Pendle Hill has been selected by a group of regional architects as the location for their 2016 project to design a building that meets the criteria for “Living Building Certification.” We are thrilled!

Living Buildings must return more energy to the grid than they use – meaning that the building they design for us will exceed “net-zero” standards for energy use among other criteria. In February 2017, there will be a public presentation of the design for the space previously occupied by Cadbury Court.

Pendle Hill was selected for the Living Building Challenge Demonstration Project due to our “adherence with the collaborative’s deep green design philosophies and our commitment to a transparent and educational design process.” The project includes a year-long participatory design process intended to show that Living Buildings are achievable regionally, sensibly, cost-effectively, and through community engagement. Our year ahead will include a series of public conceptual design charrettes and feasibility workshops to develop the architectural design.

We are excited to be joined throughout 2016 by designers, students, builders, building managers, architects, artists, and people throughout the region with passion for sustainable design. Thank you to the Philadelphia Living Building Challenge Collaborative for choosing Pendle Hill! Please stay tuned later in the year to see the designs as they emerge.

—Jen Karsten, Executive Director