As students return to campuses across the country for the start of another semester, colleges are starting to showcase some serious strides in sustainability. Some are investing in wind power and other alternative energies to help lower their carbon footprint, while others are endeavoring to green their facilities. Penn State is leading the charge with its gorgeous LEED Gold Stuckeman School of Architecture.

It seems only appropriate that an architecture school should express its dedication to the field with a stunning sustainable structure. The Stuckeman Family Building for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) was designed by Pittsburgh-based WTW architects to incorporate a variety of environmental initiatives, earning it an impressive LEED Gold rating.

The four-story, 111,000-square-foot building boasts a beautiful exterior constructed from recycled copper and brick. Rainwater recycling systems capture water in cisterns for landscape irrigation, and an integrated storm water management system helps mitigate flooding.

As for the interior, the building has taken advantage of daylighting in addition to automated lighting controls and smart sensors that recognizes when people are inside – good for those caffeine-fueled all-nighters. The energy-efficient windows are motorized and can open up to utilize natural ventilation for the brisk morning breezes to wake you after you have fallen asleep at the drafting board. All in all it is an excellent example of sustainable architecture and stands as a fitting inspiration for the architects of tomorrow.

Pittsburgh will soon see the completion of its first skyscraper to be constructed in 20 years. Dubbed Three PNC Plaza, the structure will be situated in downtown Pittsburgh and will be one of the largest environmentally sustainable mixed-use high-rises in the United States. The glossy green superstructure will employ a variety of sustainable strategies and is aiming for LEED certification.

What could be a better prologue to my upcoming visit to Pittsburgh than writing about a new green skyscraper scheduled to open in 2009!

The 23-storey structure will comprise 780,000 square feet and will feature office space, 28 condominiums, a restaurant, retail space, underground parking, and a Fairmont Hotel. The front of the plaza will feature a large public park, and the top 10 floors will be occupied by the hotel. The 100,000-square-foot underground parking will take up 3 stories, and provide 330 parking spaces.

The building integrates several green design features, and is being built to meet the USGBC’s LEED standards. The building will take advantage of high-performance glazing, energy-efficient HVAC systems and low-emission materials to create an environmentally friendly interior. Material recycling will be an integral part of the construction, and the new skyscraper will incorporate materials reclaimed from the old buildings it is replacing.

The Three PNC Plaza began construction in August 2006 and is scheduled to completed early next year, with the opening ceremony to coincide with the 250th birthday of the city. The project has been designed by Gensler in collaboration with Astorino and Paladino & Company.