Comcast Center

The tallest tower in Philadelphia has the distinction of being the nation’s tallest green offi ce building. A high-performance green building, Comcast Center is expected to achieve LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. It boasts a multiplicity of features designed to save energy and reduce environmental impact.

“This project employed everything we knew about sustainable design and took it to a whole new level,” said John Gattuso, Senior Vice President of Urban and National Development for Liberty, who lead the Comcast Center project team. “Every square foot of the building encompasses some aspect of high performance design while the plaza, art and fountains make it an outstanding public space.”

The cutting edge sustainable design of Comcast Center can be found in nearly every aspect of the building. Comcast Center uses 40% less water than a typical office building, and fi xtures will save more than three million gallons of drinking water annually. Waterless urinals in all restrooms will save 1.2 million gallons of urinal-water use every year. Shading on the plaza reduces the heat-island effect caused by pavement by 70%. A glass curtain blocks 60% of heat while allowing 70% of the sun’s visible light, reducing energy used for air conditioning while utilizing natural light to its fullest. An under-fl oor water loop is used to cool the winter garden and 6th fl oor atrium fl oor during the summer and warm it during the winter, saving energy. Liberty diverted 77% of the waste from construction to salvaging and recycling, keeping 20,000 tons of waste out of landfi lls. Glass, aluminum cans, newsprint, white paper and cardboard are all recycled through a program in the building. In addition, 80% of Comcast Center’s wood products are from forests with certifi cation from the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).

Read how one SMCA contractor won the bid for the tallest green building in the U.S..

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