Last week, the Interior Design Student Professional Alliance held their annual Winter Gala at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. The event featured a presentation about the Living Building Challenge process at the Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes, led by a panel from the project team. evolveEA’s Marc Mondor was accompanied by Chris Minnerly of The Design Alliance architects, Executive Director of Phipps Conservatory Richard Piacentini, and Alan Traugott of CJL Engineering. They covered the Whats Whys and Hows of this unprecedented net zero energy water and waste... 

When it comes to sustainability there’s a vast sea of information available—and it’s not always easy to parse out accurate claims vs. marketing hyperbole. Phrases such as ‘all natural’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ have been slapped on about everything and anything we buy. First let us acknowledge that everything is relative, and that these claims often exist somewhere along a spectrum, but beyond that, how might an individual better determine the accuracy of a particular claim or make a more informed choice?  One common and effective way to verify such claims... 

Often the first thing we are asked is “Would you do it again…should we attempt the Living Building Challenge?” My personal answer is a resounding YES!  But only if you can accommodate and address the uncertainty that the LBC injects into the normal design, construction and occupancy process. Dealing with this uncertainty is often very frustrating; however the results are a much more sustainable and rewarding project. The effort does result in gain…but the pain is unavoidable. It is like white water rafting on an unfamiliar river; you will never know what is coming... 

We’ve been excited to participate in the Living Building Challenge as we help guide the Phipps Conservatory Center for Sustainable Landscapes toward meeting its requirements. Now that construction has begun, we’re excited to see some of the sustainable strategies take shape. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has been involved in in an ongoing effort to develop a sustainable campus that has included an implementation of organizational sustainability throughout their operations and facilities over the last decade. evolveEA has helped Phipps successfully integrate...