Mellon Foundation Awards $5 Million for Green Building

The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded $5 million to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for design and construction of a planned Center for Sustainable Landscapes, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

The center, which is expected to be the world's greenest building when it opens, will house educational and research centers. To be certified as a "living building," it will need to exceed industry standards for green buildings by generating its own energy with renewable resources.

Expected to cost $20 million, the center will feature a water-management system and geothermal heating and cooling system designed to treat and reuse wastewater on site, reducing the amount of public water used. The geothermal system will siphon rainwater from the center's roof into an underground cistern, where the water will be used to warm the building in winter and cool it during the summer.

"Pittsburgh is fast becoming a green city," said Phipps spokeswoman Jessica Romano. "We want to help lead the way. This helps."

Togneri, Chris. “Phipps Gets $5 Million to Go Greener in Expansion.” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 6/18/08.

Primary Subject: Community Improvement/Development
Secondary Subject(s): Environment
Location(s): Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh

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