One World Trade Center Achieves LEED Gold

U.S. Green Building Council honors western hemisphere’s tallest building for construction, design, and operations standards.

One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, has achieved the rating of LEED Gold v2.0 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to the Durst Organization and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

World Trade Center
(Source: One World Trade Center)

One World Trade Center was awarded the LEED Gold v2.0 rating for its industry-leading standards across multiple categories, including energy, water, lighting, materials, transportation, air quality, and people.

“One World Trade Center is the world’s most environmentally sustainable project of its size,” said Beth Wolfowitz, Port Authority Director of Leasing and Development for the World Trade Center Redevelopment Department. “The LEED Gold certification further validates One World Trade Center’s standing as a global leader in socially responsible design and construction and the dedication of everyone who helped make this building the world’s premier office address.”

Among many positive attributes contributing to the office tower’s LEED Gold certification, the USGBC noted that One World Trade Center:

  • Was designed to reduce its energy use 18.3% below the baseline
  • Met requirements for 50% potable water use reduction for irrigation through the use of drip irrigation and use of captured storm water for irrigation
  • Achieved aggressive lighting efficiency goals
  • Utilizes materials chosen for their sustainability attributes — with over 25% recycled content, 35% regional materials and 50% certified wood
  • Includes ventilation systems that perform well in excess of the minimum indoor air quality requirements, achieved through a substantial air filtration system installation that is above and beyond the base requirements

Anchored by global publishing giant Condé Nast, One World Trade Center provides direct, weather-protected connections to 11 subway lines, the PATH train, and the Hudson River ferries. In addition, the West Concourse pedestrian walkway — which connects the World Trade Center campus to Brookfield Place and Battery Park City — now offers access to the newly opened World Trade Center Transportation Hub and to the entrance to One World Observatory. The building also provides access to dozens of retail shops being managed by Westfield, including restaurants and services, and the new MTA Fulton Transit Center on Broadway.

“The LEED Gold rating is a great accomplishment for the entire One World Trade Center construction, design, and operations team,” said Jody Durst, President of The Durst Organization. “We are proud of this designation, which reflects our commitment to delivering environmentally responsible projects that operate at maximum efficiency and provide the healthiest work space possible for our tenants, and employees who service the building.”

“Durst isn’t like any other organization, and One World Trade Center isn’t like any other project,” said CEO Tom Paladino of Paladino and Company, One World Trade Center’s sustainability consulting firm. “The Durst team is uniquely savvy about how to navigate the hurdles of a LEED certification while also fortifying their business. I see One World Trade Center as Durst’s new capstone project — no building is too big to be green.”