|
Felician Sisters Convent Wins Green Building Award
 The Felician Sisters, an order of nuns in suburban Pittsburgh, needed their convent and school renovated affordably and in a way that would make it their legacy to the community. They ended up accomplishing that goal and, in the process, won a National Green Building Award in the area of affordable multifamily construction.
The challenges faced by Perkins Eastman Architects in overseeing the renovation project were significant. The sisters lived in two buildings, a 50,000-square-foot infirmary connected by a bridge to a 160,000-square-foot convent. Their declining income and rising expenses were factors to consider, as was a building that had become too expensive to maintain and barely accessible for its aging residents.
“The project goals were to retain the original character of the building, to support aging in place for the sisters, to be environmentally responsible, to reduce operating costs and to lower maintenance costs,” said Stefani Danes, a principal at Perkins Eastman. “Since the sisters view themselves as stewards of the environment, we felt there was a real opportunity for this project to become an example of their commitment.”
The design team decided to consolidate the infirmary and convent into the larger of the two existing structures, and the smaller of the two buildings was converted into independent living apartments for low-income seniors.
As renovation proceeded in the main building, the design team and subcontractors recognized the value of reusing many of its existing materials. A special subcontractor was brought in to catalog, remove, touch up and reinstall hardwood floors, doors, door jambs, baseboard moldings and other reusable materials, at a savings of more than $400,000.
The design team also discovered that many of today’s “innovative” environmental construction techniques were standard practice when the building was originally designed, including its narrow footprint, large operable windows, and transoms above doors to provide daylight and natural ventilation.
Adding to the benefits of the existing ventilation, materials with low Volatile Organic Compounds were used during the renovation and a cleaning program using “green” products was introduced. This greatly improved indoor air quality and helped to alleviate asthmatic symptoms among the nuns.
Half of the convent’s 20 acres of grounds were converted from grass to a native meadow containing more than 21 species of perennial plants. This reduced maintenance requirements and attracted birds and butterflies to the site. A cistern on the top of the building collects roof water, which helps reduce storm water runoff.
Throughout the project, the design team held seminars to discuss green building strategies and building maintenance, and invested in signage to help promote ongoing recycling efforts.
After 18 months, the Felician Sisters moved back into a facility that maintained its 1930s character while establishing new levels of functionality, energy efficiency, accessibility and environmental quality — appropriate for an order that follows Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment.
“Winning this national award simply reinforces the original goals of the project and gives us renewed pride in renovating a building that benefits the sisters, the environment and the community,” said Danes.
The Felician Sisters’ project is one of 11 winners of the 2005 National Green Building Awards, which recognize development projects and advocates on the leading edge of green building.
The winners were announced during NAHB’s National Green Building Conference.
For more information about this year’s honorees, click here. The 2006 call for entries will be posted at this site later this month.
Or e-mail Marie Yarroll at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.
|
