The Delaware Water Gap Welcome Center has earned a silver-level certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 12,700-square-foot welcome center at Exit 310 of westbound I-80, just inside the border with New Jersey, opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2006.

Operated by PennDOT, the facility was built in partnership with the Department of General Services, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc. Maria C. Romanach Architects of Philadelphia designed the building.

DGS managed construction of the $9.9 million building, which included several energy-saving design features, such as geothermal heating and cooling. The architect employed a philosophy of integrated design of architectural; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; plumbing; and electrical systems using intensive energy modeling, daylight studies and other green technologies.

The center is expected to use 30 percent less energy compared to more traditional designs. A living roof garden covers 50 percent of the structure while the rest of the roof is designed for picnicking. An eye-catching fabric tensile structure “umbrella” provides shade for the picnic area.

NewsClip: Welcome Center Wins Green Building Certification

4/25/2008