Green Components of Falk Building Project

We have recently completed a new green design wing which houses new classrooms, an art studio, computer lab, science lab, outdoor terraces, and a library with 16,000 volumes.

See September 10, 2010 Pitt News article

All items from the demolition of the old Teacher Center (which was located where the new building now stands) were either recycled or taken by Construction Junction.

A green roof has been installed on top of the new addition.  This installation involved a soil and rock base with an overlay of sedum.  This living roof collects approximately eighty percent of the rainfall, returning the evaporated water to the atmosphere as oxygen.  This allowed the installation of a much smaller drainage system meaning much less of the water runoff going into the city storm sewer system.

The soil and plants on the roof will also help to insulate the building.

Most rooms have been equipped with air exchange systems as opposed to air conditioning.  The individual room units draw cool outside air into the rooms drawing out warmer air.  The settings have an automatic “night” function that starts this air exchange in the evening hours when the rooms are not occupied.  This is designed to have the rooms cooled down as the day begins for the students. High Efficiency equipment is being used (boilers, hot water tanks, etc.).  Automated controls and motion sensors will help control heating and cooling units (units will automatically go into a energy saving mode when no movement is detected in the room).

Some of the areas are air-conditioned.  These include the cafeteria, library computer lab and four middle school classrooms on the second floor.  The decision to air condition particular classrooms was so that they could be used for University of Pittsburgh summer session classes.  Middle School was selected because they have adult sized furniture.

All areas of the building, even those with air conditioning and/or floor to ceiling glass are equipped with operational windows and fans.  This will allow an option for cooling areas that will not draw additional energy usage.

All restrooms have been equipped with “low flow” water conservation toilets and/or urinals.  1.6 gallons per flush toilets are being used. Faucets will have motion sensors to go on and off automatically.  Temperature of water will be pre-set (this will save energy). Hand dryers have replaced paper towel dispensers.

Interior lights will have motion sensors (they will automatically go off without movement in the room).  Exterior lights will have photo cells (lights will go on and off automatically by the amount of light outside)

All materials used in the construction meet the requirements for environmentally friendly. Recycled materials used in the construction: Recycled wood fiber is being used in the particleboard for the new cabinets.  The gym floor will be salvaged and reused in the new multipurpose room (old cafeteria space).  Rebar for the foundation of the new building is made from recycled steel. Lockers and other items in the old school building will be salvaged for reuse. Contents of dumpsters are being recycled (cardboard, masonry, drywall, metal).

The flooring in the hallways, cafeteria, labs and art room are RetroPlate.  This uses existing concrete, grinds the finish down to the aggregate.  Once the aggregate is exposed, it is stained then sealed.  This results in a finish resembling terrazzo marble but one that requires on maintenance beyond damp mopping.

All landscaping is be completed through the use of Pennsylvania native species and approximately three trees are being planted for each of the mature trees that had to be removed for the expansion; and we saved the big old oak.