Amanda Mott, Penn Today
The University of Pennsylvania’s newest LEED-certified building projects include the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) which earned a LEED Platinum, Amy Gutmann Hall which was awarded LEED Gold, and the Ott Center for Track and Field which received LEED Silver. Recognized as the international benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings, LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. The latest designations bring Penn’s total number of LEED-certified projects to 55, reflecting the University’s leadership in green building practices aligned with Penn’s Climate & Sustainability Action Plan 4.0 and building green initiative.
“These LEED certifications reflect Penn’s commitment to sustainable building design,” says Mark Kocent, University architect. “Each project is designed with energy efficiency, ecological integration, and occupant wellness at its core, a reflection of Penn’s In Principle and Practice directive to lead on the great challenges of our time, including climate.”
With LEED Platinum certification, Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) represents the highest standard in sustainable building design. Penn’s hub for emerging energy research VLEST is a collaboration between the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS) and the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) and also houses the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER). Designed by Behnisch Architekten, the building’s distinctive high-performance façade utilizes solar geometric sunshades to reduce energy usage and maximize natural daylight. The shades are a key feature of this campus gateway building at 32nd and Walnut streets.