One Vanderbilt, NY
Building envelope and sustainability consulting.
SOCOTEC supported the delivery of One Vanderbilt in Manhattan through building envelope consulting, energy and sustainability consulting, commissioning, and Local Law 97 (LL97) services for one of New York’s most prominent office towers.
KEY INFORMATION:
Project name: One Vanderbilt
Date: Started 2012, Completed 2020
Client: Hines
Size: 1.7 Million ft²
Location: 317 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Sustainability Rating: LEED Platinum v3, LEED Gold v4 & WELL Gold Pursued
Services Provided: Building Envelope Consulting and Monitoring, Energy Consulting, (LEED & WELL) Consulting, Commissioning, Local Law 97
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The Challenge
Delivering a High-Performance Office Tower in Midtown Manhattan
Located adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, One Vanderbilt stands as a defining element of the New York skyline. Rising just over 1,400 feet, this 77-story office tower was, at the time of completion, the second tallest office building in New York City. The project’s architectural ambition—four tapering blocks with a terra cotta and glass façade, exterior elevators, and a public observation deck—introduced complex technical challenges.
From a performance standpoint, the project team faced the need to align building envelope performance, energy efficiency, and occupant well-being with aggressive sustainability targets. These objectives were further shaped by New York’s evolving building emission law, including Local Law 97 (LL97), which places strict limits on carbon emissions for large buildings. Meeting multiple green building certification requirements while maintaining schedule and budget discipline required close coordination across disciplines.
As a major commercial development in Manhattan, the project also carried broader expectations for sustainability, resilience, and long-term operational efficiency, making building envelope consulting, commissioning, and energy consulting critical to success.
Located adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, One Vanderbilt stands as a defining element of the New York skyline. Rising just over 1,400 feet, this 77-story office tower was, at the time of completion, the second tallest office building in New York City. The project’s architectural ambition—four tapering blocks with a terra cotta and glass façade, exterior elevators, and a public observation deck—introduced complex technical challenges.
From a performance standpoint, the project team faced the need to align building envelope performance, energy efficiency, and occupant well-being with aggressive sustainability targets. These objectives were further shaped by New York’s evolving building emission law, including Local Law 97 (LL97), which places strict limits on carbon emissions for large buildings. Meeting multiple green building certification requirements while maintaining schedule and budget discipline required close coordination across disciplines.
As a major commercial development in Manhattan, the project also carried broader expectations for sustainability, resilience, and long-term operational efficiency, making building envelope consulting, commissioning, and energy consulting critical to success.
The Solution
Integrated Building Envelope, Energy, and Sustainability Expertise
SOCOTEC provided a coordinated suite of services designed to support both performance and certification goals for One Vanderbilt. Our teams worked closely with the client and design partners to deliver building envelope consulting and sustainability solutions throughout construction.
Key contributions included:
- Building envelope consulting and monitoring, supporting façade performance, durability, and constructability
- Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) to meet LEED v4 and WELL requirements
- Energy consulting, including energy code progress inspections and alignment with New York energy regulations
- LEED consulting and WELL consulting, supporting LEED v3 Platinum, LEED v4 Gold, and WELL Core Gold certifications
- Commissioning and LEED Enhanced Commissioning, ensuring systems performed as intended
- CFD modeling of atria, exterior elevators, and the observation deck to support occupant comfort and performance
The project incorporated more than $17 million in sustainability features, including high-performance glazing and a 90,000-gallon rainwater collection system, reinforcing its position as a leading green building in New York.
SOCOTEC provided a coordinated suite of services designed to support both performance and certification goals for One Vanderbilt. Our teams worked closely with the client and design partners to deliver building envelope consulting and sustainability solutions throughout construction.
Key contributions included:
- Building envelope consulting and monitoring, supporting façade performance, durability, and constructability
- Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) to meet LEED v4 and WELL requirements
- Energy consulting, including energy code progress inspections and alignment with New York energy regulations
- LEED consulting and WELL consulting, supporting LEED v3 Platinum, LEED v4 Gold, and WELL Core Gold certifications
- Commissioning and LEED Enhanced Commissioning, ensuring systems performed as intended
- CFD modeling of atria, exterior elevators, and the observation deck to support occupant comfort and performance
The project incorporated more than $17 million in sustainability features, including high-performance glazing and a 90,000-gallon rainwater collection system, reinforcing its position as a leading green building in New York.
The Results
LEED and WELL Certifications
SOCOTEC’s role as a WELL Enterprise Provider and LEED Proven Provider further strengthened our ability to guide the client through complex certification pathways and evolving standards.
Through early engagement and integrated delivery, our team helped One Vanderbilt achieve LEED Platinum v3, LEED Gold v4, and WELL Core Gold, supporting both sustainability and occupant well-being objectives. The project stands as a benchmark for high-rise office towers in Manhattan, aligning long-term energy performance with New York’s building emission requirements.
