Penn buildings achieve LEED certifications, showcasing commitment to sustainability
Three recent building projects at the University of Pennsylvania have earned LEED Platinum, Gold, and Silver certifications, underscoring Penn’s ongoing commitment to sustainable design and construction.
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The Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology earned a LEED Platinum certificate.
“These LEED certifications reflect Penn’s commitment to sustainable building design,” says Mark Kocent, University architect. “Each project is designed with energy efficiency, ecological integration, and occupant wellness at its core, a reflection of Penn’s In Principle and Practice directive to lead on the great challenges of our time, including climate.”
With LEED Platinum certification, Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) represents the highest standard in sustainable building design. Penn’s hub for emerging energy research VLEST is a collaboration between the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS) and the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) and also houses the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER). Designed by Behnisch Architekten, the building’s distinctive high-performance façade utilizes solar geometric sunshades to reduce energy usage and maximize natural daylight. The shades are a key feature of this campus gateway building at 32nd and Walnut streets.
The Ott Center (left) and Amy Gutmann Hall were awarded LEED silver and LEED gold certification, respectively.
(Images: Eric Sucar)
Penn Engineering’s Amy Gutmann Hall serves as a hub for cross-disciplinary collaborations that harness research and data across Penn’s 12 Schools. Designed by executive architects Lake|Flato, with KSS Architects serving as associates, Amy Gutmann Hall at 34th and Chestnut streets is one of the East Coast’s largest mass timber structures, utilizing a material that is significantly more sustainable compared to concrete or steel. The project’s other sustainable features including a 12,000 square-foot green roof, high-performance building envelope, windows, and skylights, as well as energy-efficient systems and low-flow plumbing, cut energy use by nearly 20% and water usage by 33%.
The state-of-the-art Ott Center for Track and Field indoor track completed last fall received high points for construction and demolition waste management, as well as heat island and light pollution reduction. During the construction process, 64 trees were also planted on the site, in alignment with Penn’s Ecological Landscape Stewardship Plan and supporting the City of Philadelphia’s tree canopy goals.
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