Ocean Breeze: LEED-NC Silver Rated Premier Athletic Facility

Project Background and Services:

Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) worked with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Sage and Coombe Architects to design and build a LEED-NC Silver rated, 2,500-seat field house, creating a state-of-the-art indoor track and field facility. This $72.7 million facility is a premier destination for athletic events, drawing competitors from around the region. SWA’s role in the project includes sustainability/LEED consulting.

Energy Conservation and Sustainability Measures:

The DPR achieved a LEED-NC Silver rating for the building, and incorporated features to conserve energy and water into the design. In addition, the project team focused heavily on revitalizing the natural ecosystem by reducing hardscape as much as possible. Native species of plants, such as Little Bluestem, Sassafras, Eastern Woodland Sedge, among others, were incorporated into landscaping designs. A large, 235,000 sf recreational lawn was also created as part of the landscaping. By choosing local species, no irrigation was necessary to maintain the lawn, drastically reducing potable water use. Water use was also reduced through the use of low-flow-flush plumbing fixtures by Toto, American Standard, Symmons and Sloan. Through the installation of these efficient fixtures, potable water use was reduced by 45-percent.