Oct 12 2009
The University City Science Center announced today that its newest building at 3711 Market Street in Philadelphia has been awarded LEED® Silver Level certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute.
LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
“3711 Market Street was designed with the intent of achieving LEED certification,” says Science Center President & CEO Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D. “This is one important indication of our commitment to sustainable business values and the environment that has become a part of our corporate culture. LEED certification validates the ‘green’ state of mind that we take pride in and practice every day.”
LEED certification of 3711 Market Street was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:
- A 35,000-square-foot green roof that is among the largest in Philadelphia
- Maximum day-lighting opportunities for all tenants
- Recycled content in construction materials
- Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) construction
- Water-efficient landscaping
- Indoor air-quality improvements
- Green maintenance and cleaning
- High-performance building envelope including high-performance glazing
3711 Market Street opened in June 2008. The 155,000-square-foot, 10-story building includes wet labs, offices and work spaces for small and mid-sized life science and tech companies. It is also home to the Science Center’s corporate headquarters and Global Soft Landing business incubator, which provides a soft landing for international companies seeking entry into the U.S. life sciences, information technology and clean energy markets.
Financial support for the Science Center’s corporate offices and the Global Soft Landing incubator was provided, in part, through grants from the federal Economic Development Administration and the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The development partner for the project is Wexford Science + Technology. Cushman & Wakefield of Pennsylvania is the leasing agent for 3711 Market Street.
“The Commonwealth supports innovative partnerships because innovation creates economic growth and quality jobs,” Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary George Cornelius says. “We are proud of our investment in this project because the innovation extends not just to the high-tech, high-wage jobs that are being created but also to the state-of-the-art ‘green’ structure itself.”
“This is great news for Philadelphia. The University City Science Center is setting a high standard for green building construction, while fostering science and technology in our city," says State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/ Delaware). "It sets a wonderful example for future construction, and I congratulate the center on its certification.”
“The construction of green buildings and the use of cutting-edge technology to cut energy costs are extremely important to our future,” says State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery). “The development of green technology and its application in the construction industry enables us to create new job opportunities, promote fuel efficient buildings and reduce our carbon footprint."
In related “green” news, Science Center resident SCA has also achieved LEED certification for its office space at 3615 Market Street.
Source: http://www.sciencecenter.org/