F I R S TP R E V664NEXTLAST

New Federal Building, 7th and Mission
Opened this year and looking like a Star Wars' Death Star, the new 18-story Federal building in San Francisco is actually more revolutionary than it appears. No other tower in the U.S. has been so designed to create a healthy environment for workers and reduce the use of energy and natural resources. The southern facing wall is covered with a perforated stainless steel sunscreen to reduce energy costs, while the northern side features floor-to-ceiling glass panels and 55 thin rows of opaque glass fins. The slim design of the building and architectural gaps in the building allow natural light to reach every level and interior space, which also reduces the building's energy use to half of a normal office tower. It also means that even the worst-seated worker is only 25-feet from a window. Every elevator except one stops at every third floor, encouraging workers to exercise. The 11th floor features a three-story, open-air 'skygarden,' visible above. While the look of the building may be polarizing, it does show that even high rise towers can be green.
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