Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center is the only meeting facility in the world to effectively combine functionality with a world-class design. To earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s Gold LEED Certification, Pittsburgh’s Convention Center effectively uses natural lighting and ventilation as well as water and energy conservation technologies.
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center was a major component of Pittsburgh’s first revitalization program of the 21st century. In selecting the site for the new facility, planners capitalized on efficiencies by reusing a prime downtown site that is served by the existing infrastructure created by the original David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
To build a cutting edge facility, you need a cutting edge team and resources. World-class consultants provided the project design team with technical assistance for energy and daylight modeling, construction waste and demolition recycling. The team worked in the development of daylight and energy modeling. They also employed computer modeling to estimate the building’s projected energy use and the amount of natural light.
More than 95% of the demolition waste (by weight) from the former convention center was recycled. More than 60,000 tons of construction, demolition and land-clearing waste were diverted to uses other than landfill including steel, glass and other metals.
Situated between three rivers, Pittsburgh is a city that takes its water very seriously. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center incorporates a water reclamation system that reduces potable water use and lessens the facility’s sewage burden. While fresh water, of course, is provided at drinking fountains, at sinks and in the kitchen, the water supplied for toilet flushing is recycled and cleaned through the Center’s water treatment facility.
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center tops the list of “firsts” in terms of ventilation and lighting. No other building the size of the convention center (1.5 million square feet), uses natural ventilation or can illuminate an exhibition hall entirely through its windows and skylights. Approximately 75% of the convention center’s exhibition space is lit by natural daylight. The use of natural ventilation and extensive day lighting is projected to reduce energy consumption by nearly 35% compared to traditional ventilated and lit buildings of a similar size.
The convention center’s furnishings were carefully selected for more than aesthetic appeal. While chosen for comfort and to complement the contemporary design, items such as paint and carpeting are manufactured from nontoxic materials to reduce the risk of health-related concerns that are often associated with traditional materials.