Campus Life

Building on Penn State Law's Carlisle campus is LEED certified

Penn State Law's Lewis Katz Hall in Carlisle, Pa., has been awarded LEED Silver certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance, efficient buildings.

Lewis Katz Hall achieved LEED Silver certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use and other sustainable strategies. It was designed by Ennead Architects of New York (formerly Polshek Partnership) in conjunction with University planners. Several features will save money for Penn State Law, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for workers and the larger community:

-- A green roof that reduces storm water runoff and reduces the building’s “heat island” effect;
-- Steel fabricated in the eastern United States and other local building materials;
-- Natural light and motion-sensitive lighting controls; and
-- Low-flow plumbing fixtures to minimize water consumption.

"Minimizing energy consumption associated with new facilities is key to the University’s role as a global citizen,” said Ford Stryker, associate vice president of Physical Plant. Since 2002, all new construction and major renovations at the University are designed to be LEED certified. “The green roof, for example, insulates the building, lowers our heating and cooling costs and lengthens the life of the roof, which will save money and reduce the University’s carbon footprint for many years."

Lewis Katz Hall was dedicated in April 2010. The Law School’s Lewis Katz Building in University Park also is LEED Certified and has received numerous awards, including honors from the Society of American Registered Architects New York Council, the Society of American Registered Architects Pennsylvania Council, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Pittsburgh, and the highest, Platinum rating from the College Designer Collabetition Awards for design excellence. The Lewis Katz Building was named “Project of the Year” by Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine and was a finalist in the 2009 Building Magazine’s Project Innovations Awards.

To see a slideshow of the green features of Lewis Katz Hall in Carlisle, Pa., visit Penn State Law on flickr.

One of several skylights in Lewis Katz Hall, this feature is designed to harvest daylight and provide a connection to the outdoors. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated June 18, 2021

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