625 Broadway Green Building Facts

The home of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 625 Broadway in Albany incorporates state-of-the-art technology to minimize its impact on the environment and provides a healthy environment for employees. The innovative design and operation of the building qualified it for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating from the U.S Green Building Council.

Optimum Energy Performance

Excessive energy use has negative environmental impacts. By reducing energy use, 625 Broadway will cost approximately 40% less per year to operate than a typical building this size.

Water Efficient Landscaping

Precious water resources are conserved by limiting or eliminating the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.

625 Broadway does not have an irrigation system for its landscaping. The plants used are native to the climate, soil, and natural water availability conditions.

Recycled Materials in Building Structure

The DEC building incorporates an aggregate of recycled materials that, in dollar value, represent over 50% of the value of the building materials used in the structure. 20% of those building materials were manufactured regionally within a radius of 500 miles. Of these regionally manufactured materials, 50% were extracted, harvested, or recovered within 500 miles.

By utilizing building products that have incorporated recycled content materials, the environmental impacts resulting from the extraction of new material have been reduced. Use of regionally manufactured materials reduces emissions that would be caused by transporting materials over longer distances and qualifies as pollution prevention.

Additionally, during construction of DEC's new home, demolition and construction waste was recycled and/or salvaged. Notably, cobblestone pavement from historic Montgomery Street which once ran through the middle of the site was uncovered during sitework. The cobbles were salvaged and reused as planter edging throughout the entire site.

Reduced "Heat Islands"

"Heat Islands" are thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas. Reducing them limits the impact on microclimates and human and wildlife habitat. This is achieved by using light-colored, reflective materials (pavement, roofing), by minimizing paved areas (underground parking), or by increasing the amount of vegetated surfaces on the site (open-grid pavers, vegetated roofing).

625 Broadway achieves the reduction of "heat islands" through the use of standard concrete paving for over 30% of the plaza and sidewalks, and for the exposed upper level of the parking garage. DEC's new home also achieves this reduction by utilizing white, Polyolefin membrane for the building roofing.

Source Separation and Recycling

625 Broadway provides a ground-floor location with access to the loading dock that is dedicated to the separation, collection, and storage of materials for recycling including paper, glass, plastics and metals. This reduces the amount of waste that needs to be hauled to and disposed of in landfills.

There is also an extensive waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and buy recycled program in place for all DEC staff at 625 Broadway.

Indoor Air Quality

Construction at 625 Broadway utilizes low-emitting materials. Materials such as adhesives, sealants, paints, composite wood products and carpet systems meet or exceed the "green limits" for their industry by limiting the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The building utilizes indoor chemical and pollutant source control measures designed to minimize cross-contamination of the general occupancy areas by chemical pollutants.

Daylighting and Views

The number of enclosed areas is kept to a minimum. Diffuse sunlight reaches 90% of regularly occupied spaces.

Urban Redevelopment

Development is channeled to urban areas with existing infrastructure, protecting greenfields and preserving habitat and natural resources.

Alternative Transportation

625 Broadway is located across the street from a central bus depot of the Capital District Transportation Authority. All of Albany's major bus lines will stop at this location.

There are a total of 95 bicycle racks in the garage and on site. This represents 5% of the estimated 1,900 occupants of the building.

There are 15 electric car recharging stations in the parking garage. This represents 3% of the 500 parking spaces in the on-site garage.

Any comments or questions?
Contact us at: 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-1750;
518-402-9469 (phone); 518-402-9168 (fax)