NEW YORK—Conrad New York, a luxury waterfront, all-suite hotel located in the heart of lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City, has been awarded LEED Gold for New Construction Certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). This is the first LEED Gold New Construction major renovation project certified under the latest rating system in New York. Since its inception in 1998, LEED is the nation’s top rating system for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods.
The Conrad New York, having already achieved ISO 9000 certification in quality management and ISO 14001 certification in environmental management, along with the hotel’s new LEED Gold certification, further affirms the Conrad brand’s commitment to be a luxury leader in smart, sustainable hotel development and operations.
“Part of Conrad New York’s commitment to being ‘smart luxury’ is being conscientious and mindful of our impact on the environment and on our Battery Park City community,” said Robert Rechtermann, general manager, Conrad New York. “Smart luxury travelers are also conscious of their ecological impact, so it was important for us to demonstrate our commitment to the environment through our overall sustainability practices in developing this property.”
Five Categories Under LEED Certification
The LEED Gold for New Construction certificate was awarded to Conrad New York for satisfying its criterion of environmental impacts inherent in the construction, design, management and operations of a building. The five categories under the LEED certification system include: Sustainable Sites; Water Efficiency; Energy and Atmosphere; Materials and Resources; and Indoor Environmental Quality. LEED certified buildings reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for hotel guests, employees and the local community.
“Conrad New York has demonstrated exceptional achievement in incorporating and establishing green building standards,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The framework for accessing this building performance isn’t an easy task and Conrad New York is one of only two hotels in New York City to meet the goals and standards set by LEED.”
LEED Gold certification of Conrad New York was based on several green design and construction features that positively impact the project as well as the broader community. Noteworthy environmentally-friendly features at the Conrad include: a green roof and roof garden with vegetables used by Conrad New York’s signature restaurant ATRIO, and Chef Floyd Cardoz of Danny Meyer’s restaurant North End Grill, as well as paint and pavings that meet the high reflectance criteria of LEED, bike racks for public use, low-flow plumbing fixtures that help the hotel reduce its water consumption by more than 30 percent, LED lights for more than 60 percent of all lighting at the hotel, low-VOC materials to promote indoor air quality, locally sourced materials, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood, and Energy Star kitchen equipment that contributes to the overall building’s energy efficiency.
The same green principles incorporated into the Conrad were also passed along to each of the tenant spaces in their design guidelines. The Conrad hotel and its retail shops bring a new sense of community to the neighborhood, creating a place for hotel employees, local residents and tourists on foot to experience Lower Manhattan.
Go to Conrad New York.
