Rambo Courthouse earns LEED Gold certification
On Jan. 22, the Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold from the U.S. Green Building Council. The 243,000 square foot courthouse was designed by Ennead Architects, constructed by general contractor Mascaro Construction Company, and the construction management services were provided by Hill International.
This courthouse’s sustainable attributes include optimizing whole building energy performance by 41%, reducing lighting power by 30%, reducing indoor water use by 26%, and capturing and retaining 95% of stormwater through an onsite rain garden system. The courthouse features an 11,000 square foot green roof incorporating various drought resistant plants and plants native to central Pennsylvania. Other highlights include reduced parking footprint capacity by 74%, used local and regional construction materials, and incorporated low-emitting organic compound materials to improve indoor air quality. The building’s exterior design features long vertical slants which allow natural light to be used and diffused in a sustainable manner throughout the building.
Applying numerous and innovative LEED strategies during design and construction phases, the project team maximized energy savings and reduced operational costs. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and provides a framework for building highly efficient and cost-saving facilities.
Opened in April 2023, this courthouse sits on approximately four acres at 6th and Reily streets in Harrisburg. The facility features eight courtrooms, 11 judicial chambers, a permanent display highlighting the distinguished career of the Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo, and two Art in Architecture installations. The courthouse tenants are the U.S. Court of Appeals Third Circuit; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Attorneys; U.S. Trustees; Homeland Security; GSA Field Office; and Federal Public Defender.
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