Exploring Human and Environmental Health at the Intersection of

the Built Environment: The Greening of Phipps

November 9, 2015
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Richard V. Piacentini, executive director
 Lessons Learned

• Human and
Environmental Health are
Connected
• Question Everything
• Look for Opportunities
• Be Authentic

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Introduction to Phipps

Pittsburgh
1893
Source: 3 Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Project
Master Plan – Three Phases

2
3
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

First LEED Visitor Center

First LEED Greenhouses - Most Energy Efficient

Platinum Conservatory
Photos © Denmarsh Photography, Inc.; Paul g. Wiegman
1840’s
1840’s
 Particle Trace - North Vent
• Animation shows path of air entering the Tropical Forest building from the north vent
• Air is well distributed throughout the building and exits through the roof vents

Animation requires PowerPoint 2000 or higher

32ºC – 37ºC
 There is NO
greenhouse
effect in this
conservatory
 Average Temperature Comparison
New Conservatory 81.7º F 27.6º C
Outside Air 87.6º F 30.9º C
Old Conservatory 90.8º F 32.7º C

95

90

New Conservatory 85
Outside
Old Conservatory
80

75

70
6/6/2008 6/7/2008 6/8/2008 6/9/2008 6/10/2008 6/11/2008 6/12/2008
The Most Energy
Efficient
Conservatory
in the World -
December 2006
Systems Thinking at Phipps
New and Proposed Energy and Resource Flows
EXISTING CONDITIONS

Credit: A Denmarsh
 Living Building
Challenge

Photos © International Living Future Institute

Envisions a Society that is culturally rich, socially just, and is ecologically restorative
Integrative Design
2 years of bi-monthly
Entire team meetings
• Architects
• Engineers
• Landscape architects
• Energy and lighting experts
• Construction manager
• Modelers
• Phipps staff, volunteers, &
board
• University faculty &
students
• Community members
• Cost estimator
• Owners representative

Diagram © 7Group
Charretes or Workshops are Key
10 Charrettes

The Design Alliance Architects

Understanding all of the Priorities

The Design Alliance Architects

• CONNECT GARDENS, MACHINE AND BUILDING
• EXTEND CONSERVATORY INTO BUILDING
Net-Positive Energy
Diagram © The Design Alliance Architects
G E O T H E R M AL W E L L S

Credit: A Denmarsh
P V PAN E L S

Credit: A Denmarsh
Phase Change Material
Net-zero Water: Rain and Storm
Landscape Important

CSL Green Roof

 Stormwater System

Pervious Paving Infiltration

Bio Retention

Open Water Lagoon

Underground Storage
 Beauty and Inspiration
• Phipps is all about
beauty and inspiring
people
• Green can be beautiful
• Landscapes and plants
are critical in connecting
us to nature
Ecosystem services are the benefits that are provided by natural systems and that support
our lives, but are often considered free and not a part of conventional accounting methods

© 2014 Sustainable Sites InitiativeTM

SITES 2009 Rating System

• Measure a site’s sustainability within the

context of ecosystem services

• 250 point scale

• Performance based benchmarks
• Multiple point levels for many credits

• 4 levels of Pilot certification

• Prerequisites plus:
 = 100 points (40%)
 = 125 points (50%)
 = 150 points (60%)
 = 200 points (80%)

©  2012  Sustainable  Sites  Initiative™

© 2012 Sustainable Sites Initiative
2009 Rating System – credit sections

Site Selection

Pre-Design Assessment and Planning

Site Design – Water

Site Design – Soil and Vegetation

Site Design – Materials Selection

Site Design – Human Health and Well-Being

Construction

Operations and Maintenance

Monitoring and Innovation

©  2012  Sustainable  Sites  Initiative™

© 2012 Sustainable Sites Initiative
 Ask Questions
Human and Environmental Health is Connected
Nature teaches us that everything in the
world is connected to other things
The Center for Sustainable Landscapes – December 2012
One of the Greenest Buildings in the World

Photos © Denmarsh Photography, Inc.

 Living Building Challenge

 Certified Net-Zero Energy

 Highest # of Points - LEED

Platinum, version 2.2

 First - 4 Star Sustainable SITES

 First - Platinum WELL Building

Center For Sustainable Landscapes

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Photos © Denmarsh Photography, Inc.; Paul g. Wiegman
 Performance Goals
Total Renewable Energy generated: 134,234 kWh
Design Energy Model Building Usage: 117,623 kWh
Total Building Actual Usage: 129,152 kWh
Net Energy: +5,082 kWh
CSL Energy Performance

Photos © Denmarsh 2013 + 5,082 kWh; 2014 + 11,185 kWh www.livingbuildingchallenge.org

Carnegie Mellon University
Research on Occupant Behavior and Energy
• Jie Zhao, Bertrand Lasternas, Khee Poh Lam, Ray Yun, Vivian Loftness,
(2014): Occupant behavior and schedule modeling for building energy
simulation through office appliance power consumption data mining,
Energy and Buildings, 82 pp. 341-355
• Jie Zhao Khee Poh Lam Tajin Biswas Haopeng Wang, (2015),"An online
platform to automate LEED energy performance evaluation and submission
process", Construction Innovation, Vol. 15 Iss 3 pp. 313 - 332
• Jie Zhao, Khee Poh Lam, B. Erik Ydstie & Omer T. Karaguzel (2014):
EnergyPlus model-based predictive control within design–build–operate
energy information modelling infrastructure, Journal of Building
Performance Simulation, DOI:10.1080/19401493.2014.891656
 CSL Energy Usage Breakdown

19 EUI 18 EUI
(3.15 kWh/m2/yr) (2.98 kWh/m2/yr)
 Dynamic LCA of a zero energy and
water building and implications at
the community scale

William O. Collinge1, Naomi E. Anderson1,

Cassandra L. Thiel1, Vaclav Hasik1,
Amy E. Landis2 and Melissa M. Bilec1
1Swanson School of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
2Director, Institute for Sustainability

Clemson University

ISIE 2015, July 7-10

Surrey, UK
Green Roof Performance (8/2012-5/2014)

Photos © Denmarsh www.livingbuildingchallenge.org

Working on Our Third Net-Zero Energy Building
Human and Environmental Health are Connected
At Phipps, we are
focused on studying
and improving our
relationship with
nature.

Photo  ©  Annie  O’Neill

A growing body of research shows that
• Environmental concerns are
rooted in a person's
interconnection with other
people and with the natural
environment.

Source: Schultz, P. W. (2000). Empathizing with nature: The effects of perspective-taking on concern for environmental issues. Journal of
Social Issues, 56(3), 391-406.
Connect Children to Nature

Select photos © Julia Petruska

Disconnected from Nature, so Mechanized and  Wired…
 Addressing Sustainability Professional
Food Deserts Consulting Training

Become a Sponsor MARCH 2012

Troy and Theodora Polamalu

Tackle Childhood Obesity
Addressing Research and Connecting
Children’s  health  is  an  issue  close  to  the  
hearts of Troy and Theodora Polamalu, who
Children’s  Health People to Nature
recently  took  the  time  to  speak  with  Let’s  
Move Pittsburgh about the importance of
healthy  foods  and  physical  activity  in  kid’s  
lives. Follow the link below to read our
exclusive interview and see what they had to
say!
Photo by Duane Rieder

Read the Q&A »

Movers and Bikers Food Matters at Magee March is for Kids

Let’s  Move  Pittsburgh  proudly   Magee-Womens Hospital of
supports the work of
Pittsburgh  Marathon’s  Kids of
STEEL program and Bike
Pittsburgh in inspiring children
in our region to run and bike
their way toward good health.
Get Active »
UMPC will be hosting Food
Matters: A Healthcare and
Advocacy Program from 7:15-
11 a.m. on Tues., April 17,
2012 at the Magee Auditorium.
Learn More: 412/802-8290
Did you know that March is
both Child Nutrition Month and
the Month of the Young Child?
Help us celebrate by spreading
the  word  about  Let’s  Move  
Pittsburgh and urging others to
get involved.
Select photos © Denmarsh Photography, Inc.; Duane Rieder; Paul g. Wiegman
Share this Link »

Recommended Links

• New Guidelines Planned on School Vending Machines (New York Times)

• Junk Food Taxes Gain Advocate in United Nations (Huffington Post)

• Teach Every Child about Food (TED video with Jamie Oliver)

• Michelle Obama Defends 'Let's Move' Campaign (Huffington Post)

• Talking Healthy Lunch with Elmo (Let’s  Move! Blog)

 Important Walk the Talk

We  Don’t  serve  Junk  Food  or  Soda  in  our  Café

Select photos © Adam Milliron

 Highlights
• 2005 100% renewable energy campus-wide
• 2005 No toxic pesticides
• 2006 No plastic disposable service ware
• 2006 Compost all pre and post consumer food waste
• 2009 No bottled water
• 2011 No soda and no junk food in café, no vending machines
• 2011 No hormones and antibiotics in meat, no rBST in milk
• 2011 Cage free eggs
• 2012 No factory farm meats
• 2013 No sponsorships from fossil fuel industry
 Divest in the Carbon Underground 200
as part of a broader Social Responsibility Investment Program
 Exponential Population Growth and
Unsustainable Use of Natural Resources
Climate Change, Habitat Destruction, Loss of
Biodiversity
 Symptoms
Not the Cause
How do we get
people to care
about the
environment?
90%
Research at Phipps
Look at the connection between the human and natural worlds
- where the natural and the built environment intersect
Ongoing Research at Phipps related to Biophilia
• 2 year experimental design assessing the evolutionary basis of
Biophilia
• Human and non-human primates (gorilla and chimpanzee)
comparison
• Pre/Post mixed-methods survey assessing the experience of
sound on connecting to nature
• Post Occupancy Evaluation of experience of staff in a Living
Building and impact on behavior and relationship to health
and the environment
• Collaborative Nature Rx dosing study with colleagues at UPMC
• Collaborative comparative study of experience in a WELL
building certified building with colleague at Delos and Mayo
clinic
• Pre/Post Evaluation of Biophilia Enhanced Through Art (BETA)
project  at  Phipps  on  member’s  connection  to  nature
• Pre/Post collaborative survey with colleagues at Carnegie
Mellon University on experience with meditation and biophlia
 Planned research at Phipps related to Biophilia
• 2 year experimental design assessing the evolutionary basis of
Biophilia
• Human and non-human primates (gorilla and chimpanzee)
comparison
• Pre/Post mixed-methods survey assessing the experience of sound
on connecting to nature
• Post Occupancy Evaluation of experience of staff in a Living Building
and impact on behavior and relationship to health and the
environment
• Collaborative Nature Rx dosing study with colleagues at UPMC
• Collaborative comparative study of experience in a WELL building
certified building with colleague at Delos and Mayo clinic
• Pre/Post Evaluation of Biophilia Enhanced Through Art (BETA)
project  at  Phipps  on  member’s  connection  to  nature
• Pre/Post collaborative survey with colleagues at Carnegie Mellon
University on experience with meditation and biophlia
Biophilia
Biophilia,  stemming  from  the  Greek  roots  meaning  “love  of  life,”  was  coined  by  the  
social psychologist Erich Fromm. It came into use in the 1980’s  when Harvard
University biologist E.O. Wilson defined biophilia as

“the  innately  emotional  affiliation  of  human  beings  to  other  living  organisms.”
The BETA Project
Biophilic Design Workshops
It is all About Connecting to Nature
When Did We Become Un-Indigenous?
Studio Phipps – Magee Womens Hospital
 Container
Herb Gardens Picnicking Area

Shade Trees

Zen Garden
Pavilion

Planted
Labyrinth Slope
Rain Gardens

Up lit Rain Gardens Accessible

American Flag Aromatherapy Garden

Healing Garden Concept Plan – VA Hospital

We Have the Technology to Build Beautiful, Healthy Spaces Now
Photo © Paul g. Wiegman
A Resilient World
• Is one in which we
live in harmony
with nature
• And live lifestyles
that will allow
everyone to share
the  earth’s  
resources.

Photo  ©  Annie  O’Neill

 Question Everything

Look for New Opportunities

Be Authentic

richard@phipps.conservatory.org