Conowingo Visitor Center Receives LEED Gold Certification
May 6, 2010
Conowingo Visitor Center at Exelon’s Conowingo
Hydroelectric Dam
The renovation and addition to the Conowingo Visitor Center at Exelon’s Conowingo Hydroelectric Dam in Conowingo, Md., recently received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC awards points in the following categories: water use reduction, site selection, alternative transportation, fundamental commissioning, building reuse, and indoor chemical source control, among others. Gannett Fleming scored particularly well in the recycled content and regional materials categories, receiving “exemplary performance” acknowledgment. More than 45 percent of the materials were manufactured regionally, and new materials contained an average of 28 percent recycled content.
This project includes numerous notable features, such as a three kilowatt, roof-mounted, photovoltaic solar panel array; a vegetated roof; and a rain barrel to collect water for use on the landscaping.
Gannett Fleming served as the prime design consultant; the Harrisburg, Pa., office took the lead, and its Baltimore, Md., office provided civil design. This is Gannett Fleming’s first LEED Gold Certified project as a prime, an accomplishment that exceeded even Exelon’s expectations. “This level exceeds our set goal of silver and deserves recognition to all of you who helped and participated. This is certainly a success,” noted Exelon Senior Project Manager Michael Wiley.
Congratulations to the entire project team!