I walked by the new sanitation building and noticed that they have installed panels on the south side. It looked like they can rotate which made me think they were solar (or solar-ish). An angry-looking construction worker barked that they were “solar sheets.” Not sure what that means but I thought I’d see if you know more. —Tony

From the Dattner Architects website (pertinent part boldfaced by yours truly) “The Manhattan Districts 1/2/5 Garage, at the corner of Spring Street and West Street, will house three district garages for the NYC Department of Sanitation, accommodating over 150 sanitation vehicles, separate vehicle wash and personnel facilities for each district, and centralized fueling and repair facilities. The double-skin façade wraps the curtainwall with custom, perforated, metal fins to vertically articulate the massing [Is this how architects talk in bed? —Ed.] and mitigate sun exposure. A green roof softens views from neighboring buildings, protects the roof membrane, and enhances storm water retention and thermal performance. A benchmark project for NYC’s Active Design program, the garage is designed to achieve a LEED Gold certification. We are designing the garage in association with WXY Architecture + Urban Design.”

NYC’s Active Design program, since you were wondering, espouses these ideals:

••• Urban design strategies for creating neighborhoods, streets, and outdoor spaces that encourage walking, bicycling, active transportation and recreation.
••• Building design strategies for promoting active lifestyles through the placement and design of stairs, elevators, and indoor and outdoor spaces.
••• Discussion of synergies between active design and sustainable design initiatives such as LEED and PlaNYC.

As for PlaNYC…. “Released in 2007, PlaNYC was an unprecedented effort to prepare the city for one million more residents, strengthen our economy, combat climate change, and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers. The Plan brought together over 25 City agencies to work toward the vision of a greener, greater New York.”

P.S. The two photos at top are by Tony.

P.P.S. Dattner Architects is also designing the crinkly new salt shed.

Got a question? Email it to tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

Previous Nosy Neighbor posts:
• How many fake restaurants are on Seamless?
• Is a 60-story hotel going up on W. Broadway?
• Why are the BMCC trailers still there?
• Didn’t Bread Tribeca have plans to reopen?
• When is the Arman building getting its Arman?
• Why is 15 Warren painted that way?
• Where do Laughing Man’s profits go?
• Are dogs allowed at outdoor restaurant tables?
• When will FiOS come to Tribeca?
• What’s up with 60 Hudson?
• Will the W. Broadway construction ever end?
• What’s happening at 87 Leonard?
• When will the West Street trailers be removed?
• What goes on at 444 Greenwich?
• When will the Chambers Street Elevators be fixed?
• Why are Goldman Sachs’s lights always on?
• When will Pier 25 be fully restored?
• What’s the story with the Batmobile?
• Is 5 Franklin Place stalled again?
• What’s going on with 88 Thomas?
• Is another Equinox opening in IPN?
• Is this the new dog run?
• Any update on the Chambers construction?
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• Is the scaffolding on 110 Hudson ever coming down?
• Are the Hudson and Chambers reconstructions delayed?
• What’s going on at 165 Church?
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