Equitable and Sustainable Revitalization in Philadelphia: Rebuilding Neighborhoods and Communities

Registration Information:

Registering for the session holds your seat in the class until 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. At that time your seat in the session can no longer be guaranteed.

If a session is full, you will not be able to add it to your agenda; however, if you have the appropriate pass you will be able to enter the session on a first-come first-served basis 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the event so long as capacity has not been reached

Greenbuild staff at the entrance of the session have the ability to stop permitting entrance to the session when the room hits the set capacity.

Description:

Rebuild is an unprecedented investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in historically disinvested neighborhood parks, recreation centers and libraries across Philadelphia, 90% of which need substantial facility improvements. Proposed by Mayor Jim Kenney and made possible by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax Rebuild acknowledges history, engages with community, promotes diversity and economic inclusion, and invests in upgrading pivotal community spaces.

Facilities in the Rebuild portfolio have typically been subject to deferred maintenance and have substantial physical needs to be addressed during design/renovation. The current facilities suffer from lack of accessibility, clear wayfinding, and safe, healthy spaces for the community.
A cornerstone of the process is meeting with stakeholders, community leaders, and users to learn how the community has utilized the facilities historically, and how they envision future use of the facility. Various site/building organizations are explored with users to determine ideal spaces to support the program, while addressing key concerns related to health, safety, and security of sites.

Rebuild has key sustainability goals for most projects - facilities are required to meet LEED Silver Certification, as well as pursue electrification and aggressive on-site stormwater management.
The aging nature of many original City parks and recreation buildings often pose design and budget challenges. The team works to determine solutions that meet all goals, often at odds with one another, to design sustainable, durable, and easily maintained buildings within a modest budget. These include innovative solutions for envelope design and HVAC systems, stormwater management, accessibility improvements, water-use reduction, daylighting, and community-informed improvements such as playgrounds/garden design.

Lessons learned across the Rebuild portfolio will be shared with a deeper dive into select sites. Presenters include representatives from the Rebuild Program management, architect, and engineering teams to share opportunities and challenges addressed during pre-design, design, and operation of existing recreational facilities in underserved neighborhoods.