For the past seven years, a living wall filled with evergreen ferns, sedum, ajuga and other plants has sprouted from the side of One PNC Plaza Downtown, delighting visitors and employees alike. But much like summer itself, the wall will soon be gone.

PNC Financial Services Group is removing the 2,380-square-foot vertical garden from the southeast-facing side of the skyscraper, ending the season for the colorful tapestry that included the bank’s initials.

Once hailed as the largest in North America, the green wall is being supplanted by technology.

Bank spokeswoman Marcey Zwiebel said improvements being made to the building are more energy efficient than the wall, which was designed to help cool the 30-story structure in the summer and cut down on heat loss in the winter.

“Given the fact that the primary purpose no longer is being fulfilled, we just made the decision to take it down,” she said.

Work to remove the leafy creation began earlier this summer, with the bulk of it to be completed by the end of October. The green mix will be replaced by granite panels, Ms. Zwiebel said.

At one time considered a living example of PNC’s commitment to sustainability, the wall brought together a variety of regional plants in 602 panels of contained soil. Each of the panels held 24 plants, estimated to be enough to offset the carbon footprint of one person.

When fully watered by drip irrigation, the wall weighed 24 tons. Plants were chosen for climate tolerance, sunlight cycles, and changing color patterns and texture. Ms. Zwiebel declined to say how much it cost to maintain the unique urban garden.

PNC, she said, is transplanting the soil and plants to its Firstside Center on First Avenue, where they will be used in the landscaping and on a pedestrian/​bike trail.

The panels, each 2 feet by 2 feet, are being donated to educational, nonprofit and charitable organizations.

PNC decided against keeping the wall in place in conjunction with the energy improvements being made inside the building. But Ms. Zwiebel said the bank is still showing commitment to sustainability by repurposing the plants.

“This is a responsible reuse of resources. If it’s not serving its intended purpose, we’re now reusing it for other projects that will serve a greater purpose,” she said.

PNC has found additional ways to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the biggest being the construction of its new Downtown headquarters, the Tower at PNC Plaza, which it has billed as the greenest skyscraper in the world.

Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com

First Published: August 23, 2016, 4:00 a.m.