Forks Township’s semi-buried Public Works Complex is one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the Lehigh Valley. Built into the side of a hill, the low-lying, $4.7 million complex features a vegetated roof and berm curving to the ground on three sides, making the building visible from only the front.
The building occupies the southeast corner of a 52-acre parcel of municipal land. The remaining land surrounding the complex will become a park. The complex features three buildings, including six drive-through truck bays with wings on either side housing mechanics’ bays, equipment storage, and administrative offices. Trucks enter and exit the complex via lanes at the front of the building leading to the center courtyard, which includes above-ground fuel tanks and a covered salt storage bin.
Other perks of the building include the green roof, which reduces stormwater runoff by collecting rain in an underground storage tank. The water is then recycled to clean the trucks. The vegetated roof will last twice as long as a normal roof and is self-sustaining. It also makes heating and cooling more efficient by insulating the building better than a traditional roof.
