July 30, 2003—Pittsburgh came one step closer today to being the home of the world’s largest green buildings with the submission of the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s application to be the first LEED-rated convention center.
“The convention center was designed to meet multiple quality design and functional requirements, including green technologies and materials and integration into the urban context,” said Rebecca Flora, executive director of the Green Building Alliance, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit that promotes green building practices. “The LEED rating system served as a design guideline for the green aspects, and we expect the convention center to shortly be awarded a Gold LEED certification. When it is, the convention center will be the world’s largest green building.”
Because many simple and complex features contribute to making a building green, the U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System as an international standard to assess building environmental performance. Buildings qualify for one of four levels of LEED certification—Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
The new convention center incorporates green technologies such as natural ventilation, daylight sensors and carbon monoxide sensors, a water reclamation system that reduces potable water use by nearly 60 percent, along with substantial use of recycled and nontoxic materials.
Pittsburgh’s new center relies on natural elements where possible, including roof skylights and walls of glass engineered to produce diffused light and uniform temperature, admitting natural daylight into the exhibit space and pre-function areas. Seventy-five percent of the center’s exhibition space is naturally lit. Blackout shades will be installed for users who require a low-light environment.
The shape of the building captures natural airflow from the Allegheny River to help ventilate and cool the building. Initial modeling estimates place energy savings at more than $500,000 annually just from the use of natural light and air. Combined with other features to minimize energy usage, such as occupancy and daylight sensors, the overall annual energy savings are projected at about 35 percent.
Beyond fully utilizing natural light and air, the convention center also maximizes use of nontoxic materials, such as paint and carpets that do not emit harmful fumes. This green feature, combined with the natural light and air, establishes a more wholesome indoor environment for meeting attendees that increases the marketability of the new center.
The natural lighting will also financially benefit exhibitors at the new center, according to a recent study by the Heschong Mahone Group for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The study found that daylighting merchandise, as opposed to fluorescent lighting, could increase sales by about 40 percent.
