21W20, a new luxury condominium located in New York City’s Flatiron District, is the world’s first residential project to be independently certified under the official WELL Building Standard (WELL). The developers are also pursuing LEED certification for the project.
21W20 achieved Silver-level WELL Multifamily Residential Certification based on seven categories of building performance: air, water, light, nourishment, fitness, comfort and mind. The development features advanced technologies that ensure high standards of air purification, water filtration and noise reduction, including MERV 13 Air filtration, three-pane, laminated-glass windows and in-floor acoustic mats to mute interior and exterior noise.
WELL is grounded in evidence-based health and scientific research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend most of our time and how they impact our health and wellness. To be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI, 21W20 was evaluated by Green Business Certification Inc., the third-party certification body for both WELL and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standard.
21W20 was designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, with interiors by David Mann of MR Architecture + Décor. The 13-residence luxury building features a glass, cast iron and stone façade housing four full-floor penthouse units and nine tower units just off Fifth Avenue, sandwiched between Union Square and Madison Square Park.
The project’s developer, New York-based Gale International, places a focus on sustainable projects, having over 22 million square feet of green building space certified globally.
“Gale International is very proud to be a standard-bearer for WELL, as we have been with LEED in projects around the world,” said Stan Gale Jr., president of Gale International New York, in a press release. “Now we have the perfect complement in this prestigious certification that recognizes the need to enhance the health and well-being of those who live, work and play in our real estate.”
“Gale International’s commitment to green building and sustainability is a pillar of our focus on quality of life,” added Jaclyn Gale, marketing manager for Gale International, and leader of the company’s WELL initiative.
Photo (left to right): Stan Gale Sr., Chairman of Gale International; Stan Gale Jr., President, New York of Gale International; Rick Fedrizzi, Chairman of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and Paul Scialla, Founder of the IWBI.
