Multi-Year Renovation Campaign Resulted in a More Sustainable, Energy-Efficient Building
New York, NY – Stawski Partners and Cushman & Wakefield announced today the completion of a multi-year capital improvement program focused on creating a more sustainable, energy-efficient building at 1212 Avenue of the Americas, a 24-story, 270,000-square-foot office property situated on Corporate Row in Midtown.
The comprehensive renovation campaign included the addition of state-of-the-art HVAC and electrical infrastructure and the repositioning of the lobby and elevators to enhance the comfort and contribute to the overall health and well-being of tenants, and support the environmental and energy reduction goals of New York City.
The upgrades are “a necessary reset to improve both environmental impact and tenant experience,” said Faith Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Stawski Partners.
JB&B, a renowned subject matter expert in building repositioning, was retained to upgrade all of the building’s MEP systems. Jon Fales, Pierce Hance and Michelle Mean of Cushman & Wakefield act as leasing agents for the property.
“The upgrade of the mechanical and electrical systems at 1212 Avenue of the Americas supports the repositioning of the building to compete with new Class A buildings,” said Brendan Weiden, Partner, JB&B. “Stawski & JB&B’s relationship over 40 years has focused on the repositioning of ‘hidden gem’ assets. To approach reuse of existing buildings with state-of-the-art MEP systems is an advantage to both reuse of the embedded carbon in the building, and to shorten the time to bring the building back to beneficial use.”
The newly implemented robust mechanical systems, including MERV 16 filters, provide superior air filtration and the ability to deliver additional outside air to the building to minimize indoor pollutants. Large fans were also replaced with multiple highly efficient motors and variable speed drives to reduce the overall air distribution during times of light occupancy, resulting in an increase in energy efficiency in the ventilation system. The new high-efficiency chilled water and hot water plant reduce energy and fossil fuel consumption while positioning the building to become carbon-free in the future.
“In improving the efficiency of the mechanical systems with new technology and upgrades to the building, we reduced the overall energy usage. With JB&B’s design of the new systems, we were able to control the infrastructure on a much more granular level, thereby enhancing tenant comfort. We replaced old chillers with highly efficient modular electric-driven chillers, increasing the controllability and ultimate efficiency of the system,” added Chris Horch, Associate Partner, JB&B.
In addition to the modernization of the HVAC cooling system, the building moved from ConEd steam to hot water, which, while not carbon-free, is a far more efficient system that will enable the building to pivot to a carbon-free solution as technologies continue to evolve.
Upgrades made to the electrical system will expand the building’s lifespan by addressing both short-term needs and long-term goals. The addition of a backup electrical generator with onsite captive fuel oil supply for life safety, property protection and resiliency capability for tenants was fundamental to achieving Stawski’s resiliency goals for the property.
Renovations to the new main lobby, which features a street-level façade and canopy, provide a distinctive entryway and enhance the relationship of the building to the vibrant scene on the street. The elevators further address the aesthetics of the building, while providing faster, more reliable services and further reducing electrical energy consumption.
“1212 Avenue of the Americas has been transformed into a highly desirable, energy-efficient space for tenants. These improvements not only create a more sustainable building, but also align with tenant and investor values and improve the overall tenant experience,” said Fales, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield. “We’ve seen a strong flight to quality trend over the past couple of years, with occupiers gravitating towards premier assets. The renovations at this property will enable it to compete with newly constructed buildings on the market. Cushman & Wakefield is highly attuned to Stawski Partners’ commitment to creating a more energy-efficient building and we are thrilled to have been able to work on this truly stellar project alongside JB&B to make a significant difference to NYC’s built environment.”
About Stawski Partners
Stawski Partners specializes in developing and managing boutique commercial and residential properties in Manhattan’s most desirable locations. Buildings by Stawski Partners share a refined visual intelligence marked by a sophisticated use of materials and functionally creative design details.
About JB&B
In over 100 years of practice, JB&B has grown to be recognized as the industry leader in both repositioning of existing buildings, and the expert in highly efficient new buildings. A New York City-based engineering firm with 300 employees and offices in Lower Manhattan, Boston and Philadelphia, JB&B has a proven record of innovative design and sustainable solutions, in response to the unique challenges of building repositioning. For more information, please visit www.jbb.com.