PNC's living green wall is but one of many green initiatives found
throughout Pittsburgh Photo by Doug Bardwell
On a color wheel, rust is opposite green. So how did Pittsburgh spin that wheel, and go from rust belt to green city?
Back in 1993, a group of progressive design professionals gathered to discuss green building procedures. From that group emerged the first non-profit organization focused solely on improving the commercial real estate sector through green techniques. The Green Building Alliance (GBA) was formed shortly thereafter, and the wheel was starting to turn.
In 1998, the U.S. Green Building Council issued its first LEED standard. Of the first 12 buildings to receive that certification, two were in the Greater Pittsburgh area: KSBA Architects and The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. PNC Firstside Center also received LEED Silver in 2000, becoming the nation’s first LEED financial institution.
Western Pennsylvania has made a habit of being first in many areas, including first to receive LEED certification for all the following building types:
University dormitory – Carnegie Mellon University
Children’s museum – Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Convention center – David L. Lawrence Conv. Center
Food bank – Greater Pittsburgh Comm. Food Bank
Financial institution – PNC Firstside Center
Welcome center – Phipps Conservatory Welcome Center
University dance complex – Point Park Univ. Dance
Smithsonian property – Sen. John Heinz History Cntr.
Radio station – WYEP Radio Station
Helping commercial building owners achieve LEED certification are dozens of for-profit and non-profit organizations around Pittsburgh. That includes Construction Junction, a non-profit building material reuse retailer. By reclaiming, recycling and reselling used construction materials, Construction Junction helps developers divert from the landfill, and gain more points toward their LEED certification.
The City of Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) also keep that wheel rolling, making it very attractive to green developers. The City’s “density bonus” will allow LEED certified buildings to rise 20% higher and grow 20% larger in gross leasable area (GLA) than other buildings in the same zoning district. The URA provides lower interest loans for LEED projects; lower by 1% for Silver to 2.5% for Platinum.
With more LEED certified properties than any other firm in the world (64 at current count), PNC Bank recently built the largest living green wall on the side of its One PNC headquarters building. The size of 4 bedroom ranch home, at 2,380 sq.ft., it weighs 24 tons when fully watered by its internal watering system. The south facing wall will be 25% cooler inside due to the plants’ cooling effect. All plants were sourced locally and create a refreshing object d’art for downtown Pittsburgh. (See video below.)
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Doug Bardwell writes about interesting new real estate projects, construction and grand openings across the country and around the world. Feel free to drop him a line at realestate.dougbardwell@gmail.com with suggestions for future stories. To get his stories delivered to your inbox, click the RSS feed or the "Subscribe" button above.
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