Green Prototypes for Volume Builders: Lessons Learned—Presentation

Widely recognized at Greenbuild 2006, PNC Financial Services’ LEED branch bank prototype design and volume build program is the first LEED volume build portfolio rating program ever implemented.

With 24 branches rated, including seven Gold, 13 Silver and four Certified, and 30 registered or planned in 2007, the program is a catalyst for unparalleled market transformation and climate change mitigation, serving as the impetus for wide-spread adoption of portfolio LEED rating programs. Performance evaluation results for the first 18 rated branches is in progress, further validating a volume build approach.

PNC is one of several major volume builders that have joined forces to develop a new administrative process within the LEED Rating System to streamline the certification process, a strategy they believe is critical to encouraging volume builders to embrace portfolio-wide green building strategies.

PNC has developed a “kit of parts” prototype building that is adaptable for multiple sites, orientation, and microclimates, creating site appropriate, community-sensitive retail bank branches while maintaining a recognizable brand and high performance standard. Each features daylighting, energy efficiency and good indoor air quality, and is designed to achieve LEED Silver rating or higher. Select Gold branches include rainwater harvesting and solar panels. These modern structures serve to brand the bank as an innovative and transparent banking institution.

Delivery of the new branches also required a new approach to the design and construction process, including training project managers, contractors and subcontractors, and implementing new techniques for construction administration and management.

This session showed how volume builders of same-type buildings such as restaurants, banks, retail, hospitality, healthcare, office and multi-family housing could take advantage of LEED prototypes and volume LEED certification, and was presented at Greenbuild 2007.

Convener: Brad Pease, Paladino and Company
Panelists: Tom Paladino, Paladino and Company; Doug Gensler, Gensler; Gary Saulson, PNC Financial Services