This past week, I found myself standing at the corner of 42nd and 6th in midtown for the second time in probably two weeks. I usually never go there, but after checking out the Ecotopia exhibit at ICP, I was back again for a work-related thing. I noticed an incredibly labyrinthine sidewalk shed at the corner, and wondered what was being built on the enormous vacant lot. As it turns out, it will soon be the home of the greenest building in New York. As the Daily News reported last week, Bank of America plans to construct a 945-foot, 64-story LEED-platinum certified skyscraper. The tower is being constructed by the Durst Organization, and is scheduled to open in 2008, at a cost of $1.2 billion.

The building's toilets will be flushed with rainwater drained from the roofs and wastewater filtered from the plumbing system, and urinals will be filled with an oil that is lighter than water, allowing urine to sink below the oil and be odorlessly flushed away without any water. Air conditioning vents will be on the floor instead of the ceiling, allowing for air to be pumped in at 65 degrees, rather than 55 degrees. A cogeneration plant will produce electricity during the day and be used to make ice for the building cooling system over night. About 40 percent of the materials in the building are recycled. And about half of the construction material will come from within 500 miles of New York. Apparently, many of these features required special variances from city building rules. But, according to the Daily News, amendments to the city's building code are now being developed to make it easier to build green.

The new B of A tower will join the new Hearst Tower on 57th Street and 8th Avenue and the Condé Nast building (also built by Durst) as the latest high-profile green skyscrapers.

These types of big-money green projects lead one to the conclusion that green building is not a fad, or for environmental purposes only. It is for the bottom line. This conclusion is shared by Thomas Leppert, the CEO of Turner Construction, the nation's largest contractor and builder of green buildings, who regards green building not only as "the right thing to do" but also as "economically sound." For example, the Hearst building cost about 2 percent more to construct, but it will save 25-30 percent on long-term electricity and water costs.

Given these advantages, we should expect to see more green skyscrapers going up around the city.

More on the B of A tower here.

Images: Durst Organization.