Our Actions

Forest City’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the new projects the company builds, to the operations of its corporate offices and the ongoing management of its real estate portfolio. Forest City’s property and asset management divisions focus on energy conservation, recycling, careful selection of surface finishes and cleaning products and other sustainability measures. Forest City does this not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it is in the company’s best interest as a long-term owner of the real estate it builds.

LEED certification for new developments
Forest City’s Northfield Stapleton main street-style shopping earned a LEED – CS Silver certification, the first such certification for Forest City. The company is currently pursuing similar certification for The Uptown Apartments in Oakland, California; the medical office building at Stapleton; its life sciences project at 855 North Wolfe Street near Johns Hopkins; and others. Most recently, Forest City's Advent Solar building at Mesa del Sol in Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded LEED certification.

Sustainable communities nationwide
Sustainable, mixed-use communities such as Stapleton: Forest City’s various military family housing projects and University Park at MIT feature, or will feature, energy-efficient buildings, pedestrian-friendly streets and neighborhoods, and substantial green space for fun, healthy living.

Recycling
During demolition at the Stapleton development, an estimated 6 million tons of material from more than 1,000 acres of pavement from the old airport have been recycled for new uses at Stapleton and throughout the region.

Energy efficiency
Harlem Center in New York utilizes numerous sustainable technologies, including two layers of windows to maximize energy efficiency year-round, and Energy Star-rated, high-efficiency motors and pumps. Other new office buildings are also being designed with energy efficiency in mind.
 
‘Green roof’ systems
SKY55 at Chicago’s Central Station and Loft23 at University Park at MIT near Boston are the first Forest City apartment communities to feature “green roofs,” whose vegetation reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling and controls storm water runoff.

Water conservation programs
Forest City’s life science and other projects, including University Park at MIT, apply reverse osmosis technology to recycle greywater from washing clothes and dishes, and utilize it for irrigation, which makes project green spaces nearly self-sufficient. Native, drought-tolerant plants also help to reduce our overall water demand.