Green-principled tenants only in world's first recycled skyscraper
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE WORLD'S first ever recycled skyscraper is rising from the ground, right at the heart of New York City, on the eastern side of Times Square, writes Geoffrey Lean. Built by one of the biggest organic farmers on the US East Coast, it will house some of the world's most sophisticated magazines, including Vogue, the New Yorker and Vanity Fair from next summer.
The 48-storey, US$450m office building - designed to be "the greenest skyscraper ever built" - is topped with two giant solar panels which will provide some of its electricity. It will have large, well-insulated windows to attract and retain the maximum amount of heat from the sun. Fifty per cent more fresh air than usual will be blown around the building and it will have special chutes to collect paper for recycling.
Due to be completed in the spring, it has been constructed entirely from recycled steel. Re-used materials have been utilised wherever possible. Over a third of the materials in the building have been recycled, while two-thirds of the surplus construction materials removed from the site are being taken away for re-use.
When the new tenants move in, each will be issued with a guide on how to find furniture, carpets, ceiling tiles and the like made of waste products, to increase the proportion of recycled materials in the building even further.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTIN SUTCLIFFE
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments