FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR- 346-07 September 27, 2007 MAYOR BLOOMBERG UNVEILS NEW VISITOR AND ADMINISTRATION CENTER AT QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN New Facility is First in New York City to Qualify for the Highest National Standard of Sustainability Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today unveiled the Queens Botanical Garden's (QBG) new Visitor & Administration Center, the first new building in the City to be eligible to receive a LEED rating of platinum, signifying that the building has met the highest possible standards for sustainable, ecologically conscious architecture. The facility, the centerpiece of a $24 million capital improvement program to which the City contributed $22 million, features a "green roof," solar panels and an innovative wastewater system. The Mayor was joined by Cultural Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Kate D. Levin, Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner David J. Burney, AIA, Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall, Councilmember Leroy G. Comrie, Councilmember John C. Liu, QBG Executive Director Susan Lacerte, and Board Chair Frank Macchio. "Queens Botanical Garden serves one of the City's most diverse boroughs with programming that fosters and highlights the best of environmental stewardship," said Commissioner Levin. "This new facility positions QBG as one of our City's many cultural organizations that are leading the way in embracing innovative architecture." Designed by New York-based BKSK Architects, the 15,830 sq. ft building features several noteworthy innovations, including:
In addition to being a model for sustainable design, the facility accommodates a reception area, auditorium, garden store, gallery space, meeting rooms and administrative offices. The new Center is a pilot project of the DDC's High Performance Building program and the winner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's first Green Building Design Award in 2004. "I am happy to be here today to support this environmentally friendly 'green' building that will not only provide office space and services, but capture the sun's energy, recapture rain water and make use of natural ventilation and other environmental technologies," said Borough President Marshall. "My office has allocated more than $11 million to this project that will set an example for other buildings to follow. I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg and all our partners in government for their support in helping the Queens Botanical Garden to grow in an ever greener New York City." "With the inauguration of our revolutionary Visitor & Administration Center, Queens Botanical Garden is at the forefront of the green building movement," said Executive Director Lacerte. "This building is chock full of technologies that can be used right now to mitigate global climate change. We deeply appreciate New York City's leadership role in the public/private partnership that made this building possible." MEDIA CONTACT: John Gallagher/Matthew Kelly (212) 788-2958 Teresa Gonzalez (Cultural Affairs) (212) 513-9322 Matthew Monahan (Design and Construction) (718) 391-1641 |
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