Historic Buildings

Join us for the fourth episode of the Energy Upgrades in Historic Buildings series, featuring a case study of the hyper-sustainable Hotel Marcel, formerly the Pirelli Building, in New Haven, CT.

Designed by Marcel Breuer, the iconic two-tiered brutalist building was originally commissioned by the Armstrong Rubber Company (later incorporated into tire manufacturer Pirelli) as its headquarters, with administrative and executive offices elevated over factory and testing facilities on the first two floors. 

On May 25, learn about the hotel, including the ambitious plan for its all-electric, net-zero energy design and pending Passive House and LEED Platinum certification. Specific challenges include air sealing and insulating a concrete shell, installing all-electric appliances for a commercial kitchen for the on-site restaurant, and implementing a state-of-the-art heat pump water heating system.

One of the toughest challenges for the building industry is devising pathways for deep energy retrofits that are both economical and feasible. This is even more challenging in co-ops, as these buildings are managed by a board of members who vote on rules, policies and changes to them. 

On May 17, the third event in our Energy Upgrades in Historic Buildings series will look at a 10-unit co-op built in 1926 and the challenges of upgrading the envelope and converting the fossil fuel boiler to a heat pump.

Retrofitting existing buildings help can help increase energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions. But what do these retrofits look like in a place like Manhattan, where almost one-third of total floor area has landmark status and is, therefore, energy code-exempt?

In this conversation, Dr. Erica Avrami, Nate Rogers and Kate Reggev discuss these energy code waivers and how despite them, new greenhouse gas legislation could necessitate energy retrofits in historic buildings. This new era of regulation marks a momentous shift in preservation practices and signals a need for significant reforms to preservation policies in light of climate change.

This interview expands on Dr. Avrami’s previous research, including her paper, “Energy and Historic Buildings: Toward Evidence-Based Policy Reform,” which examines the implications of a changing legislative landscape on historic preservation in NYC.

This is a pre-recorded conversation and will be streamed at 10 a.m. on May 10.

Download the program slides here.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue is over two million square feet, spans four city blocks and houses more than 1.5 million pieces of art. As the largest art museum in the United States, The Met faces unique challenges as it looks to reduce energy use while preserving its collection of timeless artifacts.

On February 2, the second event in our Energy Upgrades in Historic Buildings series featured a case study of the iconic museum. Representatives from The Met were joined by architects and engineers working on various projects there, from replacing the museum's skylights to restoring its sloping windows. Together, they shared creative ways to reduce energy use in a historic building.

This event has ended. Watch the event recording above, and view the program slides.

New York City is full of existing and historic buildings that need upgrades to achieve higher energy performance and reduce their carbon footprint while preserving their historic character.

Urban Green is proud to kick off our Energy Upgrades in Historic Buildings series with this first session featuring a discussion with key players in energy and preservation policy in New York City. Panelists will discuss city policies relating to historic buildings and how Local Law 97 affects building energy upgrades.

Future events in this series will explore the intersection of historic preservation and sustainability through policy and research discussions, as well as case studies of both pre- and post-war projects.