Hudson Square Properties

The International WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management Report marks an important achievement in our organization’s visible commitment to supporting the health of individuals in our spaces. This milestone signifies our organizations efforts to prepare spaces for re-entry in a post-COVID-19 environment, instilling confidence in occupants and the broader community.

The WELL Health-Safety Rating, which consists of a subset of relevant features from the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™) adapted for facility operations and management, was informed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has broader applicability for supporting the long-term health and safety needs of people in a given space. As organizations across the globe respond to the COVID-19 crisis by making updates to their policies and protocols, the WELL Health-Safety Rating provides an efficient and effective opportunity to guide, validate, recognize and scale the efforts of owners and operators on critical health and safety issues. The third-party review process ensures integrity and consistency, and results in a WELL Health-Safety seal, communicating leadership and a commitment to the health and well-being of the people who frequent the space.

You may find WELL ratings posted on the lobby entry doors of our buildings and if you have additional questions, please contact hudsonsquareproperties@hines.com for a full report.

The Winning Design Submission by WIP Collaborative Activates Hudson Square Neighborhood with a Dynamic Mix of Form and Function

Hudson Square Properties, a joint venture between Trinity Church Wall Street, Norges Bank Investment Group and Hines has partnered with the Urban Design Forum and the Hudson Square BID in announcing the completion of Restorative Ground, a streetscape installation as part of its “Care for Hudson Square” competition. A call for entries in mid-2020 sought submissions from New York’s design community to create a dynamic and multi-faceted platform for public interaction and gathering. The winning submission from WIP Collaborative is poised to reactivate an underutilized street culminating in a completely reimagined streetscape for New Yorkers to gather, and once again, to celebrate the vibrancy of New York City. The temporary installation will eventually be donated to another streetscape in New York to create a similar outdoor experience.

“CB2 looks forward to our neighbors enjoying Restorative Ground’s enhancement of our public space and the many passive and recreational benefits it will bring to our community,” said Shirley Secunda, Community Board No. 2 chairperson. Corey Johnson, Speaker, New York City Council, Representing the 3rd Council District added, “New Yorkers have relied on their open spaces more than ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for this collaborative effort in Hudson Square and look forward to more projects like this so New Yorkers can safely enjoy public space together.”

“At the Hudson Square Business Improvement District, we see public art as part of the DNA of the creative and innovative neighborhood.” said BID President and CEO, Ellen Baer. “Throughout the pandemic our open spaces proved to be vital resources for our businesses and community, and we are thrilled to welcome Restorative Ground not only as the newest public art piece, but also as an inviting space for the people to work, play and think.”

Located on King Street between Hudson and Greenwich streets, Restorative Ground is an interactive destination in Hudson Square, a place for residents, office tenants, and the broader public to come together around a range of activities. The installation itself straddles the parking lane and part of the sidewalk, aligning with King Street’s participation in the Open Streets Program. Using colorful and durable materials, like recycled rubber and AstroTurf, the installation features modular sections for lounging, gathering, and playing.

“As New York City emerges from the pandemic, we should reimagine our city streets as safe spaces to gather and heal,” said Daniel McPhee, Executive Director of the Urban Design Forum. “WIP Collaborative’s design aims to welcome every kind of New Yorker and create space for recreation and respite at a time when we need it most.”

“Like anything else, this project started with the right combination of leadership and teamwork,” said Tommy Craig, Senior Managing Director of Hines, Hudson Square Properties’ joint venture partner. “This was our chance to give a gift and, through our partnership with Trinity Church, Norges Bank and, our co-pilots on this initiative, Urban Design Forum and the Hudson Square BID, this installation has come together as a joyful and additive complement to the natural and organic rebound of the vibrancy and human vitality that New York City is known for. At the end of the day, Restorative Ground is a foreshadowing of what’s to come as we endeavor to implement more aspirational plans for permanent improvements on King Street.”

“New Yorkers have once again shown that in times of immense need we come together in the best way, with the support of our partners, New York City agencies, and elected officials, and WIP – Restorative Ground will offer a space for shared creativity reenergizing King Street through thoughtful design” said Chris Roth, Managing Director of Hines, Hudson Square Properties joint venture partner.

According to the WIP Collaborative team, Restorative Ground offers a multifaceted landscape of experience and a new vision for an inclusive public space. The installation will provide a range of spatial qualities – high and low stimulation, tactile materials and textures, distinct experiential zones – in order to create a more holistically inclusive public environment.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the installation provides a range of spaces using tactile materials and textures to create distinct experiential zones. From the street, the continuous and undulating form of Restorative Ground entices visitors to discover three different experiential zones: focused, active, and calm. And, by offering a safe outdoor space as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the project provides a much-needed gathering place for the community.

While the focused zone of the installation can host outdoor workshops and events, the active and calm zones can support informal play and relaxation. The project builds on research by WIP Collaborative investigating how public spaces can better serve people of all ages, backgrounds, and spectrums of neurodiversity. Restorative Ground brings a variety of experiences designed to meet the diverse needs of Hudson Square. It will act as an interactive destination in Hudson Square, a place for a range of experiences, activities, and interactions.

Reimagining the Public Realm through Care for Hudson Square

https://urbandesignforum.org/programs/public-programs/hudson-square/

About Hudson Square Properties

About Hudson Square Properties
Hudson Square Properties is a joint venture of Trinity Church Wall Street and Norges Bank Investment Management with Hines, the operating partner, of a 12-building portfolio of approximately 6 million square feet. Ideally situated in the heart of lower Manhattan bordered by Soho, Tribeca, and the West Village, Hudson Square has become the destination for thought leaders and innovators across a vast array of high-profile tech, media, and advertising companies drawn by the energy of this vibrant neighborhood and the flexibility of the space.

About Urban Design Forum

Urban Design Forum mobilizes civic leaders to confront the defining issues facing New York City’s built environment. We are an independent membership organization that empowers professionals of diverse backgrounds, industries, and perspectives to shape a better future for all New Yorkers. We investigate complex challenges in the built environment, study alternative approaches from cities around the world, and advance progressive strategies to build a more dynamic and democratic city. See all work at urbandesignforum.org.

About Hudson Square BID

Since July 2009, the Hudson Square BID has overseen the transformation of Manhattan’s former Printing District into a thriving creative hub. In Hudson Square, imagination and technology come together to redefine what it means to be creative. The area we manage is generally bounded by Clarkson Street on the north, Canal Street on the south, 6th Avenue on the east, and West Street on the west.

The BID’s signature programs include our Pedestrian Safety Managers, the award-winning Hudson Square Standard—considered the platinum standard in urban forestry—and our nationally recognized streetscape program Hudson Square is Now, a $27 million public-private partnership with the City of New York. The BID’s goal is to foster the physical, social, and cultural connections that give rise to a community where the spirit of innovation can flourish inside and out.

About WIP

WIP Collaborative is a feminist architecture collective of independent design professionals focused on research and design projects that engage community and the public realm. WIP combines expertise in architectural design, landscape architecture, urban design, and community engagement. It emerged from a broader community of Women in Practice and operates as a collaborative alternative to a conventional architecture firm, offering an adaptable, cooperative framework for interdisciplinary design.

The WIP Collaborative team is composed of seven independent designers and their respective practices including Abby Coover (Overlay Office), Bryony Roberts (Bryony Roberts Studio), Elsa Ponce, Lindsay Harkema (WIP Studio), Ryan Brooke Thomas (Kalos Eidos), Sera Ghadaki, and Sonya Gimon.

As Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050 begins, we are proud to announce the Hudson Square Properties joint venture has been awarded a partnership in the NYSERDA Empire Building Challenge to drive toward a carbon neutral building by 2032. This prestigious partnership is the first step in a multi-phase challenge that will lead to increased comfort, sustainability and energy performance of the state’s existing high-rise buildings. Partners are required to research and develop a retrofit solution proposal for funding to demonstrate carbon neutrality in their building(s) as part of the challenge’s next phase. Low Carbon Retrofit proposals will then be submitted for competitive funding awards as part 2 of the challenge, where next steps will consist of the design and implementation of replicable and scalable retrofits that meet mutually agreed upon carbon reductions.

“Hines and the Hudson Square Properties joint venture are proud to partner with NYSERDA, in addition to global and local climate leaders to help eliminate the threat of climate change, while creating an equitable and just transition for all” said Hines Vice President of Construction, Michael Izzo. “We believe it’s incumbent on all CRE leaders to be bold in our attempt to impact real change by developing a framework for achieving carbon neutrality in an existing pre-war building, while preserving New York City’s rich architectural history.”

The initial commitment will begin with 345 Hudson, pledging carbon neutrality by 2032. The building will reduce its site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) by 71% from 2010 EUI level by 2032. The EUI of the building in 2010 was 126 kbtu/SF, and by 2032, we commit to reduce the EUI to 36 kbtu/SF. The building is in the heart of Hudson Square between King and Charlton Streets, in an area that was once known as New York City’s printing district. Built in 1931, the building boasts over 928,000 square feet across 17 stories and offers tenants beautifully designed modern spaces housed in a historically architectural building.

Gathering leaders in the climate change technology space such as Google’s Sidewalk Labs, The Clean Fight NY, and Eurotech Bridge among others, insures a permanent impact on carbon emissions. Simplifying the solution to a very complex issue and sharing it industry-wide will be key to affecting lasting change across the state and reducing the almost 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions generated by the CRE industry.

New Digital Tool to Enhance Tenant Comfort and Energy Savings at Hudson Square Properties

NEW YORK – December 8, 2020 – Hudson Square Properties, a joint venture of Trinity Church Wall Street and Norges Bank Investment Management with Hines the operating partner, announced today a new collaboration with Mesa, an easy-install kit that uses real-time data and automation to reduce energy waste and cost in commercial spaces. Mesa empowers building operators, facilities managers, and building owners to better manage and understand energy use in their space, while improving the tenant experience. Mesa is an energy solution developed by Sidewalk Labs, an urban innovation company.

Hines, a leader in sustainability since its founding, remains focused on these enhancements and their effect on the tenant experience. Deploying Mesa within the Hudson Square Properties portfolio provided the joint venture a unique opportunity to continue modernizing spaces housed in historic architectural buildings, offering tenants cutting-edge technology infrastructure that serves a dual purpose of lowering energy costs while advancing sustainability efforts, which can often be cost prohibitive. We expect to expand this program with more locations to follow in 2021.

“Technology is accelerating transformation across all business sectors, including real estate. As building owners, we have the important responsibility of providing healthy and sustainable spaces for our tenants,” said Michael Izzo, vice president of construction with Hines who is operating partner and joint venture owner at Hudson Square Properties. “We are dedicated to improving the tenant experience in our buildings and are excited to enter this partnership, providing both the necessary technical and financial support as we work toward achieving these goals.”

In general, New York City commercial office buildings make up 15% of floor area but account for nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. Even during the pandemic, when many are working remotely and building occupancy has reduced 95%, energy consumption has not seen a huge inflection. In response, at least 31 cities have passed new laws setting energy benchmarks or reporting mandates for office buildings and commercial spaces, with 15 cities now requiring energy permanence targets. In NYC, Local Laws 95 and 97 are requiring buildings to reduce emissions and post their energy efficiency letter grade publicly. Even though much energy is consumed by tenants, landlords are responsible to comply with fines and grades on the building. Commercial landlords and tenants want to do their part, but today’s energy management technology is often prohibitively expensive, hard to install, and challenging to integrate with existing programs and systems.

Mesa leverages the use of Norway’s Disruptive Technologies tiny wireless sensors, capturing the office environment providing relevant contextual information (e.g., room temperature and humidity) to the backend optimization algorithms, often dynamically controlling HVAC and plug loads via smart devices. It provides facilities managers and tenants with insights and real-time information about the office spaces.

Mesa’s sensor suite collects energy data about office spaces in a privacy-preserving way, and its proprietary software optimizes energy use on HVAC and plug loads based on the better understanding of the office space, all while taking into account tenant comfort. Every Mesa kit comes with an easy, clearly labeled, installation guide and pre-commissioned devices, ensuring the setup process is simple. Mesa’s proprietary software optimizes energy use based on several data patterns, including temperature, humidity, occupancy, and weather. It also uses feedback on temperature and energy from tenants and building operators to account for individual preferences. As part of the Mesa release, the software provides the building operator/owner with a dashboard to see energy data in real time, follow patterns over time (including tenant comfort), view Mesa’s energy-efficiency actions, and manage devices remotely.

“The Hines standards set the bar, and we are thrilled to join them in this endeavor, as we remain aligned on our goals of sustainability and overall comfort. When we created Mesa, we sought to install with not only world-class partners but also local companies across the country. We truly appreciate all the valued support from the Hines team to make this a success,” said Rachel Steinberg, Director of Product Management at Sidewalk Labs. “Mesa has been approved by the Hines team for its natural ease of install and functionality, while remaining sleek and tenant-focused in its design and appearance. We appreciate the support of Hines and look forward to continuing our partnership in the upcoming year.”

About Sidewalk Labs

Sidewalk Labs is an urban innovation company working to make cities more sustainable and affordable for all. We create products, invest in new companies, and help plan innovative places around the world. Headquartered in New York, the Mesa team is composed of a team of experts highly focused on building the most advanced digital layer for buildings. Visit mesa.sidewalklabs.com for more information.

About Hines

Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 225 cities in 25 countries. Hines has approximately $144.1 billion¹ of assets under management, including $75.5 billion for which Hines serves as investment manager, including non-real estate assets, and $68.6 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. The firm has 165 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired 1,426 properties, totaling over 472 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset
management portfolio includes 576 properties, representing over 246 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information. ¹AUM includes both the global Hines organization as well as RIA AUM.

About Hudson Square Properties

Hudson Square Properties is a joint venture of Trinity Church Wall Street and Norges Bank Investment Management with Hines, the operating partner, of a 12-building portfolio of approximately 6 million square feet. Ideally situated in the heart of lower Manhattan bordered by Soho, Tribeca, and the West Village, Hudson Square has become the destination for thought leaders and innovators across a vast array of high- profile tech, media, and advertising companies drawn by the energy of this vibrant neighborhood and the flexibility of the space. Visit www.hudsonsquareproperties.com for more information.