FORKS TOWNSHIP, NEW PUBLIC WORKS COMPLEX

"Very Green" Public Works Complex Will Soon Begin Construction

Construction contracts have been awarded for one of the most environmentally friendly public works buildings in the Lehigh Valley, designed by Kimmel Bogrette. Built into the side of a hill in Easton, PA, the low-lying complex will feature a vegetated roof and berm curving to the ground on three sides, making the building visible only from the front. The building is slated for the southeast corner of a 52-acre parcel of township land, with plans for a passive recreational park on the remaining land. Sustainable design features include the green roof, which reduces stormwater runoff by collecting rain in an underground storage tank. The water will then be recycled to clean the trucks. Other Green Design technologies include Geothermal Heat Pumps, Solar Hot Water, Solar Site Lighting, Passive Air Pre-Conditioning, LED Lighting, Rainwater Harvesting, and Bioswales. With residential developments lining three sides of the site, some neighbors were initially concerened about possible noise and unsightly maintenance activities. With the resulting, unique design, the architects addressed these issues while making the building a "good neighbor" to nearby houses, as well as the future park.