Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: October 7, 2013

Drexel University, Papadakis
Integrated Sciences Building (PISB)
Philadelphia, PA, USA
1,752 sq. ft Greenwall

Project Description & Details

The Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building provides a gateway landmark building for Drexel University. Designed by Toronto’s Diamond and Schmitt Architects, the building is home to the Biosciences Department and is LEED Gold certified, the first building on campus to achieve LEED certification. The atrium is activated by a four-story spiral staircase that provides open, transparent and convenient connection between disciplines, faculty and students.

Currently North America’s largest living biofilter, a 22 foot wide, 80 foot high indoor air biofilter from Nedlaw Living Walls with 1500 plants is integrated into the building’s air handling system achieving an 80% air quality improvement and 30% reduction in energy consumption. The living wall biologically removes contaminants from the air through the combination of biofiltration and phytoremediation technologies. It is also designed as an integrated component of the teaching program, with faculty and staff using air ports inserted in the wall to sample and analyze the air quality.

Year: 2011
Owner: Drexel University
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Building Type: Educational
Type: Living Wall, Test/Research
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 1,752 sq. ft
Slope: 100%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Building Architect: Diamond & Schmitt Architects
Installation of Botanicals: Parker Urban Greenscapes (division of Parker Interior)
Greenwall Designer, Manufacturer & Supervisor of Installation: Nedlaw Living Walls Inc.
Installation of Infrastructure: AerDux Incorporated
Mechanical Engineering & Lighting: Crossey Engineering Ltd.

Congratulations to Diamond & Schmitt Architects!  They recently won for the Drexel University, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB) in the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ 2013 Interior Green Wall Award, 11th Awards of Excellence program.

Click here to see more information about this project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

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~ Linda V.