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Governor Rendell Says Welcome Center Wins Green Building Certification

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 April 2008, 12:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell said today that the new Delaware Water Gap Welcome Center has won a silver-level certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, from the U.S. Green Building Council.

"We must set the example by demonstrating that saving precious resources is more than a distant goal, it is a reality we can pursue now," Governor Rendell said. "Being recognized by the national council dedicated to sustainable building practices is testimony to my administration's commitment to energy efficiency."

The 12,700-square-foot welcome center at Exit 310 of westbound Interstate 80, just inside the border with New Jersey, opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2006. Operated by PennDOT, the facility was built in partnership with the Department of General Services, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc. Maria C. Romanach Architects of Philadelphia designed the building.

DGS managed construction of the $9.9 million building, which included several energy-saving design features, such as geothermal heating and cooling. The architect employed a philosophy of integrated design of architectural; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; plumbing; and electrical systems using intensive energy modeling, daylight studies and other green technologies.

The center is expected to use 30 percent less energy compared to more traditional designs. A living roof garden covers 50 percent of the structure while the rest of the roof is designed for picnicking. An eye-catching fabric tensile structure "umbrella" provides shade for the picnic area.

LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council's rating system for designing and constructing energy efficient, high performance structures. The rating considers sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation and design. The council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Members include corporations, builders, universities, government agencies and non-profit organizations.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.

CONTACT: Chuck Ardo 717-783-1116

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Chuck Ardo of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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