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WHEREAS, the mission of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden is to inspire and educate visitors with the beauty and importance of nature and to advance sustainability and worldwide biodiversity through action and research; and
WHEREAS, Phipps has undertaken a multi-year expansion project to upgrade and expand facilities, and to emphasize green and sustainable building practices and operations; and
WHEREAS, the new Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps, a dynamic resource for education, research, and administration, is the centerpiece of this initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Center is one of the greenest buildings in the world and one of the first to earn "Living Building" certification, a model of sustainability that will meet or exceed the highest green building and landscape standards; and
WHEREAS, the Center has been designed to mimic nature and function as ultra-efficiently as a flower: generating all its own energy; capturing, treating, and reusing all water on site, utilizing natural ventilation and daylighting, and demonstrating a vast array of innovative sustainability measures; and
WHEREAS, the Center's design process and outcomes are a model for the highest standards of sustainable planning and design and will set an incredibly high bar for future development in the City of Pittsburgh and around the world, furthering cementing Pittsburgh's status as an international leader in green building and sustainable practice.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for their tremendous new building, and for advancing environmental sustainability and an appreciation for nature; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare May 23, 2012 to be "Phipps' Center for Sustainable Landscapes Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.