PITTSBURGH, July 9, 2018 – Carnegie Science Center announced that the new PPG SCIENCE PAVILION™ has achieved LEED® Gold Certification, a prestigious honor for the stunning addition to the North Shore science and technology museum. The LEED (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,” said Science Center Co-Director Ron Baillie. “We built this building with long-term goals in mind – to conserve resources, lower operating costs, and show leadership in the Pittsburgh area.”
Grand Opening Celebration of the Carnegie Science Center’s PPG Science Pavilion on June 15, 2018. Credit: Alisa Innocenti
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,” said Science Center Co-Director Ann Metzger. “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 PAINTS™ SPEEDHIDE® interior paint, MEGASEAL™ epoxy by PPG, and more.
Credit: Dave Heath
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.
Credit: Dave Heath
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,” said USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize the built environment by providing everyone with 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.”
For more information, visit CarnegieScienceCenter.org/About/PPG-Science-Pavilion.
About Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center is dedicated to inspiring learning and curiosity by connecting science and technology with everyday life. By making science both relevant and fun, the Science Center’s goal is to increase science literacy in the region and motivate young people to seek careers in science and technology. One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Science Center is Pittsburgh’s premier science exploration destination, reaching more than 700,000 people annually through its hands-on exhibits, camps, classes, and off-site education programs.
Accessibility: Features for All
Carnegie Science Center welcomes all visitors. We work to assist visitors with disabilities in obtaining reasonable and appropriate accommodations, and in supporting equal access to services, programs, and activities. We welcome visitors in wheelchairs on the deck of our USS Requin (SS 481) submarine. Below-deck visits require full mobility. Hearing assistance devices are available for The Rangos Giant Cinema. Please ask when you buy your ticket.
Please note that requests for accommodations should be made at least two weeks prior to your visit. For specific questions about wheelchairs, strollers, or other programmatic or equipment needs, see the ticket counter located on the first floor of the main building or contact Customer Service at 412.237.1641. Please contact Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh’s Accessibility Coordinator with concerns regarding accessibility for visitors with disabilities at the museums. On weekdays, call 412.622.6578.
About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Established in 1895 by Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. In 2017, the museums reached more than 1.4 million people through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events.
PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
At PPG (PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.8 billion in 2017. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.
PPG and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $10.5 million in 2017, supporting hundreds of community organizations across 25 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com.
We protect and beautify the world, PPG Science Pavilion, and PPG Paints are trademarks and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
MegaSeal is a trademark and Speedhide is a registered trademark of PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc.
*Colorants added to this base paint may increase volatile organic compound levels significantly depending on color choice.
