THE GREEN ROOF

One Union Square East, the famed pyramid-topped building that initiated the revitalization of Union Square more than 20 years ago, will set a new benchmark for the booming neighborhood with the opening of the city’s largest residential green roof this November.

 Located at One Irving Place, the 14,000 square-foot green roof will put the full block, mixed-use property, also known as Zeckendorf Towers, at the forefront of New York City’s new green roof initiative. In late September, Mayor Michael Bloomberg kicked off NYC Green Infrastructure, a major campaign aimed at integrating infrastructure, such as green roofs, to improve water and air quality, cool the City, and reduce energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

 Green roofs play a critical role in preventing discharge of sewer overflow into New York waterways during rain storms by capturing and slowing storm water runoff. According to a recent study by Riverkeeper, a 40 square-foot green roof could result in 810 gallons of storm water captured per year, meaning One Union Square East’s massive green roof could prevent over a quarter million gallons of storm water from entering the sewage system each year. Likewise, it will significantly reduce runoff entering the subway system at Union Square, preventing rain delays at the city’s fourth busiest subway station.