(PITTSBURGH) August 27, 2012   Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced that two groups from Chatham University have won the City’s Green Central Student Design Competition, a contest that invited college students to redesign the City-County Building’s sixth floor into a one-stop-shop for green- and sustainability-related information. “Green Central” will connect students and residents with information about the City’s greening efforts and resources to jumpstart their own greening projects, and is projected to open next spring.

“Green Central is a great opportunity to share all the ways our City works to be one of the cleanest and greenest in the country,” Ravenstahl said. “Residents will be connected with green resources and City initiatives, like the new 2030 District, helping them to be an active part of Pittsburgh’s growing leadership in sustainability. I thank all of the students for submitting their designs and congratulate the winners.”

Green Central will encourage education about issues of sustainable development among college students and connect students to local government while dissolving the gap between residents and accessible information needed to jumpstart their greening projects. The City-County Building’s sixth floor corridor is currently an open space serving multiple City departments. By implementing the winning designs, it will be transitioned into an accessible communications center.

Teams “Green Bean’s Design” and “Strada” Style won the competition, beating out two teams from the University of Pittsburgh. After much deliberation, judges – including members of the Mayor’s Green Commission, City architects, and  city and authority sustainability coordinators – decided to award a tie and incorporate elements from both team’s designs. All students’ designs are on display in the City-County Building lobby through August 30, 2012.

Students worked within a $25,000 budget, provided by the Mayor’s Green Trust Fund. As a hub for all things green, the corridor’s redesign is based on green efficiency. Students’ designs were required to incorporate recycling pick-up and drop-off bins, be mindful of the Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and incorporate usage of sustainable materials (e.g. low VOC paints, recycled plastics or metals, LED lighting, motion sensors to reduce run time on electronic equipment). Historical elements such as marble flooring, wall siding, embellishment on elevators and molding remain a part of the design.

Construction is expected to begin this fall. When completed in the spring, Green Central will provide information pamphlets, posters, resource guides, educational information, photos, program applications and other information supporting economic development, environmental protection and social awareness and action.

In 2006, the City of Pittsburgh and the Green Building Alliance (GBA) formed the Green Government Task Force to create a Climate Action Plan. The Plan outlines the measures that government, businesses, higher education institutions and residents can take to help lessen the local effects of global climate change. The City set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 20 percent by 2023. The development of Green Central helps fulfill the goals outlined in the Climate Action Plan.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Students were required to submit design plans and details, model images and a narrative describing their project’s elements and methods. They were also responsible for completing a $25,000 sustainable interior renovation and design budget. Students were invited to participate individually or in teams. Four groups of students (12 students total) competed – two from the University of Pittsburgh and two from Chatham University. Students attended workshops about sustainable interior development, met with local sustainability professionals and learned about the City’s commitment to sustainability.

Scoring was based on a list of elements, including use of sustainable materials, recycling bins and pickup, usage of hanging and pamphlet display space, seating, implementation of an interactive kiosk, budget, feasibility and appearance.