CHICAGO—In a presentation at Greenbuild earlier this month, Destiny USA founder and chairman Robert J. Congel introduced the initial design of a hotel and conference facility that will be the next phase of the Destiny USA project in Syracuse, New York. The hotel, which will feature more than 1,300 rooms, is being designed to LEED Platinum standards and will serve as a showcase for sustainability.
“Five years ago, Destiny USA was still learning what it takes to build a living laboratory for environmental stewardship, renewable energy and innovation,” Congel said. “Fortunately, we were ahead of the curve. Today we are taking a great leap, because it is fully engrained in our minds and hearts. We showcase our plans for this next important phase of Destiny USA with great pleasure and confidence. For that we owe a great deal to our partners in local government, especially retiring Onondaga county executive Nicholas Pirro and Syracuse Mayor Matthew Driscoll.”
The mandate for the design of the hotel was to create an iconic structure which incorporated the latest in renewable energy and sustainable features throughout the facility. The high-rise structure has been designed to meet LEED Platinum standards.
Part of Revitalization Plan
“I am pleased that Destiny USA is accelerating the next phase of the project, while the first phase is still underway,” Pirro said. “More than that, I am inspired by the project’s commitment to going well beyond the highest green standards in developing a high-rise hotel near the shore of Onondaga Lake, once considered to be among the most polluted waterways in the nation. With the county’s clean-up of the lake making remarkable progress, the development of an environmental icon on its shores is a powerful symbol of community and environmental transformation.”
“Syracuse is being recognized nationally as a leader for environmental advances we have made in government, and with high profile projects like Destiny USA and the Center of Excellence at Syracuse University,” said Syracuse Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll. “This facility will attract visitors from around the globe. I congratulate Destiny USA for their accomplishments to date and encourage them to accelerate their next phases forward as expeditiously as possible.”
As designed, the hotel is 39 stories tall, contains more than 1,300 rooms, spans some 640 feet in height and is expected to cost in excess of $450 million. The hotel will be fully integrated on the Onondaga Lake side of the existing complex. Some of the sustainable features of the hotel include:
Destiny USA is rehabilitating the contaminated soil that was left when “Oil City” was removed. By cleaning up and developing the hotel on this brownfield site, Destiny USA reduces the need to use other precious undeveloped land. By building the hotel on the existing land of the Carousel Center site, Destiny USA is encouraging urban development which protects greenfields and preserves habitat and natural resources.
More Sustainable Features
• The building façade will be clad with 400,000 square feet of solar panels that will produce 1.9 million kWh/year. Using current electricity cost in New York State of $.14/kWh, the energy cost savings would be $266,000 per year.
• The hotel roof will be covered with 20,000 square feet of photovoltaic panels that will produce 24,000 kWh.
• A freestanding 23-MW biomass gasification power plant will utilize agricultural waste and solid waste from the hotel to produce electricity, steam and chilled water. The plant will run a turbine and fuel cells that will power the entire facility.
• The hotel will capture and utilize as much storm water as possible to be recycled for gray water use throughout the facility. Uses for gray water include toilet flushing, cooling tower makeup, irrigation, laundry, maintenance and evaporative roof cooling.
• The hotel design will incorporate small hydroelectric turbines that will generate electricity from rainwater runoff.
• The hotel roof will be covered with a solar reflective material that will greatly reduce any potential for increased temperature change. Porous concrete paving will also be used in the reworked site around the hotel to reduce heat island effects and allow natural absorption of storm water.
• Each guestroom within the hotel will incorporate a hydronic vertical fan coil unit. The heating and cooling options exist within this unit to quickly control the room temperature upon the guest’s arrival. A high output ultraviolet light in each fan coil unit will combat mold and mildew and other organic matter which will greatly reduce coil pressures and provide a minimum energy savings of 8 percent per year.
Construction Debris Recycled
• During construction, 95 percent of all construction debris will be diverted from going to a landfill. To accomplish this goal, waste materials will either be reused on-site or hauled to specified recycling facilities. The industry average for diverting construction debris from a landfill is 30 to 40 percent.
• The hotel will have secure bicycle storage and shower and changing facilities to encourage both guests and employees to use alternate transportation.
• Preferred parking spaces will be offered to guests who drive fuel efficient and low emitting vehicles.
• Low-flow fixtures including showers and toilets will be specified to significantly reduce water demands.
• The landscaping planned for the expansion will consist of a plants and trees well suited for the climate, thus eliminating the need for irrigation and future water use from any source.
• More than 20 percent of the materials used in the hotel will be from recycled sources and 2.5 percent of the materials will be rapidly renewable.
• A Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan will be implemented to help sustain the comfort and well-being of the construction workers and the building occupants by reducing or preventing the presence of dust, air pollutants, odor and moisture.
• All adhesives, paints, carpeting and composite wood will have low- or no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the installers and occupants of the building.
• More than 20 percent of the materials will be sourced regionally to reduce greenhouse gases from transportation and shipping.
• Fifty percent of all the new wood used will be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. FSC wood meets a specific criterion that proves it was produced in a sustainable manner.
• Small wind turbines will be incorporated into the hotel structure (50 kW rated, 10 kW at 12 mph).
• In façade lighting, high efficiency LED lighting will be specified to control light pollution and conserve energy. The lights will also be turned off after a certain time in the evening to conserve energy.
Additional Items Being Researched
• An off-site win
