Access Green Building Alliance

K-12 CASE STUDIES

Carriage House Children's Center: LEED-EB Gold
Green renovation features of the 110-year-old former public school include the use of nontoxic materials, insulation of basement walls and attic, use of low-flow plumbing fixtures, and recycling of over 40 tons of construction waste. The building has instituted green cleaning and maintenance procedures, along with a recycling program. The center is developing an environmental curriculum for its preschoolers. A full case study is available here.

A.L. Wilson Elementary School: LEED-NC Registered
This 42,000-square-foot elementary school in the Albert Gallatin School District features humidity and temperature controls in all classrooms, a low allergy environment policy, open space preservation, and reduced computer energy use. Low-flow fixtures reduce water use and energy is optimized by triple-glazed operable windows and bi-level lighting.

J. S. Wilson Middle School: LEED-NC Registered
Located in Erie, J.S. Wilson Middle School takes advantage of smart site selection to properly align the building to maximize daylighting. Significant energy generation is achieved on-site through extensive use of alternative energy systems such as solar panels, hot water heat and wind turbines. Tight envelope construction, coupled with high-recycled content and reuse of an existing structure, complete this green building.

Felician Sisters Convent & Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School: LEED-NC Gold
This 161,400-square-foot gut renovation of a 70-year-old building in Coraopolis is used as a school, convent and elderly housing. Operable windows, ceiling fans, a heat pump/wheel, nontoxic materials and careful placement of duct work improves air and light quality. Also installed are a solar hot water system and a 2 kW solar power array. Energy reduction is projected at 45%. Reuse of flooring and doors helped cut construction waste in half. Over two miles of baseboard was recycled. A full case study is available here.

Shady Side Academy Rowe Hall Renovation: LEED-NC Gold
Rowe Hall was the first building constructed on Shady Side Academy's historic Fox Chapel campus. Features of this building renovation include a heat pump mechanical system that, combined with increased insulation and a heat recovery wheel, offers 40% energy savings. The project also includes a permeable courtyard with a rainwater cistern that is used for toilet flushing, which reduces the site's runoff by more than 20% compared to pre-renovation conditions.

Projects to Watch

Aliquippa School Distrct
Aliquippa Elementary School
LEED for Schools Registered
Aliquippa High School
LEED for Schools Registered

The Burrell School Distrct
Charles A. Huston Middle School
LEED-NC Registered

Crawford County School District
First District Elementary School
LEED-CI Registered
Second District Elementary School
LEED-CI Registered

Deer Lakes High School
Deer Lakes High School Distrct
LEED for Schools Registered

Saint Joseph High School
Diocese of Pittsburgh
LEED-NC Registered

Uniontown Area High School
Uniontown Area School Distrct
LEED-NC Registered

Upper St. Clair School District
Boyce Middle School Renovation & Addition
LEED for Schools Registered
Fort Couch Middle School Renovation & Addition
LEED for Schools Registered

UNIVERSITY CASE STUDIES

Allegheny College

North Village: LEED-NC Certified
Located at Allegheny College, this residential complex is a development of three apartment-style residence halls that feature two geo-web permeable gravel parking lots; a roof that looks like a slate, but is actually recycled rubber geothermal wells; and ground-source heat pumps. A full case study is available here.

Carnegie Mellon University

300 South Craig Street: LEED-NC Silver
The 300 South Craig Street project houses Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science offices, the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, the CMU Police Department, and retail shops. Design team members worked to improve energy performance in this 73,000-square-foot space with the use of a desiccant wheel and provided users with controls to customize their environments. The university maintains clean and nontoxic interiors.

407 South Craig Street: LEED-NC Silver
This 12,000-square-foot full building renovation includes a large skylight that provides an opportunity for daylight dimming, as well as an ideal mounting surface for photovoltaic solar collectors that generate over 10% of the building’s electricity. Energy efficiency is also aided by energy recovery ventilators with fan-powered boxes.

Carnegie Mellon Cafe: LEED-CI Gold
The renovation of this 9,400-square-foot dining facility utilizes sustainable materials and provides improved indoor air quality. Removal of five-foot-wide brick piers allows for large amounts of natural light and a 360° view of the outside. Other green features include lighting sensors, carbon dioxide sensors, and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.

Collaborative Innovation Center: LEED-CS GOLD
At the four-story, 260,600-square-foot Collaborative Innovation Center, a raised-floor HVAC system and an insulated terra cotta rainscreen enable projected energy usage reduction of 22% above the ASHRAE standard. The Co-Lab, which accommodates over 400 employees, provides recharging stations for electric vehicles and a stormwater cistern. A full case study is available here.

Henderson House: LEED-NC Silver
This 16,000-square-foot renovation and expansion of a 1908 dormitory houses 60 students in a program for healthy living. Resident comfort is enhanced by high-quality ventilation and individual air/heat controls. Furnishings are made from certified wood or recycled-content materials. A two-year green power contract originally supplied 100% of the building's electricity.

Stever House Residence Hall
LEED-NC Silver
Formerly named “New House,” Stever House was the first university residence hall in the U.S. to achieve LEED certification. The building’s energy reduction was projected to be 31% and a CMU wind power contract supplies a portion of its energy. Individual fans and operable windows deliver fresh air to each room. Over 97% of construction waste from this 71,100-square-foot project was diverted from landfills. A full case study is available here.

Posner Center: LEED-NC Certified
An 11,000-square-foot upscale conference center and rare books facility, the Posner Center features the unique Kraus Campo garden and landscape sculpture on its roof. In addition to Carnegie Mellon University's green power contract, the center has a projected reduced energy usage of 30%. All public spaces have exterior views. A full case study is available here.

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Eagle Commons Dining Hall: LEED-NC Registered
This 31,000-square-foot facility features a 530-seat dining hall and conference rooms, as well as a 24-seat Starbucks. There is a 30% reduction in potable water use as well as low-flow and dual-flush bathroom fixtures. Efficient HVAC technologies and sensor systems combine to reduce energy usage of lighting, heating and cooling. Other green features include low-VOC materials, recycling programs and access by alternative transportation.

Science & Technology Center: LEED-NC Registered
Boasting 40 laboratories, seven classrooms, and two seminar rooms, this 98,000-square-foot building features an underground cistern that collects rainwater for toilets and selected custodial and industrial lab uses. A micro-turbine supplements power for air-handling units and other selected building functions. A/C condensation water is used in toilet and cooling tower water, while photovoltaic roof tiles supplement power.

Valley View and Campus View Suites: LEED-NC Registered
The newest housing availble on Clarion's campus, these two LEED-registered buildings offer suite-style living for 361 students. The buildings' energy usage is reduced by over 30% and low-emitting products were used throughout.

Duquesne University

Duquesne Union, Second Floor Renovation: LEED-CI Registered
This 18,900-square-foot multi-use project on Duquesne University’s campus features green cleaning and maintenance, educational displays and 100% green power. About 90% of campus electrical power is either generated by the university’s cogeneration plant or offset with wind power credits.

Power Center: LEED-NC Registered
Located on Duquesne University's campus, the building's energy efficiency is accented with highly efficient lighting and extensive daylighting. The project features a high-recycled-content construction materials. Indoor air quality is protected with low-VOC materials, along with a high-efficiency ventilation unit.

Juniata College

Shuster Hall: LEED-NC Certified
Located in Huntingdon County, PA, Shuster Hall is the first LEED-certified building at Juniata College, providing state-of-the-art field facilities. This 6,000-square-foot project maximizes lake views and situates shading to the south and west, minimizing solar impacts. Shuster Hall incorporates green design principles, such as maximized daylighting, operable windows, optimal solar orientation, and use of locally produced/manufactured construction materials.

Penn State University

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park: LEED Certified

School of Forest Resources Building: LEED Silver

Stuckeman Family Building for the School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture (SALA): LEED Gold
SALA is Penn State's first LEED-certified building on campus. This 111,000-square-foot structure is projected to reduce energy usage 35% and is powered by 100% renewable energy through PSU's annual wind purchase. Materials were selected based on their recycled and renewable content.

Point Park University

Dance Studio: LEED-NC Gold
Located in Downtown Pittsburgh, this university building diverted 85% of its demolition waste from landfills. Modeling predicts 24% energy cost savings from efficient HVAC systems and lighting, as well as 40% water savings due to highly efficient fixtures. Extensive daylighting and a highly controllable indoor environment provide year-round comfort for dancers. A full case study is available here.

Slippery Rock University

Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Research & Education
Located on Slippery Rock University's campus, the Macoskey Center is powered by both a 2.5kW wind turbine and a 2.4kW solar array. Additionally, an off-grid PV solar array powers an organic greenhouse. In order to maximize energy efficiency and air quality, energy recovery ventilators were installed with HEPA filters.

Saint Vincent College

Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning & Children's Media: LEED-NC Registered
This research institute and conference center sits on five acres at Saint Vincent College and is dedicated to the work of Fred Rogers and the Benedictine monks. The 37,000 ft2 center uses 47% less water and 33% less energy than similar buildings of its size. Green features include on-site stormwater treatment through constructed wetlands and vegetated swales, low flow and waterless fixtures, locally manufactured and recycled materials, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency lighting.

The University of Pittsburgh

McGowan Institute: LEED-NC Gold
For this 45,200-square-foot medical facility in a mixed-use brownfield redevelopment, a pre-existing building shell was a challenge to green design. Stormwater is collected and used. Construction waste was recycled on-site. Light shelves increase the penetration of daylight. The University of Pittsburgh, the building's owner, purchases green power. A full case study is available here.