Opened in May 2006, the 52-story, 1.7-million-square-foot 7 World Trade Center is 83% occupied, with a diverse roster of tenants that includes Moody's Corporation and Ameriprise Financial and a number of companies that relocated from midtown: WestLB, one of Germany's leading financial institutions, the law firm Darby & Darby, the New York Academy of Sciences, Mansueto Ventures, publisher of Fast Company and Inc. magazines, Kostnanetz & Fink law firm, and Silverstein Properties.
Designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill, 7 WTC is the first certified "green" office building to be constructed in New York City. Among many building enhancements, 7 WTC has a reinforced concrete core and a steel superstructure. Safety systems exceed the city's building code and Port Authority requirements, and are expected to form the basis for future high-rise building codes.
Located just north of the WTC site, the rebuilt office tower combines a powerful infrastructure with ultra-efficient floors to offer tenants substantial operational efficiencies. With 45-foot column-free spans, high ceilings, and stunning views in all directions, the 40,000-square-foot floor plate provides unparalleled freedom to customize each space. From backup power systems, to abundant riser spacing, to above-standard electrical capacity and next-generation HVAC systems, the tower's infrastructure anticipates and exceeds future demands in every way. And the sheer beauty of its shimmering external façade gracefully enhances any corporate image.
New York's first certified green office building
7 World Trade Center combines a one-of-a-kind work environment with a one-of-a-kind commitment to environmental responsibility. In fact, 7 World Trade Center is New York's first officially certified "green" office building. It received Gold Certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design from the U.S. Green Buildings Council. This same commitment to environmental responsibility-and a pioneering program to use low-sulfur fuels in construction equipment-earned 7 World Trade Center an EPA Environmental Quality Award in 2004.
Silverstein Properties has pledged to build all of the other buildings at the World Trade Center site to the same high environmental standards used at 7 World Trade Center, which include:
- Low-sulfur fuels for construction equipment to improve air quality for workers, tenants and neighbors; innovative filter technologies during construction will then reduce diesel emissions by 90 percent
- Use of recycled materials during construction to reduce impact on the environment
- Drawing at least 50 percent of electricity from renewable resources
- Energy efficiencies that reduce tenants' electricity costs by 35 percent compared with the Manhattan average
- Floor to ceiling low-iron glass windows are designed to maximize the entrance of light while keeping out unwanted solar heat
- High-efficiency heating/cooling systems
- High-efficiency air filters that improve air quality (and enhance productivity)
- High-efficiency plumbing systems that reduce water consumption by at least 30 percent
- Rooftop rainwater collection to cool the building and irrigate the nearby park
- Specifying that at least 50 percent of the building's wood be certified as sustainably harvested