There has been lots of press regarding the the largest green wall in North America by Financial Services Group PNC as an innovative way to make its headquarters building more energy-efficient. The company has gained great exposure from this exercise and will now serve as a tourist attraction.

The 2,380 sq. ft., soil-based wall – similar in size to a doubles tennis court – features a variety of regional plants grown into living art on the south-facing wall of One PNC Plaza at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Wood Street in downtown Pittsburgh.

It is estimated that each of the 602 panels, with 24 plants in each 2×2 sq. ft. space, will offset the carbon footprint of one person. The vertical garden, similar to a green roof, will help to cool the 30-story building. Preliminary studies show the south-facing living wall will be 25 percent cooler behind the wall than ambient temperatures. “The wall is a fitting reminder that PNC is the world leader in green building,” said PNC Director of Corporate Real Estate Gary Saulson. “City sidewalks are cooler and quieter thanks to shade and sound absorption by green walls and urban planting. Together with our recently completed PNC Triangle Park just one block away, the wall creates much needed green space and offers a distinctive welcome to PNC’s headquarters campus.”

About the Living Wall

PNC’s green wall is mounted with a stainless steel bracketing and panel system anchored directly into One PNC Plaza’s reinforced concrete masonry. Other details include:

• It will weigh approximately 24 tons when fully saturated via an internally controlled irrigation system. It is estimated that the wall will require just 15 minutes of watering once a week.
• PNC acquired all hardware, plants, materials and installers within a 500-mile radius of downtown Pittsburgh. Of the eight varieties, some plants will change in the winter and some will bloom in the spring.
• The wall is a product of Green Living™ Technologies (GLT) of Rochester, N.Y., and designed by Kari Katzander of Mingo Design of New York. Plant Connection is the US Distributor and Lead Grower for Green Living Technologies and the installer was Philly Green Wall of Philadelphia.
• Cenkner Engineering Associates of Coraopolis, Pa., and BD&E Strategic Branding and Design of Pittsburgh provided engineering and additional design.

System: Green Living™ Wall Panels, 4” Aluminum, Green Living Roof Panels
Grower: Plant Connections, US Distributor
Installer: Philly Green Wall / Roof
Artist: Kari Katzander, Mingo Design
Location: Pittsburgh PA

Here is a youtube video shot during construction