2010 Urban Green Expo Master Speaker
Founding Partner of Cook+Fox Architects
Partner, Terrapin Bright Green
PRESENTATION TITLE:
What Envelope Are We Pushing Anyway?
DATE & LOCATION:
Thursday, September 30th at 11:00am // Altman A
Looking at two vastly different projects, Rick Cook will explore a holistic definition of building performance criteria, asking the question: what is the connection between the performance of a 2 million square foot skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, and a 3-bedroom home in a shrinking city? Moving to the next level of high-performance building, we should consider not only “how we build” but also, “how we can make a difference” when we build. PlaNYC reports that buildings contribute to 80% of NYC’s vast carbon footprint- demanding immediate action to transform the urban landscape for an energy efficient future while preserving another resource: the vitality and health of urban citizens.
While the Live/Work/Home in Syracuse and the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park are dissimilar in scale, both projects balance a multitude of sustainable strategies with biophilic elements—creating a work and living environment embodying occupant productivity and wellness. The Bank of America Tower lightens its load on the City’s overtaxed grid–a thermal storage system produces ice at night and a co-generation plant provides 67% of the building’s annual energy use. The Live/Work/Home utilizes low-tech passive strategies to insulate for Syracuse’s harsh winters while reducing both energy and cost for residents.
The continuities between a massive skyscraper in a thriving metropolis and a 1400 square foot home in a post-industrial Rust Belt city reflect an ethos in which every level of impact is infinitely meaningful– from the occupants within, to the busy corner the building rests on, the neighborhood a home becomes a part of, or the larger region whose resources they draw from.
The product of a fast-paced 21st century lifestyle is an American population spending 90% of its time indoors and prescribed alarmingly high rates of anti-depressants. Through thoughtful design, occupants can establish a connection with nature from the 50th floor of an urban skyscraper, or amidst a harsh Northeastern winter. This holistic approach pushes the envelope on “sustainable design”: transforming the definition and maintaining a critical balance between the preservation of natural resources and the human spirit.
About Rick Cook
Rick Cook is a Partner at Cook+Fox Architects, a firm devoted to creating environmentally responsible, high-performance buildings. Over the past 25 years as a New York City architect, he has built a reputation for innovative, award-winning architectural design.
As the founder of Richard Cook & Associates, Rick cultivated a broad portfolio ranging from master planning to various commercial and residential projects. With special expertise in working in historic Landmarks districts, the firm received numerous honors and awards for integrating contemporary design with sensitive, contextual architecture. In 2003, Rick combined his established firm with Robert F. Fox Jr. to form Cook+Fox Architects based on a transformative vision: beautiful design shaped by a strong connection to place, high standards of sustainability, and a commitment to excellence enriched by the collaborative process. Cook + Fox has been nationally recognized as designers for the Bank of America Tower, which is the first LEED Platinum commericial high-rise building in the world. In 2006, Rick and Bob joined with green building expert Bill Browning to form Terrapin Bright Green, an environmental consulting firm committed to improving the human environment through public and corporate policy, environmental performance strategies, and green development.
Rick’s work has been showcased at the National Building Museum, in the Wall Street Journal, and in feature programs on PBS, the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. He has spoken at the UN, been interviewed on National Public Radio, and served on the World Trade Center Special Advisors Council. He is a member of the Board of the School of Architecture at Syracuse University, his alma mater.
Rick received a Bachelor of Architecture degree cum laude from Syracuse University. Prior to establishing his own firm, Rick worked for Fox & Fowle with his current partner, Bob Fox. He resides in Rockland County, New York with his wife Ellen and their two children.
