When you next visit the One World Observatory at the top of the One World Trade Center (One WTC) in New York City, you might notice a unique smell in the air. The glass-walled attraction, which is 100 stories high, offers visitors spectacular 360-degree views of the New York skyline. But, as Managing Director Keith Douglas pointed out earlier this year, “the one thing that’s truly not available [is] a distinctive smell.”
That’s why the observatory has started pumping a custom-made scent aptly called “One World” through the air conditioning vents. The scent has been designed to resemble trees native to New York including beeches, mountain ashes, and red maples but, as The New York Times reports, not everyone is a fan.
Nevertheless, it seems somewhat appropriate that the observatory’s aroma is reminiscent of the natural world given that One WTC has become a beacon of sustainable architecture.
One WTC, which is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex, opened on November 3, 2014, and, at 1,776 feet tall, is officially the tallest building in the U.S. and western hemisphere, and the seventh tallest building in the world. Designed by architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, LLP, the building was designed to be the safest commercial structure in the world, includes three million square feet of rentable office space, and cost $4 billion to build.
As of September 2016, One WTC became the tallest building in the western hemisphere to be awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification. LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, which recognizes structures that have been built and designed using strategies that address energy savings, water efficiency, and CO2 emissions reduction.
It took much longer than anticipated for the building to receive this certification, following Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The hurricane ruined nine fuel cells intended to heat and cool the building, which meant One WTC had to operate without these green elements for a period of time.
Constructed using more than 40% post-industrial recycled content and with more than 87% of construction waste diverted from the landfill, One WTC is a sustainable force to be reckoned with.
How One World Trade Center Pioneered Green Construction
Recycled Rainwater
The building collects 100% of its stormwater runoff on-site where it is stored in high-efficiency evaporative cooling towers, which maximizes water efficiency overall. The water is claimed and re-used for building cooling purposes as well as fire protection, supplemental cooling, and irrigation for the complex’s extensive landscaping needs.
Daylighting
One WTC’S windows use a green feature called "daylighting,” which means that on bright, sunny days when a large amount of natural daylight is coming in, dimmers automatically lower the interior lights to reduce energy consumption. Over 90% of the office areas receive natural light, which negates the need for much electrical lighting. Every space within 15 feet of the building’s facade will be equipped with dimming devices.
In addition, the building’s windows were constructed of ultra-clear glass, which allows a maximum amount of light while blocking excess heat from UV rays from entering. Approximately 787,200 square feet of glass was used on the skyscraper.
Low-water Bathrooms
High-efficiency plumbing systems installed through the building are designed to save 30% on water consumption over a typical building of its size. To achieve this, low-flow toilets and devices intended to limit water use for handwashing were installed.
Energy Reclaiming Elevators
The tower’s elevators move at a maximum speed of 2,000 feet per minute and reclaim energy through regenerative braking.
Sustainable Wood
As much as 50% of the wood used in the buildings of the new World Trade Center was sourced from Forest Stewardship Council-certified (FSC) sustainably harvested forests. FSC certification mandates that the wood used in a building project came from responsible sources and not from endangered trees or forests.
A Functional Memorial
The large, square reflecting pools which mark the "footprints” of the original World Trade Center twin towers feature 360-degree waterfalls and serve as rain collection systems themselves. The names of those who died on September 11 are inscribed on plaques around the "footprint” waterfalls. The names appear dark during the day and glow with internal light at night.
Landscaping
The new main plaza of the World Trade Center complex features more than 400 oak trees, all of which were harvested within a 500-mile radius of the city to avoid excessive transportation and limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The trees’ roots help keep temperatures regulated within the museum that lies below.
Clean Diesel
During construction, contractors were required to use only ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels, or "clean diesel” to reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions in and around the construction area. In addition, all construction vehicles were equipped with extra particulate filters to further reduce their environmental impact on air quality.
Green Concrete
The construction of One World Trade Center used so-called "Green Concrete” – what some believe to be more environmentally responsible than traditional cement – which will save about 12 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, eight million kWh of energy and 30,000 gallons of fresh water.