At 52 storeys and 1,046 ft (319m) high, The New York Times Building is one of New York's greenest skyscrapers. It has a co-generation plant that supplies 40% of the power requirements for the Times Company and its advanced daylight optimisation system produces overall Times Company energy savings of 30%.
Input was sought from the Environmental Energy Technologies Division (EETD) of Berkley Laboratories to investigate how to make this building a more energy-efficient, comfortable and productive place in which to work. Researchers tested alternative hardware and control solutions in a newly constructed, 4,500ft² mock up of a portion of the building.
As a result integrated technologies by Colt motorized Solar Shades were used to reduce electric lighting energy use through the use of natural daylight, while controlling glare and cooling loads in this highly glazed building.
The glazed facade of the tower has a brise soleil consisting of 186,000 ceramic rods which link in with a dimmable lighting system.
Colt has provided a movable Solarfin motorized Solar Shades above the skylight on the adjoining Editors Block measuring 130 ft x 70 ft. A Colt ICS 4-Link control system, linked to the building's BMS, ensures that the louvers track the path of the sun, whilst if the sky is sufficiently overcast the louvers open to allow in maximum daylight. Manual overrides allow personal intervention.
