Main entrance to Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Pittsburgh, Pa. — Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has been named as a recipient of a Design & Build with FSC Award from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Celebrated in November at a ceremony held at Greenbuild 2013 in Philadelphia, the Pittsburgh public garden received the highest honor at this ninth annual event for its use of 100-percent FSC certified as well as reclaimed wood at the new Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL), one of the greenest buildings on Earth.
A state-of-the-art facility designed to generate its own energy, and treat and reuse all water captured on site, the CSL is expected to be the first building anywhere to achieve the world’s highest green building standards, including the Living Building Challenge™. Since opening, it has been awarded LEED® Platinum, the highest distinction offered by the U.S. Green Building Council, and Four Stars Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™) certification for landscapes, becoming the first project to ever earn this rating.
“Designed and built by Pittsburghers and Pennsylvanians, the CSL is a global model for how we can all help make our communities healthier, safer and more supportive of all life,” says Phipps Executive Director Richard V. Piacentini. “We are honored to have our efforts and environmental commitment recognized by the FSC, as well as the opportunity to call attention to the importance of using responsibly sourced wood products and implementing sustainable building practices.”
Founded in 1993 to help consumers and businesses identify products from well-managed forests, the FSC sets standards by which forests are certified, offering credible verification to those buying wood or wood products. According to the nonprofit, 5,400 companies and 175 million acres of forestland are certified under FSC standards in the U.S. and Canada, including 2.1 million acres in Pennsylvania.
About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pa. is a green leader among public gardens with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Learn more: phipps.conservatory.org.
