Sustainable Sites

Public Transportation Access (Alternative Transportation) – The Perelman Center is conveniently located within a 1/2 mile of a rail station, the University City SEPTA Station on Convention Avenue.

Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms (Alternative Transportation) – Bicycle storage racks will be provided as well as shower and changing facilities for staff.

Alternative Fueling Station (Alternative Transportation) – 21 electric charging stations are located in the underground parking garage.

Heat Island Effect – The Energy Star compliant roof is highly reflective to reduce the heat island effect on the surrounding microclimate.

Water Efficiency

Water Efficient Landscaping – Drought tolerant native plants will be used in the landscaping without permanent landscape irrigation.

Energy & Atmosphere

Energy Effeciency – The Perelman Center has been designed to meet the ASHRAE 90.1-1999 energy code. This is a measure of how the building will follow the best practices in the industry regarding energy efficiency.

No CFCs – No CFC refrigerants will be used in mechanical equipment. CFC refrigerants area a major contributor to ozone depletion.

Additional Commissioning – UPHS has retained an independent engineer, hired by UPHS to verify and ensure that the entire building is designed, constructed and calibrated to operate as intended.

Materials & Resource

Construction Waste Management – UPHS is aiming for 75% of all construction debris (including the demolished Pennsylvania Convention Center of which more than 85% was recycled) to be recycled, thus decreasing the strain on landfills.

Recycled Content – UPHS will work to include 10% total post consumer recycled content in the building materials for the Perelman Center. This puts less of a strain on the environment by reducing the harvesting of virgin raw materials. For example, portions of the steel used to build the Perelman Center are composed of recycled, not virgin material.

Local/Regional Materials – UPHS is attempting to make sure that 20% of the building materials used at the Perelman Center will be manufactured within 500 miles of our site. This initiative lowers fuel consumption which leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Certified Wood – All wood on the project is specified to have received certification from the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council). This certification verifies that all the wood products in the Perelman Center have been obtained from forests or farms which are certified for their environmental stewardship. No woods were havested from old growth forests or rain forests.

Indoor Air Quality

Low Emitting Materials – All of the following guidelines reduce the amount of indoor air contaminants that are potentially irritating to individuals. These guidelines improve indoor air quality and provide the Perelman Center with a healthier indoor indoor environment for its patients, visitors and staff.

• Paints will meet Green Seal requirements which specify that no volitile organic compounds (VOCs) will be emitted.
• Carpets will meet the CRI Green Label for Carpet systems. This means that carpets and adhesives will meet the stringent environmental guidelines for manufacturing and installation practices.
• No added urea-formaldehyde in glues for composite wood.

Innovation & Design Process

UPHS Environmental Mission Statement – The University Of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) is committed to a role of environmental stewardship in all facets of our operations while striving to improve the health of the communities we serve. Recognizing the ties between public health and the wellness of the environment, it is the desire of the University of Pennsylvania Health System to design the Center for Advanced Medicine to limit unfavorable impacts upon the environment resulting from the siting, design, construction and the operation of our health care facility.

Green Housekeeping – UPHS will institute a green housekeeping program at the Perelman Center. As many practices which meet the Green Seal standard for housekeeping as possible will be instituted in the facility.

Green Building Education – The innovations undertaken in the Perelman Center will be documented in the building, our product literature, and this web site to help educate patients, staff, and residents of the region of the measures that UPHS is implementing at the Perelman Center.

Need an appointment? Request one online 24 hours/day, 7 days/week or call 800-789-PENN (7366) to speak to a referral counselor.