An important innovation in the ESC is the use of direct current, or DC, electricity for lighting the building. A typical building operates on alternating current (AC). Solar panels collect electricity in the form of DC. That means any electricity produced by solar panels has to be converted from DC to AC before it can be used. All LED lights, however, operate on DC, which means the electricity has to be converted back to DC before it can light the building. Converting electricity from DC to AC and back can waste 10 to 15 percent of the energy produced. The ESC breaks this wasteful convention by powering all lights in the building by DC with no conversion. Solar panels produce DC electricity, which is stored in the batteries, and the batteries then supply all the current needed to operate the lights.
The ESC offers an exciting new experience for Phipps’ guests, as well. Visitors can get a peek behind the sustainable scenes by entering a vestibule in the building and watching facilities staff construct props for seasonal flower shows in real time. An adjacent window provides a look into the exhibit archive room where statuary, topiaries, props and more from past shows are displayed.
Green Inspiration
The ESC proves the greenest building can be one that already exists. With the right priorities, even the most unsightly and unhealthy spaces can become spaces that are good for the people who inhabit them and beneficial to the environment. Phipps representatives are excited to share this facility along with the adjacent CSL and Nature Lab as examples of three of the greenest and healthiest buildings that can be found anywhere, representing retrofit (ESC), new (CSL) and modular (Nature Lab) construction. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ team hopes these buildings will serve as inspiration to other individuals and organizations around the world.
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: FortyEighty Architecture, Pittsburgh
CIVIL/STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Common Ground, Gibsonia, Pa.
MEP ENGINEER: Iams Consulting LLC, Pittsburgh
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Studio Phipps, Pittsburgh
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Massaro Corp., Pittsburgh
BIOPHILIC CONSULTANT: Shepley Bulfinch, Phoenix
YOGA COURT DESIGN: Karl Steinmetz Designs, Pittsburgh
BUILDING ENVELOPE COMMISSIONING: Building Performance Architecture, Pittsburgh
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT COMMISSIONING: CJL Engineering, Johnstown, Pa.
DESIGN CHARRETTE FACILITATION: 7group, Sinking Spring, Pa.
ROOFING CONTRACTOR: Strongland Roofing Systems, Vandergrift, Pa.
Materials
SPECIALTY ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS: Construction Specialties Group
RESTORATION MATERIALS: Prosoco
MECHANICAL FASTENERS: SFS
COR-TEN WEATHERING STEEL: MetalTech-USA
VEGETATED ROOF ASSEMBLIES
- SOIL RETAINER AND MANUFACTURED GROWING MEDIA: Columbia Green Technologies
- DRAINAGE AND FILTRATION LAYERS: Keene Building Products
- PROTECTION LAYER: Carlisle SynTec
HOLLOW METAL DOORS AND FRAMES: Curries Co. (ASSA ABLOY)
FLUSH WOOD DOORS: Masonite Architectural
OVERHEAD COILING DOORS: Overhead Door Corp.
FOLDING ALUMINUM-FRAMED STOREFRONTS: NanaWall Systems Inc.
ALUMINUM WINDOWS: Kawneer Co. Inc.
WINDOW INSECT SCREENS: Kawneer Co. and Phifer Inc.
WINDOW CONTROLS: Clearline Inc.
ROOF-MOUNTED SKYLIGHT DOME ASSEMBLY: Solatube International Inc.
SEALANT FOR TUBULAR DAYLIGHTING DEVICES: Tremco
AUTOMATIC DOOR OPERATORS: ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems
NATURAL CLAY PLASTERING: American Clay Enterprises LLC
GLAZED PORCELAIN TILE AND TRIM: Daltile Inc.
CERAMIC TILING: Laticrete International Inc.
METAL EDGE/TRANSITION STRIPS FOR CERAMIC TILING AND RUBBER TILE FLOORING: Schluter Systems
ACOUSTICAL PANEL CEILINGS: USG Corp.
LINEAR WOOD CEILINGS
- WOOD GRILLE CEILING PANELS: 9Wood Inc.
- METAL SUSPENSION SYSTEM: USG
CORK FLOORING AND RUBBER TILE FLOORING: Capri Collections
LINOLEUM FLOORING: Forbo Flooring Systems
TILE CARPETING: Mohawk Group
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR PAINT: PPG Architectural Finishes Inc.
PAINT FOR LAGOON: National Paint Industries
SOLID PLASTIC LOCKERS: Scranton Products Inc.
ROLLER WINDOW SHADES: Draper Inc.
LIGHT-FILTERING FABRIC: Mermet USA
SOLID SURFACE COUNTERTOPS: DuPont Corian
WATER CLOSET, LAVATORY AND SERVICE SINK: Kohler
WATER CLOSET FLUSH VALVE AND URINAL: Sloan
LAVATORY TRAP, DRINKING FOUNTAIN TRAP AND KITCHEN SINK TRAP: McGuire
MIXING VALVE (SINK): Watts
ANGLE STOP FITTING (SINK): Chicago Faucets
DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND KITCHEN SINK: Elkay Manufacturing Co.
HAND SINK: Advance Tabco
EYE WASH, MOP BASIN AND SHOWER BASES: Acorn Engineering Co.
HAND SHOWER UNIT AND HEAD: Symmons
HEAT PUMPS: Waterfurnace
ENERGY MONITORING PRODUCTS: E-Mon
PLANTER WALL SCREEN: McNichols Co.
SOLAR PANELS: Solarworld