Seattle’s Bullitt Center, a project of the Bullitt Foundation, has been designed to be the most energy efficient commercial building on the planet and put Seattle on “the forefront of the green building movement,” according to the project’s website.
With the first floor already leased to the International Living Future Institute and the University of Washington Integrated Design Lab, the remaining five floors of this 50,000-sf green building are now available to lease in advance of its planned opening this spring.
The Bullitt Center expects to achieve the goals of the Living Building Challenge (v2.0), the world’s most strenuous sustainability benchmark. Certification requires a structure to be energy and water self-sufficient for 12 consecutive months and meet 20 imperatives within seven “Petals,” or performance areas.
Petal One – Site: The location supports lifestyle that is friendly to pedestrians, bicycles, and public transit.
Petal Two – Water: Rainwater is collected on the roof and stored underground to be used building-wide.
Petal Three – Energy: The solar array will produce sufficient electricity for the building’s tenants.
Petal Four – Health: Promoting health for the building’s occupants, it features stairways that are pleasing alternatives to elevators, operable windows, and facilities that encourage occupants to walk and share resources.
Petal Five – Materials: The Bullitt Center will not contain hazardous materials from the “Red List,” such as PVC, lead, cadmium, mercury, or hormone-mimicking substances.
Petal Six – Equity: Fresh air and daylight will be available to all workers and the construction team has been selected using the Community High Road Agreement as enacted by the city of Seattle.
Petal Seven – Beauty: The architecture has been designed to help beautify the surrounding area, including a green roof, large structural timbers, native plants, an innovative photovoltaic array, and a revitalized neighboring pocket park.
The Building Team for the $30 million facility includes architect Miller Hull Partnership and contractor Schuchart, as well as Point32, PAE Consulting Engineers, Luma Lighting Design, 2020 Engineering, and Berger Partnership.
(http://www.jetsongreen.com/2013/03/the-worlds-greenest-commercial-building-now-leasing-for-spring-2013-opening.html)
Related Stories
Architects | Feb 17, 2016
Developing a strategy for getting paid on time
Though talking about money can be difficult, creating and following a clear plan for getting paid is essential for your firm to thrive, writes Steve Whitehorn of Whitehorn Financial.
Architects | Feb 11, 2016
Stantec agrees to acquire VOA Associates
This deal reflects an industry where consolidation is a strategic necessity for more firms.
Market Data | Feb 11, 2016
AIA: Continued growth expected in nonresidential construction
The American Institute of Architects’ semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast indicates a growth of 8% in construction spending in 2016, and 6.7% the following year.
Architects | Feb 11, 2016
AIA elevates 149 members and eight international architects to the College of Fellows
AIA Fellowship recognizes significant contributions to profession of architecture and society.
Architects | Feb 9, 2016
Architect faces prison sentence for VA medical center contract conspiracy
Admits to using inside information to gain VA contracts in Cleveland
Game Changers | Feb 5, 2016
London’s ’shadowless’ towers
Using advanced design computation, a design team demonstrates how to ‘erase’ a building’s shadows.
High-rise Construction | Feb 2, 2016
This tall tower will lower your heart rate
Matthias Olt, Associate Vice President at CallisonRTKL, discusses new ways to improve individual health and well-being through tower design.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 1, 2016
Top 10 kitchen design trends for 2016
Charging stations, built-in coffeemakers, and pet stations—these are among the top kitchen design trends for the coming year, according to a new survey of kitchen and bath designers by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
Architects | Jan 28, 2016
25-year-old architect wins competition for World War I memorial in Pershing Park
Joe Weishaar and sculptor Sabin Howard were selected from among five finalists and over 350 entries overall.
| Jan 28, 2016
AIA CES class: The rainscreen approach to a better building envelope
Building envelope expert Bradley Carmichael of Hoffmann Architects explains how rainscreen wall systems work and evaluates the effectiveness of various rain-control methods, including mass walls, perfect barriers, and masonry veneers. This AIA/CES class is worth 1.0 learning unit.