Carnegie Science Center’s New PPG Science Pavilion Awarded LEED Gold Certification

Carnegie Science Center said the new PPG SCIENCE PAVILION achieved LEED Gold Certification. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is one of the foremost programs for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

“It was an easy decision for the Science Center to pursue LEED certification for the PPG Science Pavilion,” Science Center Co- Director Ron Baillie said. “We built this building with long-term goals in mind – to conserve resources, lower operating costs, and show leadership in the Pittsburgh area.”

The PPG Science Pavilion scored highest in the categories of sustainable sites, innovation, regional priority credits, and water efficiency. Visitors can learn more about these features at the Sustainable Science!touchscreen kiosk in the PPG Science Pavilion, which details the building’s strategies to build more responsibly, use fewer resources, and operate more efficiently.

“We are thrilled to have this new space and show how these new energy-saving systems will impact our building and the city as a whole,” Science Center Co-Director Ann Metzger said. “This building is symbolic of the Science Center’s commitment to STEM education, green design, smart technology, and in-house efforts to be responsible community partners.”

Indovina Associates Architects, LaQuatra Bonci Associates, Turner Construction Company, and Oxford Development Company executed the design and construction of the expansion, building the structure to LEED’s environment-focused specifications. The building is coated with low- and no-volatile organic compound* PPG products, including PPG PAINTSTM SPEEDHIDEinterior paint, MEGASEALTM epoxy by PPG, and more.

The PPG Science Pavilion lessens environmental impact by adding on to an existing building. Some of its other LEED-friendly features include:

• Low-flow plumbing fixtures, which can reduce water consumption by more than 30 percent compared to conventional plumbing;
• The Nimick Forbesway Foundation Rain Garden, which will filter storm water from the roof to help reduce the burden on sewer infrastructure and decrease risk of overflow into the rivers during heavy rains;

• A rooftop solar array, donated by Scalo Solar Systems, which generates nearly 5 percent of the required energy on-site, reducing demand for fossil fuels and the local power grid;
• High efficiency building systems, state-of-the-art building controls, and an energy-efficient building envelope, which allow PPG Science Pavilion to consume more than 20 percent less energy than a similar building. 


“Carnegie Science Center’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam said. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize the built environment by providing everyone with a healthy, green and high performing buildings. The PPG Science Pavilion at the Science Center serves as a prime example of how the work of innovative building projects can use local solutions to make a global impact on the environment.”