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'World's greenest' office building seeks tenants in Seattle

'World's greenest' office building seeks tenants in Seattle

Superefficient facility is designed to meet the ambitious goals of the Living Building Challenge.


By BD+C Staff | March 12, 2013
Bullitt Center will open this spring. Photo: John Stamets
Bullitt Center will open this spring. Photo: John Stamets

Seattleā€™sĀ Bullitt Center, a project of the Bullitt Foundation, has been designed to be theĀ most energy efficient commercial buildingĀ on the planet and put Seattle on ā€œthe forefront of the green building movement,ā€ according to the projectā€™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 theĀ Living Building ChallengeĀ (v2.0), the worldā€™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 ā€œPetals,ā€ or performance areas.

Petal One ā€“ Site:Ā The location supports lifestyle that is friendly to pedestrians, bicycles, and public transit.

Petal Two ā€“ Water:Ā Rainwater is collected on the roof and stored underground to be used building-wide.

Petal Three ā€“ Energy:Ā The solar array will produce sufficient electricity for the buildingā€™s tenants.

Petal Four ā€“ Health:Ā Promoting health for the buildingā€™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 ā€“ Materials:Ā The Bullitt Center will not contain hazardous materials from the ā€œRed List,ā€ such as PVC, lead, cadmium, mercury, or hormone-mimicking substances.

Petal Six ā€“ Equity:Ā Fresh air and daylight will be available to all workers and the construction team has been selected using theĀ Community High Road AgreementĀ as enacted by the city of Seattle.

Petal Seven ā€“ Beauty:Ā 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,Ā 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)

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