HUMANS | THE REFORMERS
BE THE CHANGE To make an impact on climate change, we all have to decide that “business as usual” is no longer acceptable, and that every decision we make impacts the world at large. We asked some of our Downtown leaders to weigh in. Dr. Laura L. Forese
MD, MPH Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian At NewYork-Presbyterian, we are committed to adopting sustainable practices across our hospitals to create a healthier environment for our patients, their families, our staff, and the diverse and vibrant communities we serve in Lower Manhattan and the Greater New York area. In 2009, NewYork-Presbyterian established NYPgreen to advance our commitment to environmental sustainability. The program was designed to empower all levels of the organization, from frontline staff to leadership, to promote sustainable operations across the enterprise. Its scope is vast and encompasses everything from energy conservation to recycling. Small steps can make a big difference. One of the most effective things an individual can do to reduce their carbon footprint is to eat more plant-based meals in lieu of meat products. NewYork-Presbyterian has implemented a Meatless Monday campaign, and we are adding more plant-based options to our menus, which are better for both human and environmental health. Our focus on sustainable food made me more conscious at home, too, and my family now practices Meatless Mondays. In 2018, NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital launched an on-demand, room service food model for patients. Not only did this improve the patient dining experience, it helped reduce the hospital’s food waste by more than 30%. And we transitioned to paper straws in our cafeterias and give drink discounts to people who bring their own cups. Together, these small changes can have an impact. When leaders consider the future of their organizations, both sustainability and resilience must be part of the conversation. For example, we built sustainability into the design of the NewYork-Presbyterian David H. Koch Center. Its green roof can retain up to six inches of storm water and helps to cool the building. The
22
DOWNTOWNNYC THE REFORMERS 2020
building’s skin and high-efficiency mechanical systems are designed to decrease energy use by 19 percent and water usage by 30 percent. The resilient design enables the building to continue delivering care to patients during an extreme weather event or disruption to the city’s power. We’re proud that this ambulatory care center recently achieved LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council and is the first project in New York City to earn certification under the LEED Healthcare rating system.
Saul S
cherl
President, Tri-State Region, Howard Hughes Corporation/Seaport District The opportunity to steward the newest chapter of the Seaport, New York’s original commercial port, is a privilege and I feel fortunate to be immersed in our city’s history. With this stewardship comes the responsibility of evaluating the best ways—and the challenge of implementing best practices—to position this historic port and neighborhood, including its anchor, the South Street Seaport Museum, for a resilient future. HHC is currently preparing for next year’s reopening of the 1907 Tin Building. It is a story not only of historic preservation and reconstruction, but one of sustainability and resiliency in the face of challenges that time has unleashed upon this storied port—from the decaying age-old wooden piers, to buildings damaged by fires, to the epic floodwaters of Hurricane Sandy. Before HHC could even begin recreating the Tin Building and the extensive process of salvaging, cataloging and storing its historic elements, we had to address the very foundation on which the building sits and ensure that it would remain viable for future generations to come. We began with a complete reconstruction of the Tin Building pier, located immediately west of Pier 17, a complex process which included the demolition of the deteriorated pier
structures and the building of new concrete and steel piles under the currents of the East River. Only then could the reconstruction of the Tin Building itself take place, which involved its relocation 32 feet to the east and six feet above its original location to higher ground—now one foot above the FEMA 100-year floodplain. The relocation eastward allowed us to enhance the building’s relationship to the river’s edge, its view corridors and its accessibility. It also enabled us to preserve the historic metal canopy as originally intended—a key element of the building’s gracious arrival sequence, which was subsequently obstructed by the construction of the FDR Drive. I have indelible childhood memories of spending afternoons exploring the Seaport neighborhood, and venturing onto Pier 17, into the South Street Seaport Museum, and even into the wholesale fish market of the old Tin Building. I take to heart this extraordinary opportunity we have to ensure this unique and vital cornerstone of our city will be here for the generations ahead to experience and enjoy.
Catherine
McVay Hughes
Ceres President’s Council Sustainability is on everyone’s mind, at businesses big and small, in our private lives, and at almost all levels of government. This is a welcome change and lays the foundation for concerted action. There is no doubt that this level of commitment and concern will lead to action at even the highest levels of government. For me making conscious choices includes buying and eating locally sourced food in season whether cooking at home or eating out. Some clothing designers are innovating in exciting ways with low-waste and even zero waste manufacturing. Since large investors have the longest time horizons, they are our best hope to transform corporate sustainability policies. The world
