American Institute of Architects’ Committee on the Environment names Top Ten Green Projects of 2016

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) announced the Top Ten Green Projects of 2016, and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce that the Center for Sustainable Landscapes was selected. These projects are exemplary in their sustainable architecture and ecological design, and prove that manmade structures can protect and enhance the environment while also benefiting human health. The projects will be honored on May 19 at the AIA 2016 National Convention and Design Exposition in Philadelphia.

The Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) is an education, research and administration facility. Designed to be the greenest building in the world, it generates all of its own energy and treats all storm and sanitary water captured on-site. The CSL is the first and only building to meet four of the highest green certifications: the Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum, WELL Building Platinum, and Four-Stars Sustainable SITES. As an integral part of the Phipps visitor experience, the CSL focuses attention on the important intersection between the built and natural environments, demonstrating that human and environmental health are inextricably connected.

Nationally lauded for being one of the greenest buildings in the world because of its impressive performance and groundbreaking sustainable design features, the CSL has also won awards from such organizations as the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Urban Green Council and more. Richard Piacentini, executive director of Phipps says, “It took an integrative design process with great partners and a talented design team led by The Design Alliance Architects, to create a place that would meet the highest standards related to health, buildings, people and the environment.”

Entries for the AIA COTE Top Ten Green Projects are evaluated for their design and innovation techniques, integration with their community, land use and effect on site ecology, bioclimatic design, energy and water use, approach to light and air, materials construction, long-life considerations and feedback loops. Here are the list of project partners that worked to make the Center for Sustainable Landscapes a center of excellence in sustainable buildings:

Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Based Design Team

  • The Design Alliance Architects; Architecture, Pittsburgh
  • Andropogon Associates; Landscape Architecture, Philadelphia
  • Atlantic Engineering Services; Structural Engineering, Pittsburgh
  • Civil & Environmental Consultants; Civil Engineering and Water Engineering, Pittsburgh
  • CJL Engineering; MEP Engineering, Pittsburgh
  • evolveEA; LEED® and Living Building Challenge Management, Pittsburgh
  • H.F. Lenz; Commissioning, Johnstown
  • Kolano Design; Interpretation, Pittsburgh
  • Massaro Corporation; Pre-Construction Management, Pittsburgh
  • Pitchford Diversified; Enhanced Commissioning, Butler, Pennsylvania
  • 7group, LLC; Integrated Design Facilitation, Energy Modeling, Daylighting Analysis and Materials Consulting, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
  • Sundrive; Water Treatment, Ottsville, Pennsylvania

Other Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University—Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics
  • Chatham University
  • Duquesne University
  •  Green Building Alliance
  • Indevco – Owner’s Representative
  • National Energy Technology Laboratory
  • Penn State University—Center for Green Roof Research
  • Sonja Bochart Wellbeing+Design, Mox Box Consulting – Biophilic Art Program
  • The Sustainable Sites InitiativeTM
  • University of Pittsburgh—Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
  • Vermeulens – Cost Consulting