When she talks about a proposal to turn a Lower Hill District school building into a center for green innovation, Gena Kovalcik envisions entrepreneurs and researchers working shoulder-to-shoulder to develop the next generation of environmentally friendly carpeting, electrical systems and air-conditioning.

Maybe they would develop a paint that repairs itself when cracked, much like the body heals a cut or scrape, she said. That, in turn, made Ms. Kovalcik, co-director of administration and external relations at the University of Pittsburgh's Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, think of self-rejuvenating roads that would make potholes a thing of the past.

The Mascaro Center, Penn State University, elected officials, business people, union leaders and environmental activists all are cooperating on plans to turn the 234,000-square-foot Connelley building, near Mellon Arena, into a site for green living, learning and working.

The planners would call the center Pittsburgh Green Innovators.

"I think it's exciting for Pittsburgh," Ms. Kovalcik said. "We genuinely believe we could be the first to do it."

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said the project could merge research and development, education and work force development under one roof at an opportune time. The green sector of the economy, he said, is expected to get a big boost under the Obama administration.

Mr. Doyle said planners have committed $5 million to $10 million for the project so far. But he said they haven't pinpointed a total project cost, secured the bulk of the money they'll need or decided whether they want to buy or lease the building from the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

"We're not at that scale yet, and we're not at that level yet," he said, adding the project could benefit from the economic stimulus package and coming bills on energy and climate change.

After refurbishing, the building itself would be a testament to green technology, with cutaways in the walls revealing energy-efficient insulation and environmentally friendly mechanical and water-filtration systems.

"We're looking for the highest LEED rating that we can," said Deno De Ciantis, director of Penn State Center -- Engaging Pittsburgh, which provides university outreach services to government, business and consumers. "We have all agreed the building needs to be a teaching tool in and of itself."

The LEED rating refers to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The school district used Connelley as a center for career, technical and adult education. The school board officially closed the building in 2004, but it's still used for administrative offices and some technical classes.

State Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, a key champion of the proposal, said the center also might incorporate the 55,000-square-foot Letsche school building near Connelley. Letsche also was closed in 2004.

Connelley and Letsche are on a list of buildings the district would like to sell.

District spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said only that the district is willing to study the center proposal, which comes as officials continue a high-school improvement campaign and consider improvements to career and technical programs.

Planning for the green center dates back more than a year.

Dr. De Ciantis said technology transfer would be an important part of Penn State's role. For example, researchers could help business people develop, produce or use alternative fuels.

Planners said other possible tenants are Local 95 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, whose members could be trained in maintaining green buildings, and Pittsburgh Gateways, a business incubator with a green focus.

"It sounds like a real intriguing, very exciting project," said Olivia Teter, past president of the Green Chamber of Commerce, a 2-year-old San Francisco-based group trying to build a national membership. She said she was not aware of another city with the type of center envisioned by the Pittsburgh planners.

Also possible, the planners said, are university and high school-level courses on sustainability and green issues; cooperative ventures with corporations using green technology; office space for nonprofits focused on the environment; and loft apartments.

"It would be an opportunity for people to live and work in the same environment," Mr. Ferlo said.