One World Trade Center with Viracon Glass Named a 2015 Best Tall Building

OWATONNA, MN… The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recently announced its 2015 Best Tall Building winners, which includes One World Trade Center – the iconic building with a Viracon glass exterior. Now, not only does One World Trade Center stand as the tallest building in the nation, it also achieves recognition for its leading effects on the environment, people, community, and economics.

Towering a symbolic 1,776 feet tall, One World Trade Center in New York City joins the other 2015 winners — CapitaGreen in Singapore, Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy, and Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid Tower in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

All four winners were recognized for their strong commitment to sustainability.

One World Trade Center has a whole host of green elements that contribute to its sustainability, including energy reduction, use of alternative and renewable energy sources, and reduced emissions and water consumption.

The project features Viracon’s Insulating Laminated products and VRE 15-54 glass types across the 104-story office building. Viracon Insulating Laminated glass provides solar controlling properties, advanced acoustical performances, ultraviolet light protection, and many safety features. In addition, Viracon’s glass contributes to the building’s daylighting — also reducing energy consumption.

Viracon’s involvement in One World Trade Center helped position the project as the Best Tall Building by combining sustainable and artistically dynamic elements — its more than 2,000 prismatic glass pieces allow light to change throughout the day, which creates a vibrant effect.

Completed in October 2014, this complex project was delivered via the project team Skidmore, Owings & Merril LLP architects, Tishman Construction, general contractor and glazing contractor Benson Industries LLC. The whole team shared a common goal of paying homage to the original tower’s design, while integrating a green building into an urban environment.

By demonstrating relevance to the contemporary and future needs of the community in which it is located, One World Trade Center has a positive effect on the quality of human life, and it adds economic vitality to its occupants, owner, and community.

The CTBUH has been awarding its Best Tall Building award since 2007, and this year’s selection was the most competitive, with winners selected from a pool of 123 entries — a 40 percent increase from 2014.

An overall winner for the “Best Tall Building Worldwide” will be selected from these four regional winners and announced at the awards ceremony and dinner taking place in Mies van der Rohe’s iconic Crown Hall on November 12, 2015 at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.