Site Design
All of the site storm water is managed and treated on site through vegetated swales, constructed wetlands and dry wells. The parking lot is designed to maximize utility without over building the surface through sharing the parking demand between the college campus and the conference center needs in lieu of constructing separate parking facilities to serve each separately. Islands with in the parking lot are constructed as ‘bio-retention’ areas and planted with water tolerant grasses and shrubs along with sycamore trees. The soil medium and plant material will absorb run-off from the parking surface. 
| The mature tree canopy in the parking lot will shade the surface and reduce the heat build up in the summer months. All of the plantings for the building and parking lot are indigenous
species, making them suitable for the climate and soils, drought
tolerant and low maintenance. The landscaping also limits the amount
of turf grass, thus reducing energy needed for cutting and maintenance. All site lighting is designed to meet the ‘Dark Sky” Protocol. |
Building Placement and Orientation
The
building takes advantage of the natural slope of the site to ‘earth shelter a
portion of the lower level, improving the thermal performance of the building
and providing access to grade and landscaped areas adjacent to the building
from each level of the building. The
building is oriented with its long façade directly south to take advantage of
passive solar gain and the view to the mountains (Chestnut Ridge) on the
southeastern horizon. The
overhangs and balconies on the south are designed specifically for summer
shading. The
roof slopes tilted to the south are optimized to accommodate both solar thermal
collection devices (steep sections) and photovoltaic panels (low slope
sections) should the college chose to add these in the future. | 
|
The loading dock and storage (un-occupied service space) is placed to the west end of the
building where over heating and glaring light is undesirable for regular
occupants to the building. The
building and parking lot are linked by walking paths and a drop off drive, but
separated to maximize the landscape potential directly adjacent to the building.
Water Conservation: 47% less water use than comparable type and size buildings
Drought tolerant plants reducing demand on water use for irrigation. All faucets are hands free automatically controlled and low flow and shower heads are low flow. All toilets are low flow type, dual flush & urinals are waterless.
Materials and Resources
Construction Waste Management Plan was utilized to divert waste from landfills.
| Materials were reused or repurposed to reduce the embodied energy or environmental impact of producing new materials. These
materials include: Cut Stone for landscaping walls, reclaimed walnut for
interior millwork, reuse of asphalt and gravel from the demolished parking lot
and landscaping mulch from trees removed for construction. All
materials selected for advantages with regard to recycled content, including
concrete with fly ash, carpets with recycled plastics, steel from reprocessed
scrap metal, porcelain tile with reprocessed ceramics, recycled wood fiber for
engineered panel products, etc. Use of regional
manufacturing and raw material resources including stainless steel roofing from
WV, gypsum Drywall from Aliquippa, lighting from Pittsburgh, paints and
casework from Latrobe, plumbing fixtures and fitting from Erie, roof panels
from Central PA, concrete from Greensburg, roof trusses and laminated timbers
from within 50 miles of the site. Regional/local
construction talent: it is worth noting
that the laborers and skilled trades are predominantly from within 20 miles of
the building site, including building superintendent, from North Huntingdon,
the Electrician from Greensburg, the Plumber from North Huntingdon, the
Millwork and Casework fabricator from Latrobe, etc…. All of this reducing travel time, gasoline consumption
and investing in the local economy of the project site. All paints and coatings are Low VOC and exceed
the PA standards for good indoor air quality.
|
All
carpets, adhesives and processed material binders are selected to meet strict
limits for indoor air quality including formaldehyde free products. Rapidly
renewable materials such as cork, linoleum and bamboo are used as finished
materials reducing long term impacts to the environment since the raw materials
for these products grow back within a couple of years.
Indoor Environmental Quality
FRC is a smoke free building. 90% of all occupants are able to open a window near their workstation or in their office.
90% of all occupants have access to daylight and view. Individual control of window shades and lighting is provided to work area. Post occupancy review of thermal comfort will be performed.
Increased fresh air designed into the ventilation system, with CO2 monitoring to balance fresh air with occupant loads.
Printer rooms and janitorial closets have dedicated exhaust to
remove chemical pollutants form the building and isolate harmful
chemicals from occupied spaces.
| 
|
Additional Innovations
FRC
will have educational displays to inform the users and public about green
building and special features environmentally sustainable of the building, as
well as conduct tours of the building in conjunction with the wetland
remediation project on campus and the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve adjacent to
the site. 
The
FRC is engaged in a ‘Green maintenance’ program that recycles waste from the
building, uses environmentally safe cleaning products and practices,
environmentally sensitive landscape maintenance practices (i.e.: ice melt
products that are safe for plants and natural water systems), and potentially
implement methods that will transform the practices of the commercial kitchens
on campus (composting vegetable waste, recycling plastics, cardboard, aluminum,
and using less disposable products). Furnishings meet the standards for Indoor Air Quality and recycled content products.
Sustainability through Durability
| With the use of stainless steel for the roof, concrete structure and
brick for the exterior wall cladding, the building’s exterior will
weather gracefully and require little maintenance for generations. Emotional Durability:
The environmental comfort, the abundant natural light, the rich/warm
materials and the generous volumes of space make the Rogers Center a
place that is emotionally durable. A building worthy of our affection
will be cared for and enjoyed for many, many years. Fred Rogers’ work
and the work of the Benedictines have already proven sustainability
through emotional durability, so too will this building/landscape
called the Fred Rogers Center. |
|
