Citi Opens The Doors To Tower’s Neighbor

BY BRAD GROZNIK

After reports of buildings and not cars causing most if the City’s smog, Citigroup opened its first “green” building in Long Island City.

Citigroup’s new office tower, built to a LEED Gold standard, held its figurative ribbon cutting ceremony Monday with about 100 attendees.

The 15-story, 528,000-square-foot podium-style structure, located at Two Court Square, houses 1,500 employees and sits across the street from Citi’s iconic tower. The company invested $310 million in the project.

“I think it’s fabulous,” Borough President Helen Marshal said. “I’m so proud because it’s really good for the borough.”

Marshall told the crowd Citi was the first to take a chance on Queens and she is happy Long Island City is finally moving forward.

“With Queens West, the planned transformation of Queens Plaza, a redesigned Jackson Avenue and the United Nation’s Credit Union headquarters as its neighbor, this building is another sign of confidence in our borough’s future,” she said in the building’s high-tech auditorium.

Opened in August, the building received the highest certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

To keep it green, the building’s energy comes entirely from wind power purchased from around the United States and Canada. The roof captures rainwater and recycles it for use in the cooling towers and irrigation, conserving one-million gallons of water a year.

Just as the carpet was made from recycled 7-Up bottles, about 90 percent of structural steel contains recycled content. Moreover, 90 percent of the building’s employees are treated to direct sunlight though high-performance windows and energy-efficient lighting.

Pam Flaherty, president and CEO for Citigroup Foundation, said the building shows a strong commitment to Long Island City from the City and the state – as well as to the company’s long-term goal to reduce its carbon footprint 10 percent by 2011.

Robert Lieber, president of the City’s Economic Development Corporation, called Citi a pioneer for sustainable business practices in the private sector.

“Citi is taking the lead and turning it green,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) also commended the company for its green outlook.

“Citi is often times on the cutting edge,” she said.

The congresswoman, borough president, EDC president and Citi employees decided not to cut a ribbon and create waste, so they symbolically watered eight evergreen trees that will be donated to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in Queens for replanting in Queensbridge Park.