The Independent reports that the Javits Center in Manhattan, New York, once known as "New York City's leading bird killer" due to its dark, mirrored glass exterior. However, after a renovation, it has become a haven for local wildlife, boasting the nation's second-largest energy-efficient green roof and a soon-to-open urban farm.
A $40 billion renovation transformed Manhattan's largest rooftop solar farm
"We started this irreversible transformation with the green roof," Alan Steel, president and CEO of the Javits Center, said in an interview. "Every time we implement environmental and sustainable measures, the client asks us to do more, so I think this is a really positive development."
Named after the late New York Senator Jacob Javits, this convention center sits on Manhattan's West Side Highway overlooking the Hudson River. Every year, 2.5 million people flock to the center for events like Comic Con, Auto Show, and Travel Expo. Last year, the center also hosted the Sustainability Summit during Climate Week NYC.
Over the past decade, the Javits Center has undergone a $1.5 billion (approximately NT$44.4 billion) renovation, expanding by 18,580 square meters and adding sustainable features. As New York City strives to achieve its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, improving the Javits Center's ecological efficiency is a key priority for the city.
The Javits Center will be equipped with more than 3,000 solar panels, which will become the largest rooftop solar power plant in Manhattan and offset the building's electrical load.
Replacing glass and applying window stickers reverses New York City's reputation as the leading bird killer
Bird window kills were once the biggest headache for the Javits Center.
Tony Sclafani, vice president and public relations director, acknowledged that the Javits Center once had a reputation as "New York City's number one bird killer" because of the building's dark, mirrored glass exterior.
In order to reverse its image, the Javits Center installed new glass during renovation, and each glass was affixed with dot-shaped window stickers. This reduced the reflectivity of the glass, reduced the chance of birds directly hitting it, and successfully reduced window kills by 90%.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/233998)
