The Plaza at PPL Center
Developed by Liberty Property Trust
Allentown, PA
LEED Rating: LEED 2 - Level: Gold (40 points)
Overview
The Plaza Building is a build to suit for the PPL Corporation located in Allentown, Pennsylvania next to their existing corporate office tower. PPL taxed Liberty Property Trust with creating a world class double ‘AA’ office building which will achieve a Gold certification through the LEED accredited program. Liberty then hired the services of a world renowned architect, Robert A.M. Stern to design the structure. Instrumental in the design was the services of Atelier Ten who acted as the LEED consultant who assisted Stern’s office and the rest of the team with the direction required for ascertaining the required LEED points.
The building consists of eight stories, 252,000 square feet (221.17 psf) which is inclusive of 17,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. Liberty did develop 30,000 square feet of speculative office space which is located on the third floor. The approximate total cost of the project is over 60 million dollars. Project started in January of 2002 and PPL occupied their first space on April 4, 2003.
Current project reflects 41 LEED points. The building is scheduled to be complete 100% by June 19, 2003. Atelier Ten will submit the application for the Gold accreditation with an estimated response of early fall.
Key Points in the Sustainable Design Measures
The brief overview below to the sustainable design measures of the PPL project is organized into five broad categories of environmental improvements: site selection, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials, and indoor environmental quality. Many additional improvements have been made throughout the course of the project that are either not mentioned specifically below, or don’t neatly fit into one of these categories.
Site Selection
The location of the PPL building in central Allentown is central to both investing in the community and to the building’s efforts to help encourage high density development, which makes good use of existing infrastructure and public transportation. The site design also contributes a new landscaped public plaza which will contribute to the vitality of the city center as well as contributing to the building’s environmental agenda. A short list of site green design measures includes:
• Multiple bus stops at the building
• Bicycle storage and showers on site
• Landscape shading of the plaza to minimize heat island effects
• Night sky protection by careful design of site lighting
• Storm water retention with green roof
• Storm water filtration to remove sediments and contaminants
Water Conservation
The PPL building carefully conserves water both outside and in. The plaza is designed with native vegetation that does not require an irrigation system, eliminating a potentially high water use. Within the building, low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals together reduce water use by 45% over a conventionally equipped building, thereby reducing water use by approximately 1.2 million gallons per year.
Energy Conservation
Energy saving measures in the PPL building are integral to the design of the entire project. Starting with the building’s architecture, the large overhangs at the Plaza and roof garden levels and the bris soleil on the south façade together reduce solar gain and thus cooling energy requirements. High performance glass blocks additional solar energy while admitting a high percentage of visible light, which allows electric lights to be dimmed or switched off and energy to be saved. The roof garden and the highly-reflective upper white roof both work to keep the top of the building cool and well insulated, further reducing energy requirements. Within the building, heat recovery preconditions all ventilation air, which is carefully monitored and controlled by CO2 sensors throughout the building. An ice storage system in the basement allows peak demands to be reduced by 30%, helping to reducing energy inefficient peak demands on utilities.
Materials
Materials within the PPL building have been extensively researched and selected based upon several environmental criteria. Materials were selected for their high recycled content, and when possible locally manufactured materials and products were chosen. Additionally, building woodwork was sourced from sustainably managed forests, and all materials were carefully vetted for low emission of contaminants likely to lead to sick building syndrome.
Indoor Environmental Quality
The high indoor environmental quality of the PPL building was a forming factor for the project’s architecture. Daylight streams down the central atrium and in through the large clear windows all around the building, and all work spaces were carefully designed to maintain full views to the outdoors. The careful selection of low chemical-emitting building and finish materials, as well as careful construction measures to prevent mold and mildew growth within the building, will insure a high air quality – and thus high occupant health – throughout.
Project Data
Architect:
Robert A.M. Stern
Client:
PPL Corporation
LEED Consultant:
Atelier Ten
Location:
Allentown, PA
Completion Date:
2003
Project Area:
252,000 Square Feet
Project Cost:
$60,000,000+
Awards
2004:
First Place
Northeast Sustainable
Building Awards
Northeast Sustainable
Energy Association
AIA/COTE 2004
Plaza at PPL Center selected as
Top Ten Green Project
For project details visit:
AIA/COTE
Top Ten Green Projects
PDF of LEED recognized
features and benefits
