Pittsburgh-based IKM Incorporated architects? design
solution for the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens provides a 34-foot
high glass dome that crowns the new Welcome Center. The new entrance includes 11,000
square feet of lobby, ticketing, gift shop and cafspaces. The Welcome Center
is situated in front of a 7,600 square foot, historic landmark glass house
built in 1893.
The dome evokes the geometry of the historic glass houses behind
it and incorporates fritted, laminated, insulated glass to control glare and
heat; provides daylight to the visitor lobby and ticketing areas below; and creates
a dramatic ascent to the Conservatory beyond.
Calling upon principles of sustainable design, the partially
earth-sheltered structure was built into the terrain to create 14 feet of
usable space below ground. By placing most of the new space below grade IKM
architects and the design team determined that the Conservatory would save as
much as 40 to 50 percent in annual energy costs compared to an above grade
building. IKM also selected low or no
VOC paints, adhesives, carpet and other materials to help achieve the LEED
Silver Rating from the US Green Building Council.
The new Welcome Center at Phipps Conservatory demonstrates that an
environmentally friendly, sustainable design can be created in ways sympathetic
to an historic setting. Writing in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the architecture
critic concluded that ?one thing is certain: at last Phipps has the entrance it
has so long deserved.?
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