NEW YORK—One of this city’s first hotel projects in pursuit of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is under construction on Crosby Street in SoHo. The 11-story 9 Crosby Street Hotel will have 75 rooms and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2009. The hotel is being developed by London-based Firmdale Hotels, a company known for high-end properties including the Haymarket Hotel, The Soho Hotel, and Number Sixteen—all in the London area.
The company supplying the architects for the project is New York-based Stonehill & Taylor Architects, P.C. The firm is involved in the project in collaboration with Firmdale co-founder Kit Kemp, who will design the hotel’s interiors as she has for each of her company’s properties in London.
Paul Taylor, president of Stonehill & Taylor Architects, says his company helped identify the site which is between Prince and Spring Streets in SoHo. A LEED consultant was brought in to help the developers meet LEED criteria. Taylor says the project should meet LEED Silver criteria and possibly LEED Gold.
The 9 Crosby Street Hotel is being constructed on the remains of a 19th century building. Extra care is being taken to contain dust and the new building is being built with materials that primarily have been locally sourced. Floor-to-ceiling windows will provide significant natural lighting and the roof will be green, meaning that sedum will be grown on it to help minimize water runoff and a heat island effect. Wood used in the project will be Forest Stewardship Council certified and no formaldehyde-based adhesives will be used. The heating and cooling system will be highly efficient and dual-flush toilets will be installed to help conserve water.
Taylor says the biggest challenge with the project will be to provide a five-star experience in a green way—without taking away the “creature comforts” that high-end travelers expect.
Go to Stonehill & Taylor Architects, P.C. and Firmdale Hotels.
