GSH Group Inc., a global facilities services and energy management provider, has secured a four-year energy management and maintenance contract with the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), located at 2 Columbus Cir. The contract will result in savings of 188 tons of carbon emissions annually.
GSH Group, which provides commercial/retail facilities with energy management services to substantially reduce energy consumption at no cost to the client, will reduce MAD's utility consumption and its carbon footprint. These services will improve comfort levels for museum visitors and ensure preservation of highly valuable artwork by maintaining gallery temperatures and humidity at precise levels. The contract, which also includes service and maintenance of the HVAC system and building automation system, officially began on November 1.
"The Museum of Arts and Design, in the heart of the newly revived Columbus Circle, is one of New York's finest museums, and our services will help ensure that visitors to the museum enjoy the artwork in a comfortable environment," said Frankie McDonald, vice president at GSH Group. "By allowing us to handle energy management, MAD can focus on its core mission of promoting today's most innovative art focused on the relationship between materials and maker."
Since its relocation to Columbus Circle in 2008, MAD has welcomed more than a million visitors to its new home where it celebrates contemporary creation and explores the ways in which artists and designers from around the world transform materials through processes ranging from the artisanal to the digital. Its current exhibitions feature sculptures by Alexander Calder, Sheila Hicks, and Peter Voulkos, furniture by Wendell Castle, George Nakashima and Isamu Noguchi, and modern and contemporary jewelry by such legendary artists as Pablo Picasso and Anish Kapoor.
GSH Group is a global facilities services and energy management provider that entered the U.S. market in 1996. GSH offers "energyplus," an innovative energy management service that quickly identifies where energy is being wasted and fully optimizes mechanical systems and energy efficiency through continuous monitoring.
Using 3-D building modeling and simulation, GSH Group performed dynamic thermal and energy simulations for the museum space. These tools allow GSH Group to model energy usage, CO2 emissions, operating costs and occupant comfort to accurately maximize energy savings. Sustained work on the MAD building will include mechanical improvements and daily monitoring of building equipment to optimize energy efficiency.
"Being both an energy consumer and a museum that promotes the latest innovations in art and design, it is important for us to also be on the forefront of energy efficiency practices," said Alex Berisha, Associate VP of Facilities of MAD. "By partnering with GSH Group, an established energy management company with over 100 years of experience, we can greatly minimize our impact on the environment while at the same time offering our visitors a greater level of comfort and providing the best possible environment for the artwork entrusted to our care."
MAD's contract with the GSH Group will also ensure that the museum is in compliance with New York City's "Benchmarking" law, Local Law No. 84. This law mandates all buildings exceeding 50,000 s/f in size to be benchmarked for energy consumption. This initiative was adopted by the city in an effort to improve the energy efficiency of the largest commercial buildings.
For more information on energy solutions or for an energy efficiency evaluation, please contact GSH at 973-227-5515 or [email protected].

About GSH Group, Inc.
GSH Group is a global facilities services and energy management provider. Established in 1895 in the United Kingdom, GSH established its presence in the U.S. market in 1996. The company services a distinguished client roster including the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and such leading real estate organizations as Stellar Management and Advance Realty Group. With revenue exceeding $400 million, GSH employs 2,200 people worldwide.
To learn about building and energy management opportunities with GSH Group, please contact the company at 973-487-1025 or at [email protected]. Tags: