Building to the Sky, With a Plan for Rising Waters – The New York Times
Article Synopsis – Along coastlines across the country, builders are embracing the accumulating evidence of climate change and fortifying buildings and infrastructure against rising sea levels and ever more intense storms. Resilient design has entered the vocabulary of architects and engineers in parts of the country at risk of inundation. The American Copper Buildings in NYC are a good example of this. The developers, JDS, installed enough emergency generators to power the elevators, common area lighting, water pumps, refrigerators, and one outlet in every apartment. The generators run on natural gas, avoiding the potential for transport interruptions inherent in oil-powered generators. The mechanical systems are located on the second floor, above the flood plain. The builders also used non-corrosive and water-resistant materials. While it came with a hefty price tag, the demand for the apartments has proven that the investment will be worth it. To read the actual article click here.