Germantown Sustainable Urban Science Center is a Green Roofed Living Laboratory in Philadelphia

Stewardship of the environment is an important part of the <a href="http://www.germantownfriends.org/" target="_blank">Germantown Friends School</a> in Philadelphia and their new Urban Science Center was designed to be a living laboratory to teach the students there all about that. Embracing sustainability, the new science lab demonstrates a myriad of green building strategies including green roofs, solar power, daylighting, rainwater harvesting, efficient mechanical systems and geothermal exchange. Designed by Philadelphia-based <a href="http://www.smparchitects.com/" target="_blank">SMP Architects</a>, the new science building provides space for innovative teaching labs for biology, physics and chemistry and fosters independent thinking.

Located on a former brownfield site, extensive remediation had to be completed in order to bring the area up to acceptable standards.

Even after the remediation there were areas that had to be capped to eliminate the chance of water infiltrating down through the ground.

An impervious parking lot and the building were located in those areas, while the other areas that could accept infiltration were planted with lush <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_garden" target="_blank">rain gardens</a>.

Sited to maximize sunlight into the classrooms, the building forms a courtyard around the gardens and forms a bridge to the adjacent math department.

Natural daylighting and ventilation play an important role in the design of the building as a way to reduce the use of artificial light and mechanical ventilation wherever possible.

Each subject - biology, physics, and chemistry each have two labs dedicated to their study.

Biology is located downstairs next to the gardens along with the offices.

Chemistry is located on top in order to minimize duct runs yet ensure proper ventilation and the Physics labs cantilever out over the offices as a way of demonstrating the mechanics of structural design.

A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_heating" target="_blank">geothermal exchange system</a> buried below the building and driveway provide energy efficient heating and cooling for the labs, offices and classrooms.

Green roofs manage stormwater on the roof and provide additional space to hold class or perform experiments.

A rooftop photovoltaic system generates electricity for the building, while a real time display in the lobby provides information on energy generation and use as well as other building statistics.

Whatever rainwater is not infiltrated through the swales and rain gardens is collected in two cisterns in the courtyard for use in the toilets.

The students not only learn about the world, the environment and science while in class, but they also have the chance to explore and see it in action through the living laboratory.