The Javits Center has embarked on a major renovation project that includes replacement of the building’s roof and curtain wall, upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems expected to reduce energy consumption by 26 percent, and interior reconfigurations designed to enhance the visitor experience as well as operational efficiency. “Incorporating a green roof will contribute to the goal of LEED® [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] Silver status,” said Nancy Czesak, first vice president, Tishman Construction, New York, and co-project director. An AECOM company, Tishman is the construction manager for the Javits renovation.

FXFOWLE Epstein, New York, a joint venture between FXFOWLE Architects and Epstein Global, the architects for the Javits renovation, and Commercial Roofing Solutions (CRS) Inc., Clifton, N.J., the project’s waterproofing consultant, recommended the Xero Flor Green Roof System, which was specified for the project.

“Xero Flor has a long-standing record of reliability in Europe and has been proven in previous large-scale applications in the U.S.,” said Rainer Gerbatsch, president, CRS Inc. “For the Javits green roof, the Xero Flor vegetative mats, which are grown for 9-12 months, include 14 different varieties of sedum to promote diversity and sustainability. For this project, they are being grown in upstate New York and thereby adapted to the regional climate. In addition, Xero Flor offers independent laboratory certification of its wind uplift performance and resistance against combustibility.”

“When completed this year, the Javits Center green roof at 292,000 square feet will be the second largest green roof on a single, free-standing building in the U.S.,” said Clayton Rugh, Ph.D., general manager and technical director, Xero Flor America. “The largest, at Ford Motor Company’s River Rouge plant, which will reach the milestone of its 10th anniversary this year, is also a Xero Flor installation.”

“The benefits of installing a green roof at the Javits Center include the reduction of storm runoff volume and peak flow. It will conserve energy by moderating temperatures on the roof and lowering the temperature of the air being drawn into the rooftop HVAC units during cooling season, while simultaneously helping to reduce temperature extremes inside the building,” said Bruce S. Fowle, FAIA, LEED, founding principal, FXFOWLE Architects. “The green roof also adds the aesthetic value of urban open space — the fifth façade of the building that will be seen and appreciated from emerging adjacent high-rises.”

Given the size of the Javits Center green roof, the environmental benefits will be substantial. For example, with New York City’s average annual rainfall of about 50 inches, the Javits green roof will prevent approximately 6.8 million gallons of run-off per year.

For more information, visit www.xeroflora.com.

Publication date: 2/18/2013