Solaire was the first high-rise residential building to simultaneously use several advanced sustainable initiatives, such as outdoor air delivery to apartments (with winter humidification), black water treatment plant, storm water capture, green roofs, etc. The chiller/heater system ensures an energy efficient operation. Viridian professionals performed energy and green/LEED analyses and participated in the commissioning of MEP systems while they were the Energy/Green/Commissioning group of another company. This group formed Viridian's nucleus in 2006. The design team included Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects for design, SLCE for AOR, and Cosentini Associates MEP. The work was co-funded by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.