And it is a building that is also environmentally fit. But being the first on the block is not all that easy. The extra cost can be eliminated, says Durst, by going green from the outset of a project. Durst decided a bit late. There is little altruism in environmentally responsible development.
Green buildings cost less to run and are attractive to tenants.
And Durst is not going all the way with green. Perhaps the most significant difference between this and most spec developments is a collaborative design and construction process that began with a three-day retreat for the green team. That was a first for Tishman and probably for most of the subs, he adds. Contractors had to develop waste management programs to optimize use of recycled materials, to reduce use of packaging materials and to minimize site-generated waste. Some subs have been creative, says Ruffini.