The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

May 10, 2008

Guard going green with new armory

Designers to eye traffic control options

By Joe Pinchot

Architects are using green design principles for the new Pennsylvania National Guard armory, which will be built on East State Street, east of Keel Ridge Road, in Hermitage.

The state will mandate such practices in 2009, so designers are getting an early start, said architects for HHSDR Architects/Engineers, Sharon.

“Basically, this is an attempt to create an energy efficient project?” asked Hermitage Planning Commission Chairman Charles E. Rogers Monday.

“Yes, that’s correct,” said project architect Vincent M. Ordinario.

Designers are following standards created by the U.S Green Building Council in its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The program takes into account elements such as the choice of a site, stormwater management, wastewater handling, available transportation, lighting and building materials, and awards points based on designer choices. It takes 26 points to be certified under LEEDS, with three higher levels achievable.

HHSDR said they are striving to reach the silver certification level, the second level awarded for at least 33 points.

Among the green principles designers plan to use are a light-colored roof — made of 90 percent recycled scrap metal — thickness of insulation in the roof and walls, and occupant sensor lights that turn on lights when someone enters the room and turn them off shortly after someone has left, Ordinario said.

While the 38,000-square-foot National Guard Readiness Center is built for Battery A of the 1-107th Field Artillery to train on site, and for administration, the 5,800-square-foot assembly hall, kitchen and classrooms will be available for public rentals, Ordinario said.

Commission members asked designers to look at more options for traffic control. They envisioned backups on training days, when all 100-plus members of Battery A will be entering and exiting.

Commission member Woody Steele said there might be traffic conflicts when the Veterans of Foreign Wars Golf Course across the street has heavy golfing days.

“You might have more problems when you rent it out,” said commissioner member Chester B. “Barney” Scholl Jr.

Designers are planning to widen East State to three lanes in front of the entrance to add a left-turn lane.

Commission member Dr. John V. Coupland said planners are “sensitive” to traffic issues since Earl L. Klages Jr. died a year ago in a motorcycle-pickup accident at the new intersection of Village Path and Lamor Road.

Ordinario said designers have been working closely with PennDOT to choose the location of the entrance and exit drive and consider other traffic matters.

HHSDR is expected to appear at the commission meeting in June to ask for approval of its land development plan and sanitary sewer planning module for the site.



Armory to be dedicated to guardsman killed in Iraq

When it is built, the Pennsylvania National Guard armory on East State Street in Hermitage will be dedicated to a guardsman who was killed in Iraq.

The entrance sign will bear a dedication plaque in honor of Lt. Col. Michael E. “Mack” McLaughlin, 44, of East Lackawannock Township, who was killed Jan. 5, 2006, when a suicide bomber attacked an Iraqi police recruiting station in Ramadi.

McLaughlin previously was honored by the Mercer County Shrine Club, Hermitage, which dedicated its barbecue pit to him.

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