DAVID ZWIRNER 20TH STREET

The building is the first LEED certified commercial art gallery in the U.S. The LEED Gold project includes five green roof spaces, premium efficiency mechanical systems, high performance lighting and controls, maximized daylighting, and locally and responsibly sourced materials.

Sustainable Design Intent and Innovation
With strict climate and lighting requirements, creating environmentally-conscious spaces for art is a challenge, but one that both the client and architect were committed to undertaking from the project’s very beginning. Integrating modulated natural light sources into exhibitions spaces was an important design driver.

The massing, which rises in an l-shape around the main gallery, was specifically designed so that the main exhibition space could be penetrated by four large north-facing skylights. Upper floors contain both exhibition and office space and have operable windows on two sides which fill the narrow floor plates with natural light and allow for natural ventilation in areas where sensitive works are not displayed.

Energy conservation is further enhanced by premium efficiency HVAC equipment, high-performance lighting and controls, and triple pane glazing which collectively reduce the gallery’s annual energy costs by 35%; as well as low-flow plumbing fixtures which reduce water use by 20%.

To meet the building’s LEED Gold target, the design incorporates five green roof spaces which eliminate stormwater run-off and reduce heat-island effect, as well as locally and responsibly-sourced materials.

ENERGY
Energy conservation strategies include maximized daylighting, an intensive green roof to minimize heat-island effect, high performance lighting and controls, premium efficiency HVAC equipment, and triple pane glazing. Collectively, these strategies reduce the gallery’s energy use by 31.7% and reduce its annual costs by 35%.

WATER
Water-use strategies include the building’s blue roof system and its intensive green roof which eliminate stormwater runoff, and low-flow plumbing fixtures which reduce water use by 20%.
a. 100% precipitation managed on site
b. waste water reused on site
c. 31,860 gallons annual regulated potable water use
d. 20% regulated potable water reduction from baseline

KEY SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
- 6 green roof spaces (2 intensive, 4 extensive)
- 5,200 sf of total green roof space
- 4 large skylights in the main exhibition space reduce the need for electric lighting
- Narrow floor plan of upper levels maximizes natural light penetration
- Blue roof system eliminates stormwater runoff
- High efficiency mechanical system
- High performance glazing used for windows and storefront
- Operable windows for natural ventilation
- Water-saving plumbing fixtures
- Low energy electric lighting
- FSC certified wood used for window frames and doors.