Phipps Recertifies WELL Projects Across Campus
For Immediate Release: Thurs., August 13
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org
Phipps Recertifies WELL Projects Across Campus
Phipps’ Exhibit Staging Center and Campus Continue to Prioritize Human Health and the Environment
Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is excited to announce the recertification of its Exhibit Staging Center (ESC) at the WELL Platinum level, as well as the renewal of its campus-wide WELL Health-Safety Rating. Both achievements are administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
Transformed from a former City of Pittsburgh public works building in 2019, the ESC provides workspace for Phipps’ facilities and grounds crews, as well as space to design, construct and store props for the Conservatory’s flower shows. Sustainability and occupant health informed every step of the renovation, enabling the ESC to achieve and maintain WELL Platinum Certification, the IWBI’s highest certification level. WELL Certification evaluates building features that directly affect human health and well-being across 10 concepts, including air, water, light, sound and materials. The ESC has also achieved Living Building Challenge certification and LEED Platinum certification.
The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an annual designation that helps organizations prioritize the health and safety of employees, visitors and other stakeholders. Renewing this campus-wide rating reflects Phipps’ ongoing commitment to providing a healthy, welcoming environment for everyone who works at or visits the Conservatory. To earn the rating for another year, Phipps continued to meet rigorous requirements across areas such as cleaning and sanitization procedures, health service resources, air and water quality management, and emergency preparedness.
“Prioritizing human and environmental health is central to everything we do,” said Phipps President and CEO Richard Piacentini. “This continued recognition from WELL reinforces our commitment to advancing healthy, sustainable operations and demonstrating practices that other organizations can adapt within their own facilities.”
To learn more about the Exhibit Staging Center, visit phipps.conservatory.org/ESC; to learn more about Phipps efforts to support human and environmental health, visit phipps.conservatory.org/Green.
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About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.
About PGH Vintage Mixer: Since 2012, Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer has hosted one-of-a-kind, large-scale genuine vintage vendor fairs that meld community, creative inspiration, and nostalgia while focusing on shopping sustainability. This curated, authentic vintage fair gathers the best local and regional sellers of fashion, home goods, decor, vintage vinyl, toys, Pittsburgh memorabilia and more. Learn more at pghvintagemixer.com.
Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.
