The latest building to be completed by Brandywine Realty Trust at 935 First Avenue in King of Prussia is four stories, 104,000 square feet and is centered around a 90-foot atrium capped with a pyramidal skylight. This building is seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification by the US Green Building Council. As such, this is the first suburban office building in the greater Philadelphia area to receive this distinction.
As a "green" building, 935 First Avenue is set apart by the innovative usage
of recycled/recyclable material, energy-conscious management and
attentiveness to air quality.
The site was recycled. There was an existing 118,000 square foot building
on the site which was demolished. All of the concrete from the demolition
work was crushed and the resulting stone was used under the parking lots and
building pad. Most of the other demolition debris was carted off to various
recycling centers and very little actually ended up in a land fill.
The steel structure of the building is made from 90% recycled steel.
The glass on the building is only slightly tinted to allow for more
natural light. The glass on the southern and western exposures of the
building filter out a high degree of infra-red light (which causes the
building to warm up) thereby reducing the amount of air conditioning
required.
The AC units will monitor the carbon dioxide levels in the building. What
this means is that outside air will only be introduced when required, thus
it reduces the amount of air and energy needed for cooling or heating. Most
A/C units filter about 35% of the dirt particles. However, their system will
filter out about 65%, accompanied by a charcoal filter to remove most of the
air pollens.
The finishes were selected based on their qualities for being either
recycled, recyclable or renewable. An example of recycled would be the wall
coverings. The bathroom wallpaper is made from recycled plastic, as are the
fabric wall panels that are in the lobby. The carpets, although containing
a small percentage of recycled material, can be ripped up at the end of
their useful life, shredded, and made into new carpet (recyclable). The
cherry wood throughout the building come from certified wood stocks
(renewable).