Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Project Name:
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Project Square Footage (ft2):
95,000 (at time first built)
Year Built
Green Building Certifications:
LEED Pilot Project Certified Rating
Project Team:
Gardner+Pope Architechts, RAY Engineering, Watson Engineers, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Clearview Construction
Please provide a brief description of the project.
A place to gather contributed and purchased food to then distribute to those in need. There is a large warehouse-like function, areas for volunteers to work and administration spaces.
How did the building's team work together to address sustainability and building performance?
Architects designed the building and guided the project through LEED certification. Engineers performed typical functions. Clearview provided key advice on building systems. CEC provided civil engineering services related to new types of stormwater management and landscaping.
What were major challenges in the project related to building performance and how did the project team work to overcome them?
The budget was very tight to meet the Food Bank's program requirements. Project was one of the first four LEED projects ever completed. Everyone was learning as we went along.
What are the project's key sustainability features?
The building system used the least amount of material possible - less embodied energy. It reclaimed a former steel industry waste land. It was a groundbreaker in substantiating that LEED could work.
What are your main take-aways or lessons learned from this project? Have these lessons informed other projects?
The project team was challenged to deliver this project. At times, it seemed impossible. But the dedicated efforts of team members made it happen. Collaboration was key.
What was the intended or actual impact of the project on its users or the surrounding community?
Providing food for the needy was the project functional goal and that has been a huge and continuing success. Serving as a LEED Pilot Project helped to demonstrate that sustainable ideas could be successfully applied to real projects.