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)
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