555 Greenwich Street

GEOptimize provided engineering support while working with Endurant Energy, who was responsible for the procurement and construction of the all-electric hybrid heat pump system for Hines’ commercial office development at 555 Greenwich Street in Manhattan. The project is one of New York City’s first large-scale commercial buildings to combine geothermal energy piles with air-source heat pumps, creating an innovative hybrid HVAC system that delivers exceptional energy efficiency while supporting the building’s decarbonization goals.

The geothermal system utilizes 63 energy piles, ranging from 24-inch to 32-inch diameters, with ground heat exchanger piping integrated directly into the structural foundation. The geothermal field supplies approximately 40% of the building’s annual heating and cooling demand, while high-efficiency air-source heat pumps satisfy the remaining load. A real-time control strategy continuously evaluates ground and outdoor air temperatures to determine the most efficient heat source, minimizing operating costs while maximizing system performance. The integrated hybrid approach reduced electrical consumption by approximately 40% compared to conventional office buildings, saved an estimated 1.5 million gallons of water across 555 Greenwich Street and the adjacent building, and was implemented with no impact to the project’s construction schedule.