New York's 'greenest' building has been named the winner of the seventh annual Emporis Skyscraper Award.

As energy efficiency and 'green design' become hot topics in architectural and engineering circles, Hearst Tower has raised the standard for office buildings by implementing several innovative features that earned it the U.S. Green Building Council’s Gold Rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Among the groundbreaking features of Hearst Tower are a system which collects rainwater from the roof to freshen and humidify the air inside; automatic sensors which minimize usage of electric power according to the needs of the moment; an open interior plan which allows penetration of sunlight into all office spaces; and extensive use of recycled steel in the building’s structure.

The diagonal grid of Hearst Tower’s frame gives the facade its distinctive harlequin pattern, with four-story tessellating triangles.

The shape is further distinguished by a unique 'origami' effect at the corners, where the edges of the tower follow the diagonal lines of the grid.

This framing system, which uses no vertical steel beams above the base, reduces the amount of steel necessary for the structure – thereby saving costs and further reducing the building’s environmental impact.

Hearst Tower was designed by Foster & Partners in London, making the firm the first ever to win the Emporis Skyscraper Award twice. (They also received the 2003 award for 30 St Mary Axe.)

The owner and developer of Hearst Tower is the Hearst Corporation, which now uses the building as its world headquarters.

The building was selected from a pool of 467 eligible skyscrapers which were completed worldwide in 2006.

The Emporis Skyscraper Award, which will be presented in May, is the only award of its kind presented each year to an individual skyscraper.

Hearst Tower was praised by the judges for the following:

Environmentally beneficial features which set an example for other buildings A creative and practical structural system featuring a diagonal grid Graceful integration with the preserved facade of the old Hearst Building Spectacular interior spaces utilizing artwork and flowing water Maximization of natural light and fresh air throughout interior spaces Tasteful enhancement of the Eighth Avenue streetscape Placement of an iconic landmark visible from Central Park and Columbus Circle

Emporis has also given formal recognition each year to the 2nd and 3rd place award winners. By chance, booth of the runners-up this year are in Australia.

The Silver Award for second place goes to The Wave in Gold Coast City, an oceanside resort area near Brisbane. The Wave is a 34-story
residential tower with flowing balconies which wrap around each floor in continuous bands.

The curves vary from floor to floor, giving the building a dynamic, rippled appearance unlike any other existing skyscraper.

Besides the fitting imagery of waves next to the ocean, the undulating facade provides alternating shade and sunlight to different parts of
individual balconies, which in turn shade all windows from the strong Australian sun. The Wave was designed by DBI Design Pty. Limited.

The Bronze Award goes to Eureka Tower in Melbourne, currently the second-tallest building in Australia at 297 meters (975 feet) and 91 floors.

Eureka Tower is a very slender skyscraper, with a multicolored facade. Its shape appears different from various angles, and from certain points of view its alternating pattern of long and short stripes gives it the affectionate nickname of “the Yardstick”.

Past winners of the award include Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, 30 St Mary Axe in London, Taipei 101, and most recently the twisting Turning Torso skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden.

The top 10 skyscrapers of 2006, according to the Emporis Award Jury, are:

1 Hearst Tower New York City, U.S.A.
2 The Wave Gold Coast City, Australia
3 Eureka Tower Melbourne, Australia
4 1180 Peachtree Atlanta, U.S.A.
5 Hesperia Tower L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
6 Beetham Tower Manchester, U.K.
7 Shimao International Plaza, Shanghai, China
8= 10 Holloway Circus Birmingham, U.K.
8= Aurora Brisbane Australia
8= Palms Fantasy Tower Las Vegas U.S.A.

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