Weekly Briefing

Tishman Speyer | The MetLife Building: Optimization of an Iconic Building

Listen to this article

The IBcon Smart Building Best Practice Showcase is an annual event held at the Realcomm | IBcon conference where real estate leaders present their most innovative, technology driven commercial and corporate real estate projects. These projects demonstrate leading-edge technologies and vision for intelligent and adaptive design that is transforming the next generation of IT-enabled real estate. The Weekly News Briefing will feature a unique Showcase project each week.

Designed as the largest commercial tower of its time in 1963, the PanAm Building and world headquarters were designed by acclaimed architect Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus School. Set over Grand Central Terminal, 200 Park Avenue became the MetLife Building in 1993 and today remains one of the most influential buildings in New York City. An ongoing revitalization and restoration is bringing this iconic site into the modern world. This LEED certified building has a Building Management System upgrade, chiller control panel upgrade and integration, upgraded turnstiles for optimum security, sustainability innovation and much, much more. Part of the revitalization was a collaboration between Tishman Speyer and Yardi to optimize the HVAC system using a holistic, multi-phase approach. The project was named Energy Project of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers and is enrolled in NYSERDA’s Real Time Energy Management (RTEM) Program (currently in year two of its five-year cycle).

Realcomm Staff Realcomm Conference Group LLC is the leading research and educational institution that produces annual conferences and expositions on technology, automated business solutions and intelligent buildings strategies for executives in commercial, corporate, government and institutional real estate. Realcomm was founded in 1999 with the goal of bringing industry leaders together each year to discuss, demonstrate and debate the latest innovations that impact the industry.

Read Next

3/27/2025
The Convergence of Edge Computing, Cloud, and AI in Building Automation and Smart Buildings In the built environment, we have seen the convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT), later expanding to include Workplace Technologies (WP).

3/27/2025
DC Power: A Holistic Approach to Energy Savings in Commercial Buildings In today's energy-conscious world, businesses constantly seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint and operational costs.

3/13/2025
How to Achieve Eco-Friendly Facility Management Commercial real estate operators and facility managers are focusing on sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact, create healthier workplaces, improve productivity and lower operational costs.

1/23/2025
When It Comes To Managing Properties’ Parking, Technology Is Key It’s easy for developers and real estate owners to think of parking as a necessary evil. They know they have to provide it (often, because it’s mandated by code), they understand that prospective tenants and buyers expect to be provided parking, but they haven’t figured out how to maximize its value.