Phipps Conservatory

Phipps recommends:: Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Center for Sustainable Landscapes

Designed and built by the people of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania as an innovation for the world, the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) will emerge as a Living Building, exceeding LEED Platinum Certification, by generating all of its own energy with renewable resources and capturing all water used on site.

Education, Research and Administration Building

The $20 million Phase III of Phipps' multi-year expansion project includes the construction of the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, an education, research and administration complex. The Center will set a new standard for green building practices and operations, and will bring international recognition to Phipps and Pittsburgh. It is slated to be a net zero energy and net zero water building that generates all of its own energy with renewable resources, plus captures and treats all of its water on site.

During the planning stages of this project, Phipps accepted the Living Building Challenge issued by the Cascadia chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. Based in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, the Cascadia chapter opens The Living Building Challenge to all projects across the United States, Canada and beyond.

The Living Building Challenge attempts to raise the bar and define a closer measure of true sustainability in the built environment. By accepting this challenge, Phipps plans for the Center for Sustainable Landscapes to exceed LEED^® Platinum certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), currently the industry's most recognized certification for green buildings.

Revolutionary Energy Efficiency

Achieve ILBI Living Building Challenge certification, the highest performance standard for sustainable building practices
Exceed LEED^® Platinum certification criteria
Reduce annual energy usage by at least 50% in comparison to a traditionally-designed building
Reduce capacity requirements for HVAC systems and associated infrastructure (power, pipes, ductwork, pumps, etc.) by 30-40%

Integrative Design Process

Comprehensive evaluation of end user's operational needs, building's functionality, site, and architectural and engineering systems
Workshops with design team and Phipps staff throughout entire design and planning process
Video documentation of process for distribution and broadcast

Passive Solar Design

"Outside-In, Passive-First" strategy
Overall building energy usage minimized through passive design strategies for typical operation
High performance targets: improved envelope, heating, ventilation and cooling, lighting, power, and water conservation
Building orientation maximizes northern and southern exposure for effective daylighting and passive solar controls
Light shelves, louvers and overhangs minimize summer cooling loads and contribute to building heating in winter
Translucent window shades reduce nighttime heat losses
Brise-soleil screens and internal shades reduce summer cooling loads and glare from low sun angles
Atrium is minimally conditioned and acts as a thermal buffer

Robust Building Envelope

Provides optimal energy efficiency
Building envelope reduces thermal heating losses and solar cooling loads, and maximizes natural daylighting
High performance wall and roof insulation reduce winter heat losses and summer heat gains
High performance, low-e (low-emissivity) windows provide state-of-the-art solar and thermal control and energy efficiency, while admitting maximum daylight

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

A ground-source geothermal HVAC system generates heat and cooling
10-14 geothermal wells of 500 ft deep boreholes with PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) tubing loops
System expected to capture about 70% of its heating and cooling energy from the ground's consistent 57°F temperature
Geothermal system works in conjunction with the Rooftop Energy Recovery Unit to provide heating, cooling, ventilation, and dehumidification
In summer, heat removed from the Heat Pump refrigeration cycle is absorbed by the water circulated in the wells and the cool ground
In winter, warmth stored over the course of the summer season is recovered from the wells to heat the building spaces

Rooftop Energy Recovery Unit

Uses ground-source geothermal capacity
Economizer cycle provides "free cooling" using outside air when ambient temperatures are cooler and drier than indoor temperatures, without mechanical refrigeration
A desiccant energy recovery wheel pre-cools and dehumidifies outside air to reduce cooling loads of hot moist outside air in the summer; also pre-heats and humidifies incoming cold outside air in winter
Maximized outside air and a high performance MERV13 air filter provide superior indoor air quality
UV Lighting included to reduce the potential for microbial growth

Desiccant Dehumidification

Desiccant wheel utilizes energy that would otherwise be exhausted to pre-treat temperature and moisture in incoming outside air with minimal energy use and without mechanical refrigeration
Reduced moisture levels and humidity control of the air allows for a higher comfortable indoor temperature setpoint of 78°F
Enables economizer feature to provide for free cooling and enhanced natural ventilation
Geothermal heat pump system is energized when economizer and desiccant wheel cannot maintain comfort conditions due to extremes in outside weather conditions

Building Management System (BMS)

Direct Digital Control (DDC) Building Management System will monitor, control, and provide feedback on various systems for optimal energy efficient operations
Responds to current conditions, predicts daily ambient temperature and humidity swings based on time of year, and uses past historical weather patterns
Notification system alerts occupants if temperature, humidity and air quality conditions are favorable for opening windows, while also locking out mechanical systems
Meters and sensors will provide building operating profiles and trend data to monitor energy efficiency on an ongoing basis
Favorable temperatures and humidity levels triggers a "night purge" to draw cool, dry outside air through building spaces to cool walls, floors, furniture, and ceilings before being occupied, saving daytime cooling energy

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and Solar Hot Water Collectors

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and Solar Water Collectors

Renewable energy system generates electricity from the sun
Contributes to the net zero energy approach of offsetting 100% of the annual energy consumption of the CSL facility
Adjacent facilities building and Special Events Hall roof surfaces provide ideal near-southern orientation for solar PV
Building Management System meters and sensors will collect and report on renewable energy generation from solar PV
Excess generated energy will serve upper campus electricity needs

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Renewable energy system generates electricity from wind
Contributes to the net zero energy approach of offsetting 100% of the annual energy consumption of the CSL facility
Elevation of the site above Panther Hollow may promote favorable conditions for wind generation
Building Management System meters and sensors will collect and report on renewable energy generation from vertical axis wind turbines
Excess generated energy will serve upper campus electricity needs

Natural Ventilation

Operable windows provide natural ventilation in administrative, educational, and support spaces
Computational Fluid Dynamics study determined optimal window location for natural airflow
An expanded upper comfort temperature setpoint of 78°F instead of a typical 75°F thermostat setpoint maximizes the number of hours of natural ventilation
Reduces HVAC system fan energy usage
Notification system alerts building occupants when conditions are appropriate to open the windows

Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV)

Uses CO₂ sensors located in the classroom, conference rooms, and office areas to match the amount of ventilation air required to the occupancy level
At less than full building occupancy, the DCV system reduces ventilation air volume, and thus reduces energy required to heat or cool and dehumidify the ventilation air

Minimally Conditioned Atrium

100% passively cooled
Passive heating strategies and winter solar collection take advantage of thermal massing in walls, ceilings and floors
Possible supplemental radiant floor heat provided by Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water system that collects heat from the sun to heat water and atrium
Upper campus conservatory and greenhouse would serve as a heat "bank" for heat

Daylighting

Extensive daylighting will amplify most spaces
Light shelves and an interior daylight ceiling "cloud" maximize the depth of daylight penetration into the space
Ceiling cloud surface and interior finish color schemes provide high reflectance values
Possible use of Solatube skylights to supplement natural daylighting
When natural daylight is insufficient, high performance, energy efficient T-5 fluorescent lighting equipped with daylighting sensors, controls, and dimming ballasts will be engaged
Occupancy sensors turn off lights in unoccupied rooms

Sustainable Materials

Construction waste diverted from landfills through efficient site design, recycling and reuse
Sustainable and innovative materials and finishes will be applied throughout the building and site
Materials include: locally produced low VOC and formaldehyde toxicity, high recycled content, and highly durable with long service lives and ease-of-maintenance
Wood salvaged from deconstructed Western Pennsylvania barns for exterior building skin

Sustainable Landscape

Sustainable landscape features all non-invasive, native plants. Click here to view the proposed plant list.
Plants will use rain water as irrigation - no additional irrigation will be installed
A walking trail and boardwalk lead through a variety of landscape communities including wetland, rain garden, water's edge, shade garden, lowland hardwood slope, successional slope, oak woodland and upland groves
Restores natural landscape function, provides wildlife habitat, and offers educational opportunity

Green Roof

Reduces volume of stormwater runoff and pollutants in stormwater runoff
Insulates building to reduce HVAC cooling in summer and heating in winter
Extensive green roof design with a 6" soil depth and a variety of plants, including edibles and ornamentals
Reduces heat island effect
Demonstration gardens for residential applications, especially urban landscapes
Beautifully landscaped space for an event

Rainwater Harvesting

Stormwater from upper campus glass roofs and lower site will be captured
Stored in two 1,700 gallon underground cisterns
Rainwater will be used for toilet flushing, as well as interior irrigation and maintenance as required
Ultralow flow plumbing fixtures include waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets for water conservation
Greatly reduces impact on municipal sewage treatment and energy-intensive potable water systems

Lagoon System

Captures stormwater runoff from portions of the site, the CSL roof, the maintenance building roof, and overflow from the underground cisterns
Replicates natural water treatment process that occurs in wetlands and marshes
Water flows through a 7-step process where plants and their symbiotic root microbes absorb organic and mineral nutrients
Water is processed to tertiary non-potable standards, which is comparable to water exiting sewage treatment plant post-treatment conservation
Post-treatment water that overflows the lagoon will be permeated naturally into the landscape through a series of infiltration systems

Constructed Wetland

Treat all sanitary water from CSL and adjacent maintenance building
Subsurface flow constructed wetland system
2-stage wetland treatment cell system
Sand filtration provides additional treatment of the wetland effluent
Ultraviolet process disinfects water to gray water standards
Greatly reduces impact on municipal sewage treatment and energy-intensive potable water systems