Dec 3 2009
At 58 stories tall, Comcast Center in Philadelphia recently became the tallest LEED-certified building in the United States with an assist from energy-saving Solarban 60 Starphire glass by PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG).
Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the skyscraper earned LEED Gold Certification due in part to its extensive use of high-performance glass. One of the tower’s signature elements is a 120-foot-high winter garden topped by a series of three, three-story atria overlooking a light-filled interior plaza. All are sheathed in Solarban 60 Starphire glass. This PPG glass also is featured in the crown and corners that cap the 975-foot-tall building.
Solarban 60 Starphire glass unites the industry’s most transparent architectural glass with one of its most advanced solar control, low-emissivity coatings. The result is glass that transmits 74 percent of the sun’s natural light and blocks 60 percent of its heat energy to reduce cooling costs and reliance on artificial lighting.
Other highlights that helped to earn Comcast Center its LEED certification are a low-velocity displacement ventilation system, floor-embedded radiant heat, access to an underground commuter rail hub and extensive use of recycled materials.