Epic Metals

Sustainability for EPIC Metals began in 1968, when Donald Landis, founder and father of current President David Landis, purchased a streetcar barn and repurposed it into EPIC’s first manufacturing facility.  

EPIC’s modern sustainability efforts continued in 2010, when a new Landis generation, David’s son, Ben, spent a high school summer break adding solar panels to the company’s home office. Solar panels are installed at three manufacturing plants in addition to the home office – which now also includes a solar parking canopy. 

In 2023 EPIC Metals installed a modern steel standing seam roof and added solar panels on the cupola of the 125-year-old streetcar barn plant. A study was recently completed for adding solar panels to the balance of the roofing. When completed, the building’s solar panels could generate enough solar energy to power the building for the majority of the year, excluding the shortest sunlight months of the winter. Current plans are to replace sections of the roofing and to add solar panels to each area, with a goal of replacing all of the roofing and adding additional solar panels by 2030.

EPIC’s commitment to sustainability is not limited to solar energy. Three vertical axis Windstax® wind turbines at 15kW provide lighting for EPIC’s manufacturing facility along the Monongahela River. Electric vehicle charging stations have been installed at EPIC’s main office and Rankin plant. Pervious pavers, one of the most environmentally friendly paving solutions, were installed in one of their parking lots to reduce storm water runoff, reduce the use of salt to defrost ice and snow, and naturally brighten and reflect more light, increasing nighttime visibility. EPIC heats the majority of its office building with geothermal wells. 

Beyond efforts to improve the efficiency of their facilities, EPIC Metals enables designers to create unique visually open spaces with responsible materials.  

EPIC Metals’ roof and floor deck ceiling panels are manufactured of steel, which historically has been one of the most recycled materials. Steel recycling reduces the environmental damage of mining virgin ore and the additional resources necessary to process it into steel.  The Steel Recycling Institute reports that the steel industry’s overall recycling rate is 88 percent and estimates that in one year, steel recycling in the U.S. saves the energy equivalent to electrically power approximately 18 million homes. 

Additionally, EPIC reinforces their steel ceiling panels for tubular skylights and to support the weight of a green roof. EPIC Metals’ products are covered within the Steel Deck Institute’s Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and certified by Underwriter’s Laboratories. 

EPIC Metals has been a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) since 2004 and a member of Green Building Alliance since 2010. EPIC Metals has participated in 378 LEED certified projects in 41 states. Twenty-eight of these projects are LEED Platinum and 161 LEED Gold. These projects include Bill and Melinda Gates Hall at Cornell University, Penn State University, and the Warrior Recreation Center of the University of Hawaii. 

Commitment to Sustainability

Local Regional Projects

• Humane Animal Rescue Building – Pittsburgh, PA
• Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Byham Center for Dance – Pittsburgh, PA
• Sewickley Academy – Sewickley, PA
• Dick’s Sporting Goods HQ – Moon Township, PA
• National Aviary – Pittsburgh, PA
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Dinosaur Hall – Pittsburgh, PA

School Projects

• 200+ K-12 School Projects in US
• 150+ College and University Projects in US

Awards

• 2019 AIA/ALA Library Building Award – Half Moon Bay Library, San Mateo California
• AIA COTE TOP TEN – Nine projects were recognized in the AIA COTE TOP TEN Projects:
  • 2023 US San Diego North Torrey Pines Living & Learning Neighborhood, San Diego, CA
  • 2021 The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 
  • 2020 US Customs & Border Protection, Columbus New Mexico Port of Entry, Columbus, New Mexico
  • 2018 San Francisco Art Institute, Fort Mason Center – San Francisco, CA
  • 2018 Sonoma Academy, Janet Durgin Guild & Commons, Santa Rosa, CA
  • 2016 University of Wyoming, Visual Arts Building, Laramie, Wyoming
  • 2013 Marin County Day School, Corte Madera, CA
  • 2012 Iowa Utilities Board, Office of Consumer Advocate Building, Des Moines, IA
  • 2011 Greensburg Schools/Kiowa County Schools, Greensburg, KS
  • 2007 Stanford University, Global Ecology Research Center, Palo Alto, CA
  • 2001 PNC Bank Firstside Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• Steel Deck Institute– EPIC Metals is honored to be the oldest current member and one of the smallest members of the Steel Deck Institute

Materials & Resources

• EPIC Metals products possess an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in conformance with ISO 14025, ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and ISO 21930 standards. EPIC Metals sources raw materials in proximity to its manufacturing facilities whenever possible to minimize transportation related environmental impacts. The EPD is cradle-to-gate in scope, but metal decking panels are 100% recyclable at a building’s end of life.
  • Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations
• EPIC Metals products can be documented with a Manufacturer Inventory to at least 100 ppm. These products can be produced with a Living Building Challenge Red List Free option. Declare Label documentation is available on EPIC Metals acoustic elements.
  • Credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients

Ratings: Steel Roof & Floor Deck

• LBC Red List Free
  • Life Expectancy – 100 years
  • End of Life Options – 100% Recyclable
• UL Certified Environment Product
  • This product contributes to: ASHRAE 189.1
  • International Green Construction Code
  • LEED v4 – Building Design & Construction
  • MR Credit 2: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations – Option 1 or 2
  • LEED v4 – Interior Design & Construction
  • MR Credit 3: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations – Option 1 or 2
  • NAHB Green Building Standard (ICC 700)