For their work in designing Clarion University’s Joseph P. Grunenwald Center for Science and Technology, The Pittsburgh office of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson was given an Honor Award for Architecture and a Green Design Citation for Architecture in the AIA Pittsburgh’s annual design awards program Oct. 27.
Five projects and six awards were presented for architecture, of which the Center for Science and Technology garnered two awards. Additionally, the project was the only Green Design Citation awarded at the event.
The award-selection jury commented that the project turned the site into a “veritable connector between the upper and lower campus.” They further praised the overall planning for the project and the landscaping plan, which, they said, will fully realize the project.
The building was named for Clarion University President Joseph P. Grunenwald, who retired June 30, 2010. Grunenwald was a great proponent of the facility, both as a cutting-edge science and technology center and as an environmentally responsible construction.
The $34 million, 98,000-square-foot facility opened June 1, 2009, and replaces the former Peirce Science Center. The planetarium portion of the building was retained as the Donald Peirce Planetarium and Auditorium.
Designed for energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, the building features a gas micro-turbine and solar panels on its roof, which provide electricity for the building. The design emphasizes more than 50 percent natural light through the use of large outside windows and glass walls on many of the seminar rooms. An automatically controlled heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, combined with electric eye light controls, drop or raise temperatures accordingly in unused rooms and turn off lights not in use. Other resource-saving features include a rainwater gathering system which reclaims the water for other uses in the building, a white roof to reflect heat away from the building and a heat recovery system to lower the amount of energy needed to heat the building.
The roof area has a weather station, a satellite dish and a telescope for use with classes.
“Compared to the other recognized projects at the event, our building was one of the most financially modest in competition, yet one of the most demanding and challenging ones as well,” said Lucia Aguirre, architect and LEED accredited professional with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. “Therefore, it is especially rewarding to see the jury distinguish our hard work and dedication to our vision for the building.”
Aguirre noted that the final LEED certification level hasn’t been announced. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
