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EVGB on East 14th Street – Raising the Bar for Sustainable Buildings in NYC

Extell Development Company’s newest edition to their portfolio is located in Manhattan’s exciting East Village neighborhood. The project, referred to as EVGB, located on East 14th Street, will comprise 160 residential rental apartments as well as retail space on the ground floor. Under the guidance of Steven Winter Associates, Inc., EVGB is currently pursuing a range of sustainability and energy efficiency performance standards, including Silver Certification under the LEED© for Homes Multifamily Midrise rating system and the NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program (MPP). Upon certification under NYSERDA MPP, the project will also earn the ENERGY STAR® label.

The building design employs an array of sustainability strategies to achieve energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, water, and site objectives.

Building Components & Energy Efficiency Features:

Rendering of 500 E 14th StreetEVGB features a high performance envelope that is thermally robust and thoroughly air sealed. Apartments are also compartmentalized using air sealing best practices and have undergone performance testing to ensure air tightness requirements are met. Compartmentalization is an important strategy for preventing conditioned air from leaving the intended apartment, thus reducing energy consumption and costs.

Maintaining optimal indoor air quality is important in a tightly constructed building and is supported in the development through continuously-running kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans that efficiently remove existing air, while a dedicated make-up air system provides fresh air to the indoor spaces.

The project was also designed with other energy efficient systems and equipment, such as high-efficiency boilers and heat pumps to maximize savings while supporting occupant comfort. Light-color pavers were selected for the roofs and terraces to minimize solar heat gain, which helps the building stay cool during the summer months, reduces overall energy costs, and lessens the load on mechanical systems. High-efficacy lighting fixtures were specified and installed throughout apartments as well as common spaces.

Furthermore, each apartment is outfitted with ENERGY STAR-labeled appliances that have been third-party verified as energy efficient.

Green Features:

In addition to the robust envelope and energy efficient mechanical systems and appliances, water conservation strategies are implemented throughout the project. Plumbing fixtures were selected not only for their aesthetic value, but for their performance. In order to decrease water consumption, as well as the energy used to generate hot water, low-flow fixtures were installed throughout the project.

Similarly, durability and non-toxicity were considered when selecting material and finishes. Paints, primers, adhesives, and sealants containing no or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were specified to help create a healthy indoor environment.

Occupant well-being helped inform many of the project decisions, such as implementing a smoke-free building policy. Likewise, a fitness center, indoor lap pool, and roof deck will be included to promote an active lifestyle and encourage resident engagement.

Site + Location Features:

Located in the East Village, residents of EVGB will have access to many restaurants, cafes, shops, and other community resources right outside their door. Neighborhood parks and green spaces, such as Tompkins Square Park and Stuyvesant Square Park, are also just a short walk away. Regarding access to public transportation, the L train and several bus stops are within a couple of blocks of the project site and the 14th Street Union Square subway hub is less than a mile away. Lastly, the building has dedicated, secure bicycle storage to further support alternative modes of transportation.

SWA is proud to be a part of Extell Development’s journey through building green. EVGB is a robust development that addresses sustainability issues by reducing the building’s energy consumption and creating a comfortable and healthy indoor environment for its tenants.