The Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pa., has recently become the first certified Sustainable SITES Initiative v2 Platinum project in the world. The building originally opened in 2012 and was the first and only project to receive SITES 2009 Pilot Four Star certification.
The CSL was built over a previously documented brownfield with the goal of restoring the site. Since 2012, the project has successfully reintroduced 100 native plant species to the surrounding area. The building is net-zero energy and net-zero water thanks to its PV solar panels, a wind turbine, and a system for capturing and treating all water onsite for reuse.
See Also: First photos inside the nearly completed Jewel Changi Airport addition
The new SITES v2 Rating System builds off the 2009 pilot certification. SITES certified projects are better equipped to withstand catastrophic events like floods, droughts, and wildfires. They reduce water and energy demand, improve air quality, and promote human well-being.
SITES is owned and administered by Green Business Certification Inc. Certification is based on a point system: the number of points a project earns determines the certification level it receives (SItes Certified: 70-84 points, SITES Silver: 85-99 points, SITES Gold: 100-134 points, SITES Platinum: 135+ points).
Related Stories
Market Data | Mar 30, 2016
10 trends for commercial real estate: JLL report
The report looks at global threats and opportunities, and how CRE firms are managing their expectations for growth.
Sustainability | Mar 17, 2016
New York City releases Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 Guiding Principles
Addresses sustainability, resiliency, healthy living.
High-rise Construction | Feb 25, 2016
Kohn Pedersen Fox wants to build a mile-high tower in Tokyo
The tower would be the centerpiece of Next Tokyo, a mini city in Tokyo Bay adapted to climate change and rising tides.
Museums | Jan 22, 2016
Canadian Canoe Museum selects Heneghan Peng Architects’ design for new location
The single-story structure is designed for sustainability as well as function.
Urban Planning | Jan 21, 2016
Anders Berensson Architects re-imagines Stockholm as a city of skywalks
The Swedish firm’s "Klarastaden" plan connects the city via clear skyways that weave in and around the city’s buildings.
Sustainability | Dec 23, 2015
Hospitality sustainability measurement tool will be an industry game-changer
The Hotel Sustainability Measurement Tool will allow hoteliers to compare energy and water use as well as their carbon footprint in a clear and concise platform.
Green | Jul 23, 2015
NASA: U.S. headed for worst droughts in a millennium
Data from NASA shows carbon emissions could be the driving force behind devastating water shortages and record droughts in the western U.S.
Green | Jul 7, 2015
Philips sheds new light on growing fresh food indoors
A research center in The Netherlands is testing the latest techniques in urban farming.
![6 steps toward better water management [AIA course]](/sites/default/files/styles/list_big/public/VanDusen513.026_grassfix_stairfix.jpg?itok=K8oOWak9 "6 steps toward better water management [AIA course]")
Green | Jun 24, 2015
6 steps toward better water management [AIA course]
When it comes to water conservation, Building Teams tend to concentrate on water-efficient plumbing fixtures, irrigation controls, graywater capture, and ways to recycle condensate from air-conditioning systems. Yet many of the best opportunities for saving water begin with big-picture thinking in a project’s earliest phases.
Green | Jun 19, 2015
3 steps toward sustainable landscape architecture
A water-conscious, sustainable landscape is easily achievable, and the options for native and drought tolerant plants far exceed cacti and succulents, writes LPA's Richard Bienvenu.
