The Helena

Rank #12
Cost: $160 million

The 38-floor residential tower that the Durst Organization is building at West 57th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan isn't just an "environmentally friendly" project. It's a green dream.

Future residents of the Helena may not know everything that has gone into earning the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification, but the 600 unit-structure will be a model for resource efficiency, environmental balance and green construction.

The pursuit of a silver ranking from the LEED program is a central focus for the project team led by developer Durst and including general contractor Kreisler Borg Florman General Construction Co., Fox & Fowle Architects, structural engineer Severud Associates and mechanical engineer Flack + Kurtz.

The team broke ground last year on the $160 million project and plans to complete its work later this year.

Among the innovative methods the green goal has inspired is carefully handling construction debris. The team contracted with an outside company to segregate paper, plastic, wood, metal and other materials for recycling - and ensuring that waste doesn't enter the landfill at the project.

Kreisler Borg has also implemented erosion and sedimentation control systems using gravel pits, and it has covered the internal ductwork during construction to prevent contaminants from lowering the air quality within the apartment units.

The units themselves will feature renewable materials, such as bamboo floors and wheatboard kitchen cabinets. Core systems such as the foundation use "furnace slag" - a waste product of steel manufacturing - as a strengthening agent. And the building has a black water purification plan that will collect water and recycle it throughout the structure - with a goal to reduce water consumption in the building by 50 percent from normal levels.

The Helena will have other systems that will enhance its environmental and energy efficiency over the long haul. That includes the installation of high-performance glass throughout the building, which prevents heat loss and promotes more efficient air heating and cooling.

Another efficient system in the architect's design is the use of solar collection panels, which will convert solar heat to electricity and merge into the electrical manufacturing plant within the building to lower the overall energy costs.

The hot water byproduct of these systems will enter the chilling and refrigerant systems of the building.

Topping off the structure is a "green roof" system that will serve as an amenity to residents as well as a rainwater retention system that will funnel water to the building cooling system as well as prevent extraneous water runoff to the street.

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