Jagged-Roofed NYC DOT Maintenance Facility Awarded LEED Platinum Certification

The New York City Department of Transportation's jagged-roofed <a href="http://www.ibigroup.com/projects/sunrise-yard-for-nyc-dot" target="_blank">Sunrise Yard</a> facility was recently honored with LEED Platinum certification. Designed by <a href="http://www.ibigroup.com/" target="_blank">Gruzen Samton • IBI Group</a>, the DOT's high-performance home base in Queens combines the department's maintenance programs under one saw-toothed roof and demonstrates that sustainable facilities can be achieved using low-tech strategies.

Sunrise Yard consolidates the DOT's maintenance programs in one facility in a residential area of Queens.

Designed by <a href="http://www.ibigroup.com/" target="_blank">Gruzen Samton • IBI Group</a>, the 27,000 sq ft building provides a home base for the carpenters, electricians, and plumbers who maintain and support the DOT’s portfolio of buildings.

The building is organized into three zones that meet functional and environmental objectives: offices and personnel support, workshops, and a stock room.

Low tech strategies were used extensively to minimize energy use and achieve a high level of sustainability, so much so that the project has been awarded LEED Platinum certification.

In fact the building uses 85% less energy than one not designed with so many sustainability strategies.

The roof of the building has a saw-toothed roofline with skylights that fill the workshops with lots of natural daylight.

Requirements for systems, daylight and finishes were separately defined, and this became the core of the design and green strategies.

The project also serves as a model for the Department of Design + Construction’s for future sustainable facilities.

A broad participation in the programming and design process led to integrated solutions that provide a highly efficient building and a comfortable working environment for the client.