ASTORINO - Architecture | Engineering | Interior Design

Silver LEED™ Certification of the Center’s Smithsonian wing Addition Cements $150,000 Grant from Kresge Foundation

PITTSBURGH, February 15, 2006 – The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center's new Smithsonian wing has been awarded Silver LEED™ Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, the first of 150 national Smithsonian-affiliated museums to receive the prestigious distinction. The award solidifies a $150,000 bonus grant for the History Center since LEED certification was a condition for eligibility for the additional Kresge Foundation gift.

LEED Certification recognizes Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to encourage and facilitate the development of environmentally friendly, sustainable buildings. The History Center’s Architectural firm, Pittsburgh-based Astorino, has led the “green” movement locally and nationally. The company’s work with The History Center, home to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, is the latest in a series of Astorino’s successful LEED projects.

“When planning our Smithsonian wing, we knew from the start that we wanted a green building, so we sought out the most progressive building professionals in the region,” said Andy Masich, president and CEO of the History Center. “It was the right thing to do for the environment, and a testament to Pittsburgh’s history – a success story where innovations to improve the region's environmental status are making a dramatic difference here and being adopted across the country.”

Masich said the History Center’s green expansion would not have been possible without the support and leadership of The Heinz Endowments, instrumental to the region's green evolution, and the Kresge Foundation, a strong proponent of green building at the national level. In April of 2005, Kresge awarded a grant of $600,000 to the History Center’s $27 million capital campaign. Now, the independent, private foundation is awarding an additional $150,000 because of the History Center’s Silver LEED certification.

The History Center partnered with Astorino, which is known for its pioneering work in sustainable design and success in securing LEED certification, to envision and design the Smithsonian wing. One of the nation’s leading architectural, engineering and interior design firms, Astorino adds the History Center’s Smithsonian wing to its impressive portfolio of LEED certified buildings, including PNC Firstside (Silver) and the J. Richard Carnall Center (Gold). Other Astorino designs targeted for LEED Certification include the new Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Replacement Facility; Three PNC Plaza Condominium, Retail and Office Tower; Florida Gulf Coast University Environmental Demonstration Lab and the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratories in Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

The History Center also partnered with Jendoco Construction Corporation, a company keenly focused on green building criteria: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. Jendoco Construction has been working on green buildings since the late 1990s, and most recently participated in a LEED-CI (Commercial Interiors) pilot project that achieved Gold Certification for the CORO Center for Civic Leadership offices.

The new addition has grown the History Center to almost 175,000 square feet and makes it the largest history museum in Pennsylvania and among the top history facilities in the country. Specific sustainable elements integrated into the design of the Smithsonian wing include:
- Construction waste diverted from landfills and reused on-site
- Use of recycled materials
- Use of local and regional building materials
- Temperature, humidity control and monitoring provided for the entire facility, reducing overall energy performance and usage
- Measurement and verification for the integrated electrical and mechanical systems monitored from one remote location utilizing a networked metering system, allowing energy management
- All exhibit lighting controlled utilizing occupancy sensors with scheduled dimming and shut off
- Bike racks and shower facilities provided on-site for employees, along with easy access to public transportation

"The fundamental practices central to sustainable design - environmental sensitivity, sound planning practices, energy efficiency and stewardship of resources - are what make the difference between good design and great design,” said Dennis L. Astorino, AIA, President & CEO of Astorino. “We commend the Kresge Foundation and the History Center for their forward-thinking approach and commitment to sustainable design.”

Michael R. Kuhn, Assistant Vice President of Jendoco, added, “The History Center's Smithsonian wing project was ambitious from both design and construction standpoints. The Museum had two critical missions with regards to its project: achieving its 'green' goals and building the best possible environment to protect its hundreds of thousands of artifacts, documents, and exhibitions. We worked diligently with the History Center to build a world-class wing that is in tune with the environment and on the leading edge of museum standards for protecting and preserving collections."

Kresge recently received the USGBC’s 2005 Leadership Award, acknowledging its green building leadership and programs, including its Green Building Initiative – the national program that provides educational materials and funding for non-profit organizations to plan and design green buildings.

"Our foundation partners advocate and share our commitment to green design and building," said Masich. "Because of their vision and support, we were able to achieve great things with this wing, and to ensure that we will be preserving and presenting our region's history well into the future."

As of December 31, 2005, Pittsburgh boasted the third most green buildings in the country. Pittsburgh’s green building prowess has emerged in the five years since the creation of LEED.

“Pittsburgh’s green building leadership on a global level is a testament to our legacy of environmental transformation and innovation,” said Rebecca Flora, executive director of Pittsburgh’s Green Building Alliance and a board member of the USGBC. “Green building is not without challenges – when it comes to codes, building policies, even perceived cost issues. But leaders in our community, like the History Center, understand that the benefits of green building – to our built, natural, and human environments – are immense.”

The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, which opened in the History Center’s new Smithsonian wing in 2004, is a museum within a museum, comprehensively presenting the region’s remarkable sports story for visitors of all ages. The History Center also includes the Library & Archives and the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life, Pennsylvania’s newest National Historic Landmark. More information is available at www.pghhistory.org.

Founded in 1972 in Pittsburgh, Astorino is a full-service company with a strong team-based approach in providing complete architectural, engineering, interior design, and design-build services. With emphases on quality design, innovative solutions and strong project management, Astorino is one of the fastest-growing architectural and engineering firms in the nation.

Jendoco Construction Corporation was founded in 1957 and has since earned the reputation as a premier General Contractor/Construction Manager in Western Pennsylvania. Jendoco was formed on the foundation of honesty, hard work, and unconditional client satisfaction, a foundation that remains strong today and is reinforced by technical growth and leadership in new industries such as sustainable construction. Jendoco has received accolades from the industry and its peers for craftsmanship, historic preservation, sustainable construction, design/build, and above all, building excellence, all of which stand as a testament to Jendoco Construction Corporation’s commitment to be the best. Visit www.jendoco.com for more information.

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Contact:
Kathy M. Eckhardt
412-765-1700 x1418
keckhardt@astorino.com