couple nights stay for anyone looking for a low impact temporary home on a visit to the Big Apple.

+ Stonehill & Taylor

+ Crosby Street Hotel

Via Green Buildings NYC