The Tides Network, a nationwide group of nonprofitorganizations, recently opened the Thoreau Center forSustainability, a green office center at 55 Exchange Pl. It'sreportedly the first shared community and conference space fornonprofits in lower Manhattan and is among the first office spacesin New York City registered for LEED Commercial Interiorscertification by the US Green Building Council.

The renovation of the Thoreau Center's space incorporatedrecycled building materials, non-toxic paints and energy efficientmechanical systems. The center employs clean renewable energy,nontoxic cleaning products and extensive recycling programs.

"Nonprofits have an especially hard time finding affordableoffice space," says China Brotsky, vice president at Tides andmanaging director of Tides Shared Spaces. "That's why we bothcreate shared spaces for nonprofits and have a program for helpingothers start their own green nonprofit centers."