Grand Central Terminal's Holiday Fair to go green with USGBC

Real Estate Weekly, April 2, 2008

Grand Central Terminal and the United States Green Building Council New York Chapter along with their event sponsor, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc., announced the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair Design Competition, which will support the renowned gift fair events in the Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.

This unique challenge will incorporate principles of environmental sustainability with principles of retail success through excellence, innovation and social consciousness.

Participants will compete to be one of five finalists to be highlighted in a competition exhibit at Grand Central Terminal. In addition, the finalists will be recognized with prize awards sponsored by Jones, Lang LaSalle Americas and will be invited to submit detailed proposals for the chance to develop permanent green retail booths for the annual fairs.

"We thought it was an ideal time to seek innovative and responsible green retail design for the popular annual gift fairs held here each year," said Elliot G. Sander, executive director and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which, through its Metro-North subsidiary, runs Grand Central Terminal.

"This will be an exciting collaborative effort between designers, experts from the USGBC New York, and design and operations leaders at Grand Central that will serve to enhance what has become a seasonal tradition for tourists and New Yorkers alike."

The competition will be judged by a jury of world-renowned designers and architects including: David Rockwell, founder and CEO, The Rockwell Group, Anne Pasternak, executive director, Creative Time, Jean Savitsky LEED[R] AP, managing director, Jones Lang LaSalle, Project and Development Services, Thom Filicia of Thom Filicia Inc. NBC/Bravo's Emmy award winning "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," Nancy Marshall, director of development for Grand Central Terminal, MTA, Wendy Fok, LEED[R] AP, director of Design & Construction, Grand Central Terminal, Jones Lang LaSalle, Projjal Dutta, director of Sustainability Initiatives, MTA and Wayne D. Ehmann, Chief Architect, Metro-North Railroad.

The Holiday and Spring Fair events play host for several weeks to over 70 participating artisan vendors with unique gifts and goods from emerging and established designers including jewelry, clothing, toys, home furnishings, stationery, books, and beauty products. The fairs are produced by Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The objectives of the competition include reducing the environmental impact in the design of retail environments; showcasing the presence, efforts, and initiative of green retail design in the green building movement; raising awareness of exemplary designs of future designers by displaying them at Grand Central Terminal; recognizing and awarding green designers and builders for their dedication, creativity, innovation, and commitment to sustainable design; combining creative design that incorporates and highlights the historic integrity of Vanderbilt Hall.

Entrants have the option of submitting a proposal for either or both schemes to retrofit existing or propose a new concept design for the seasonal retail environments.

The proposals must account for continued longevity and a minimum 10-year life span. Modularity, flexibility, visual impact for retail success, and reduced environmental impact and waste should be incorporated into the design.

Deadline for submissions is May, 30, 2008. Interested applicants should go to www.GreenCentralTerminal.com