Architect:
Arch 1 - San Diego
Owner:
a.m. Rodriguez Associates, inc.
Categories:
Sota was integral to the Design Phase in evaluating cost-effective and sustainable construction methods.
— Dina Snider, AIA, LEED AP
Strada, LLC
Contract Amount: $5.8m
Size: 94,000 s.f.
Type: New Construction
This senior independent living facility houses 94 dwelling units and was constructed using LIHTC and Allegheny County Department of Development financing. Sota joined the project team early on and contributed significant value engineering, which assisted in selection of the appropriate footprint for the building given site constraints, HVAC design to reduce first cost and increase operating efficiency, and building shell improvements to reduce energy consumption. Extensive sitework was required including export of over 15,000 c.y. of earth. The building was situated on the site to take advantage of the sun by orienting the long axis east to west as well as to maximize the wonderful views from the hilltop.
Extensive use of high-efficiency HVAC equipment, low VOC paints and adhesives, water source heat pumps, thermal envelope sealing and air to air heat exchangers provide a “greener” building. Later, a 600 tube solar panel collector array, the largest in Western Pennsylvania at the time, was designed and installed. Sota obtained the funding through the Pennsylvania DEP Energy Harvesting grant program and coordinated the installation. The system provides 100% of the domestic hot water for this facility.
Amenities include a roof deck, greenhouse, library, lounge, exercise area, wellness center, central kitchen where optional meals area prepared and a multipurpose room for dining and assemblies.