I recall that a while back, there was an inquiry to the list regarding
"Green" museums.  The new wing of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh
recently received Silver-level LEED Certification from the U.S. Green
Building Council.

We just received the following press release today - hope it helps:


NEWS RELEASE							CONTACT:
Ned Schano
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
412-454-6382
	
[log in to unmask]	

HISTORY CENTER JOINS NATION'S GREEN REVOLUTION
Silver LEED(tm) Certification of the Center's Smithsonian wing Addition 
Cements $150,000 Grant from Kresge Foundation 

PITTSBURGH, February 20, 2006 - The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh
Regional History Center's new Smithsonian wing has been awarded Silver
LEED(tm) Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, the first of
150 national Smithsonian-affiliated museums to receive the prestigious
distinction. The award solidifies a $150,000 bonus grant for the History
Center since LEED certification was a condition for eligibility for the
additional Kresge Foundation gift.  
 
LEED Certification recognizes Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design and is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to
encourage and facilitate the development of environmentally friendly,
sustainable buildings. The History Center's Architectural firm,
Pittsburgh-based Astorino, has led the "green" movement locally and
nationally. The company's work with The History Center, home to the
Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, is the latest in a series of
Astorino's successful LEED projects.  
 
"When planning our Smithsonian wing, we knew from the start that we
wanted a green building, so we sought out the most progressive building
professionals in the region," said Andy Masich, president and CEO of the
History Center. "It was the right thing to do for the environment, and a
testament to Pittsburgh's history - a success story where innovations to
improve the region's environmental status are making a dramatic
difference here and being adopted across the country."
 
Masich said the History Center's green expansion would not have been
possible without the support and leadership of The Heinz Endowments,
instrumental to the region's green evolution, and the Kresge Foundation,
a strong proponent of green building at the national level. In April of
2005, Kresge awarded a grant of $600,000 to the History Center's $27
million capital campaign. Now, the independent, private foundation is
awarding an additional $150,000 because of the History Center's Silver
LEED certification.

The History Center partnered with Astorino, which is known for its
pioneering work in sustainable design and success in securing LEED
certification, to envision and design the Smithsonian wing. One of the
nation's leading architectural, engineering and interior design firms,
Astorino adds the History Center's Smithsonian wing to its impressive
portfolio of LEED certified buildings, including PNC 

Firstside (Silver) and the J. Richard Carnall Center (Gold). Other
Astorino designs targeted for LEED Certification include the new
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Replacement Facility; Three PNC Plaza
Condominium, Retail and Office Tower; Florida Gulf Coast University
Environmental Demonstration Lab and the U.S. Department of Energy
National Energy Technology Laboratories in Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

The History Center also partnered with Jendoco Construction Corporation,
a company keenly focused on green building criteria: sustainable sites,
water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor
environmental quality, and innovation and design process.  Jendoco
Construction has been working on green buildings since the late 1990s,
and most recently participated in a LEED-CI (Commercial Interiors) pilot
project that achieved Gold Certification for the CORO Center for Civic
Leadership offices.

The new addition has grown the History Center to almost 175,000 square
feet and makes it the largest history museum in Pennsylvania and among
the top history facilities in the country. Specific sustainable elements
integrated into the design of the Smithsonian wing include:

- Construction waste diverted from landfills and reused on-site;
- Use of recycled materials; 
- Use of local and regional building materials; 
- Temperature, humidity control and monitoring provided for the entire
facility, reducing overall energy performance and usage; 
- Measurement and verification for the integrated electrical and
mechanical systems monitored from one remote location utilizing a
networked metering system, allowing energy management; 
- All exhibit lighting controlled utilizing occupancy sensors with
scheduled dimming and shut off; 
- Bike racks and shower facilities provided on-site for employees, along
with easy access to public transportation

"The fundamental practices central to sustainable design - environmental
sensitivity, sound planning practices, energy efficiency and stewardship
of resources - are what make the difference between good design and
great design," said Dennis L. Astorino, AIA, President & CEO of
Astorino. "We commend the Kresge Foundation and the History Center for
their forward-thinking approach and commitment to sustainable design."

Michael R. Kuhn, Assistant Vice President of Jendoco, added, "The
History Center's Smithsonian wing project was ambitious from both design
and construction standpoints. The Museum had two critical missions with
regards to its project: achieving its 'green' goals and building the
best possible environment to protect its hundreds of thousands of
artifacts, documents, and exhibitions. We worked diligently with the
History Center to build a world-class wing that is in tune with the
environment and on the leading edge of museum standards for protecting
and preserving collections."  

Kresge recently received the USGBC's 2005 Leadership Award,
acknowledging its green building leadership and programs, including its
Green Building Initiative - the national program that provides
educational materials and funding for non-profit organizations to plan
and design green buildings.

"Our foundation partners advocate and share our commitment to green
design and building," said Masich. "Because of their vision and support,
we were able to achieve great things with this wing, and to ensure that
we will be preserving and presenting our region's history well into the
future."

As of December 31, 2005, Pittsburgh boasted the third most green
buildings in the country. Pittsburgh's green building prowess has
emerged in the five years since the creation of LEED.  "Pittsburgh's
green building leadership on a global level is a testament to our legacy
of environmental transformation and innovation," said Rebecca Flora,
executive director of Pittsburgh's Green Building Alliance and a board
member of the USGBC. "Green building is not without challenges - when it
comes to codes, building policies, even perceived cost issues. But
leaders in our community, like the History Center, understand that the
benefits of green building - to our built, natural, and human
environments - are immense."
 
The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center is an
affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum
in Pennsylvania. The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, which opened in
the History Center's new Smithsonian wing in 2004, is a museum within a
museum, comprehensively presenting the region's remarkable sports story
for visitors of all ages. The History Center also includes the Library &
Archives and the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life,
Pennsylvania's newest National Historic Landmark. More information is
available at www.pghhistory.org.
 
Founded in 1972 in Pittsburgh, Astorino is a full-service company with a
strong team-based approach in providing complete architectural,
engineering, interior design, and design-build services. With emphases
on quality design, innovative solutions and strong project management,
Astorino is one of the fastest-growing architectural and engineering
firms in the nation.
 
Jendoco Construction Corporation was founded in 1957 and has since
earned the reputation as a premier General Contractor/Construction
Manager in Western Pennsylvania. Jendoco was formed on the foundation of
honesty, hard work, and unconditional client satisfaction, a foundation
that remains strong today and is reinforced by technical growth and
leadership in new industries such as sustainable construction. Jendoco
has received accolades from the industry and its peers for
craftsmanship, historic preservation, sustainable construction,
design/build, and above all, building excellence, all of which stand as
a testament to Jendoco Construction Corporation's commitment to be the
best. Visit www.jendoco.com for more information.

###


************************************************************************
*****************
Niccole Cook Atwell
Grants Coordinator
Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center
(home of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum)
1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA  15222
Phone:  412-454-6405     Fax:  412-454-6031
www.pghhistory.org

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).