Drexel Smart House

A beautiful but vacant 1872 stone clad mansion that sits on the Drexel University campus has sat vacant for almost 15 years since its last use as the former Pi Lambda Phi fraternity house.  The home will now have new life in the 21st Century, thanks to a student-run organization backed by faculty members who plan to transform the three-story, 5,000-square-foot building into a hub for testing sustainable design and construction methods.

The "Drexel Smart House" would also serve as a dorm that could accommodate 10 residents.  In December the university pledged $1.1 million toward the $2.5 million project, giving it a much needed financial boost.

Construction is set to begin in May, with plans to renovate the historic building and construct a 4,600-square-foot addition.  A number of green features have been incorporated such as energy-efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and a graywater capture-and-reuse system.  Because the house is the same style as many others in the community, the technology tested in the house can be transmitted throughout the community.