The newly completed installation of a green infrastructure project in the Edenwald section of the Bronx will prevent nearly 2 million gallons of stormwater from entering the sewer system each year. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection invested
The Environmental Protection Agency announced recently that they will provide over $500 million in grants and low-interest loans to the state of New York and state of New Jersey to improve wastewater and drinking water facilities ravaged by Hurricane Sandy.
Some of New York’s colleges and universities have been quietly making every day Earth Day with a series of efforts to boost sustainability and conservation. From adding green roofs to their buildings to installing new wastewater management systems, many
Green roofs are becoming a growing staple in New York City architecture. These green spaces help to reduce the “urban island heat effect” by covering buildings in grass and plants that will take in carbon dioxide, convert it into oxygen and help to cool
If you thought the collection of fungi housed in your own fridge was impressive, wait ’til you hear what was found on NYC’s green roofs. Researchers from Barnard College, Columbia University, Fordham and the University of Colorado recently conducted tests
Won Dharma Center, Claverack, NY – Architecture Honor Award Winner
This 22,000 square foot retreat built for the Won Buddhists of North America is outfitted with geothermal heating and solar hot water and the exteriors were covered in FSC-certified
One Irving Place, the name given to Beth Israel’s green roof, cost $330,000 to install (paid for by the condominium next door), and features 360 degree visibility from the surrounding hallway windows and towers at each corner. Additionally, all residents
Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn’t wasting any time on combating climate change and greening the Big Apple as his third term comes to a close. Recently, he signed three new critical pieces of green legislation authored by Councilmember James F. Gennaro (D-Fresh
Come to Queens Botanical Garden and join Lenny Librizzi from GrowNYC for this two-hour workshop covering stormwater management best practices for community gardeners and homeowners. Learn how to conserve water and help prevent pollution from stormwater by
Yesterday Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered his final State of the City address, and not surprisingly, the focus of his talk was on making NYC an even greener place than it is now. In the speech, Bloomberg spoke prophetically of a reduced carbon footprint,
We’ve seen several concepts showing how storm water-capturing wetlands could benefit NYC, but now a new proposal is bringing those ideas one step closer to reality. The Lower East Side Ecology Center has developed a plan to create a 1-acre wetland right in
Architecture Research Office initially came up with this proposal in 2011 in response to the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, but obviously the devastation wrecked by Hurricane Sandy was far worse, and should be seen as a wake-up call to city, state and national
Raw sewage overflow is a serious problem that occurs when storms hit New York City and floods fill our harbors with billions of gallons of disgusting pollutants. Lately these storm surges have been overpowering the dated prevention methods that are currently
Arad’s design was selected from a global competition that received more than 5,200 submissions from 63 nations. The reflecting pools, which sit in the exact footprints of the Twin Towers, are the center of the memorial. The pools as are large voids, a
Arad and Walker’s design was selected from a global competition that received more than 5,200 submissions from 63 nations. The reflecting pools, which sit in the exact footprints of the Twin Towers, are the center of the memorial. In their proposal, Arad and
Four student teams were assembled to address priority concerns delineated by a class survey: biodiversity and urban agriculture. The first project, Adaptaspace by Ross Diamond, Elaine Mahoney and Fred Wolf, seeks to enhance future biodiversity on campus by
Starting in late May, Pratt graduate students in the green infrastructure design + build course began learning green roof and stormwater management techniques. Preliminary designs for the green roof were completed under the direction of professors Gita Nandan
The benefits of white and green roofs are nothing new to us, but a recent study by two top NYC universities has shed light on just how effective these non-traditional roofs can be at lowering building temperatures. Non-reflective dark roofs are known to exacerbate
Wood’s winning entry transformed the East River into a Venice-inspired getaway. Lanes of canals, with floating gondolas and wooden pathways link Midtown with the Upper East Side and into Harlem. Waterway inlets would connect the East River to land, offering
Playgrounds may be a favorite place for New York City children, but they have also become an ideal environmental solution for city officials. With a possibly rainy summer season ahead, the Department of Environmental Protection is teaming up with the Trust
Although the city has committed to investing in a system to deter an abundance of stormwater overflow, flooding is still a major concern for New York City. The New Jersey non-profit, Climate Central, has created an interactive map that illustrates to New
The steps in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are one of the most grand and iconic landmarks in the city, but the plaza surround the massive staircase is anything but: the sidewalk is crumbling, the fountains barely work, and the trees are dying. At
image courtesy The Horticultural Society of New York
As New York City upgrades its aging buildings and breaks ground on new green developments, building features like stormwater management systems, green roofs, and rain gardens are fast becoming the norm
image courtesy James Ewing
On the river’s edge, the kayak and boat launch pavilion create a direct connected to the Hudson River. The long, horizontal shape and open design frame the scenic waterway and mountainous horizon, and the flat roof is primed for
