Recently named one of the 'Top Ten' Green Projects in America, the Forensic Science Center for the Philadelphia Police Department received the American Institute of Architects 'COTE Top Ten' Award for 2006. The Center is both a state-of-the-art forensics laboratory facility, as well as a national leadership project for environmental/ sustainable design - created as a model for future projects undertaken by the Philadelphia Capital Program Office.
The rigorous program included a Firearms Unit, with a shooting range for ballistics analysis, a Crime Scene Unit for 24 hours/day crime scene evidence gathering, Chemistry laboratories for drug analysis, and Criminalistics and DNA laboratories for hair/fiber/blood analysis. The Forensic Science Center handles all crime scene evidence for the City of Philadelphia, with the exception of evidence from homicide crimes.
The building is housed in an art-deco former K-12 school building on a 2.16-acre site which had been abandoned for many years. It is a 44,000 s.f. 1929 concrete frame, brick infill building with four floors including a basement. The site was located in an area of North Philadelphia which had been neglected for years and was targeted by the city as one of the areas in need of revitalization, for which the Forensic Science Center was an anchor project. The successful completion of the project has highlighted all if its restorative qualities: reintroducing a cultural asset, reinvigorating a troubled neighborhood and replenishing natural assets and hydrology.
Challenges
• Limited financial resources
• Multiple prime construction contracts
• Low-bid awards
• Communication and a cast of thousands
• Sustainable Building Partner Recognition Program
• The future of sustainable building in the City
City of Philadelphia mandate
• Improve management- over 1000 buildings
• Reduce energy usage
• Reduce impact on air and watersheds
• Slow depletion of natural resources
• Improve work environments of 30,000 employees
• Develop local business opportunities
• Save taxpayer dollars
Project Partners
• City of Philadelphia + Capital Programs Office
• Municipal Energy Office
• Recycling Office
• Water Department
• Risk Management
• US Department of Energy
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Non-Profits Energy Savings Investment
From the moment of project initiation, there was a strong feeling that the innovative and "green" characteristics of the Forensic Science Center could attract grants and that a core group should be established as expert advisors and/or advocates (as the case may be) to provide a broader perspective on project potentials and identify sources of funding/support. This group included representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, Oakridge National Laboratory and the Municipal Energy Office in Philadelphia, among others and participated in two major interactive reviews in Philadelphia.
One economic "hiccup" on the project, however, was the delay in the City's receipt of significant Federal Funding which had the effect of delaying the project for 2 years and ultimately, having the project rebid. The good news was that during that time the "Growing Greener" Grant from Pennsylvania DEP came through for $225,000.00 to accomplish the 'greening' of the asphalt parking lot with great result! Overall, the project was accomplished for a budget roughly 33% less than comparable buildings of this type during the same time period. The cumulative payback of all sustainable strategies was merely 2.2 years.
Sustainability Narrative
Located in an under-served neighborhood of north Philadelphia with higher crime rates, lower income levels and fewer services, the new Forensic Science Center has helped to breathe new life and a better sense of security into an entire neighborhood. A formerly-distinguished, but recently derelict school building sitting amidst broken glass and other debris on a cracking, completely asphalted lot, the Forensic Science Center has transformed both the site and the handsome Art Deco building to a new life. A noticeable upgrade to the entire area has taken place since this building opened; and while it is impossible to substantiate the Forensic Center as the cause of this upsurge, it has certainly made a substantial contribution to the improved security and desirability of this zone.
The 2.16-acre site was fully paved, but a search through historic documentation led to the realization that stream beds had once crossed the site. While the presence of these streams was no longer part of the local fabric, runoff issues were still very much an issue with storm surges forcing frequent sewage outfalls (48 per year) into the neighboring Delaware River. Literally opening up the ground to reintroduce absorption of stormwater has restored greater absorption capacity and water quality enhancement. (As a Public Policy model for the entire sewershed, it would eliminate outfalls!)
High-efficiency fluorescent lighting is used throughout the building. All glues and adhesives are low to no VOC (volatile organic compounds) in order to insure good indoor environmental quality. Throughout the project, non-PVC piping was utilized: all piping is stainless steel, glass, cast-iron, copper. No CFCs or HCFCs are used in any of the equipment in the building, including the water fountains, refrigerators, and mechanical system equipment. Rapidly renewable (linoleum, agriboard products) or recycled products (cellulose, carpeting, tile, steel, gypsum board) were used whenever possible.
The project has been fully simulated using the latest versions of PowerDOE and Superlite 2.0 modeling programs. Some of its many sustainable features include: innovative mapping of areas requiring 100% outside air and extending air pressure vestibules to separate this 'building within a building'(note: over 50% of the energy savings) to minimize HVAC loads, envelope upgrades resulting in super-insulated building, "clean" products and finishes resulting in vastly improved indoor air quality, deep daylighting achieved by ceiling configurations, a 15kW photovoltaic array provided for at roof and primary access to all mechanical and infrastructure systems occurring outside of lab areas.
Capital Programs Office initiatives
• Created the Resource Conservation Group
• Coordinated in-house seminars in sustainability
• Worked with Municipal Energy Office on 'cool roofs' training, the development of PV installations, and the development of green building guidelines for the City
• Developed a Sustainable Buildings Resource Guide with PA Department of Environmental Protection
• Police Deptartment Forensic Science Center - first green building model for Philadelphia
Results
Notwithstanding the energy intensive requirements of the laboratories with their massive numbers of the fume-hoods, extreme levels of brightness required at examination areas, and demanding levels of finishes for the work required, the project achieves the following improvements over a code-compliant building that would meet the fundamental program requirements and be compliant with ASHRAE 90.1, 1989 which was applicable at the time of the energy modeling.
• 72% reduction in total annual source energy
• 69% reduction in 25-year CO2 Emissions (Global Warming)
• 67% reduction in total annual utility bill
• 65% SO2 + NOx 25-year Emission reductions (Acid Rain) (Ozone-Smog)
• 61% reduction hi annual peak electrical demand
• Cumulative payback of strategies = 2.2 years
