University of Pennsylvania
PAE-3: Physical Campus Plan

The Penn Connects 2.0 plan recommends a sustainable approach to development, with a particular focus on the opportunities available in the east expansion area. Specific recommendations include:
o a long-term plan for carbon reduction
o high-performance buildings to reduce energy consumption
o smart land use planning and increased open space
o enhanced transportation
o mitigating stormwater issues
o improving recycling practices
o emphasis on appropriate reuse of existing buildings

Penn Connects 2.0 reinforces the University's sustainability objectives as outlined in the 2009 Climate Action Plan and aligns with the City of Philadelphia's Greenworks broader goals for the region. It acknowledges several initiatives underway at the University, including annual reinvestment in existing buildings and infrastructure via the Facility Renewal Fund, a new campus-wide Stormwater Management Master Plan and the recently completed transportation plan, Campus Circulation: A Study of Multi-Modal Access.

Green Buildings and Utility Management - Penn has committed to the design of high-performance building as part of all future Penn Connects projects. Using the US Green Building Council’s LEED program as a guide, Penn’s green building design focuses on the building landscaping, water use, energy performance, materials and methods of construction, and indoor air quality. Although LEED Silver is the minimum identified target for new construction, many of Penn's LEED projects have achieved Gold or better.

The Plan recommends best practices in utility management. For several recent projects on campus, Penn’s own TC Chan Research Center, located within the School of Design and staffed by Penn faculty and graduate students, has been employed as consultants to provide energy modeling for selected buildings. The goal is to provide the most comfortable, healthy, day lit lecture halls, labs, classrooms, and offices possible for teaching, research, and learning.

Land Use Patterns in Penn Connects - The plan recommends new development in compact patterns adjacent to regional transit services, reducing auto dependence and the reliance on fossil fuels to move about the campus and University City area. Mixed-use development combining office, academic, research, retail and housing uses at strategically chosen locations supports the creation of a pedestrian atmosphere, while reducing the footprint of the built environment, leaving more open space. The Plan respects Philadelphia’s traditional development pattern by locating buildings along the city grid, benefiting from the optimal solar orientation and responding to prevailing breezes. Such opportunities for daylighting and natural ventilation reduce energy demand and improve building efficiency.

Integrated Transportation Connections - All of the land on Penn’s campus is within a five minute walk of a transit station or a bus route. Penn Connects extends this transit integration to reduce environmental impact and provide a comprehensive and integrated transportation network that focuses on pedestrian, bike and transit — the transportation modes which have the least environmental impacts.

Water Management - About 70% of the 24 acre Penn Park site was previously asphalt and concrete paving, which channeled stormwater into the city's combined sewer and storm system. Penn Park increases campus open space by 20% and features a rich mix of new athletic fields and public recreation amenities. The use of pervious pavements and open fields has the capacity to capture over 13,000 cubic feet of stormwater at the ground level during a rain event, reducing the burden on the city's treatment plants and keeping Philadelphia's rivers cleaner. Additional stormwater capacity is provided by incorporating green roofs on new buildings throughout campus, consistent with the recommendation of the US Green Building Council. The University's recently completed Stormwater Master Plan provides guidance and recommendations for reducing the negative stormwater runoff impacts that are created by the impervious (building and paved) surfaces of the University campus. The purpose of the plan is to aid campus planning by identifying opportunities to incorporate sustainable stormwater management practices into future projects. These opportunities will contribute to the University’s goals for increased environmental sustainability, increased green space, and reduced utility costs associated with stormwater runoff.

Penn Connects was launched in 2006.
Penn Connects 2.0 was launched in 2011.

Penn Connects http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/growing_greener/buildings_and_utilities.php
http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/growing_greener/land_use_patterns.php

University of Pennsylvania Stormwater Master Plan
http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/Stormwater%20Master%20Plan%20for%20the%20%20University%20of%20Pennsylvania_March%202013_web.pdf