Vital Stats

Early Design Process

How was the team assembled? When was ILFI’s certification first discussed? Who was the first team member to bring up the possibility of certification? How did the team arrive at the decision to pursue certification? How was the decision communicated to all team members?

Initially, innovators Duke and Monica Gastiger contacted Alex Wilson, founder and executive editor of Environmental Building News, who connected them with the 7group. Members of the 7group shared their expertise and embraced the Gastiger’s vision for an innovative farm to table restaurant on a working farm that showcased green building. The Gastiger’s first design was an off-the-grid establishment. Once their enthusiasm was redirected to better understand building practices that aligned with their ambitions, Marcus Sheffer and John Boecker, 7Group innovators, introduced the Living Building Challenge. The Gastigers knew they found a kindred spirit.

An initial invitation to community members from high school to retired business leaders was extended to be co-creators in helping generate ideas and plan the dream. That workshop of collective ideas helped shape the project and respond to community needs. The Gastigers toured and attended a biophilia workshop at the Phipps Conservatory. Inspired by this visit and connecting with other dreamers, the Gastigers found additional investors to become co- creators in the LLC. The LLC embarked on the journey towards LBC certification.

A second community charette was focused on design components, followed by multiple continued meetings engaging new acquaintances with aligned values and skills that would help propel the project forward. After becoming acquainted with LBC certification needs, the Gastigers and 7group help organize workshops for local construction/industry businesses to learn about the requirements and process. The LLC made a commitment to pursue LBC certification. Contracting a business that specialized in materials education, the LLC hosted a day long workshop for the project contractors and others.

That educational offering had a ripple effect, broadening community awareness at the design/construction level. RE Farm Cafe, LLC initiated an educational mission to share information about petal requirements and why this was needed in the area. The Living Building Challenge was new to many in the community and from the initial decision to pursue LBC certification to the present, the Gastigers continue to educate their community at every opportunity.

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Project Team

The Santa Monica City Services Building is an inspiring model of green design aimed at efficient operations, a healthy and productive workplace, and positive contributions to one of America’s most successful municipalities. Connected to the historic City Hall’s South Wing, the building fulfills a vision to bring all core municipal operations into one City Hall Campus and create a centralized hub for public counter services.

Early Design Process

How was the team assembled? When was ILFI’s certification first discussed? Who was the first team member to bring up the possibility of certification? How did the team arrive at the decision to pursue certification? How was the decision communicated to all team members?

This project had the benefit of an early feasibility stage and being a design build project. Hathaway Dinwiddie was tasked with managing the Materials Petal and this helped to avoid any discontinuities with budgeting and procurement. Buro Happold provided dedicated materials support for MEP scope and Frederick Fisher for architectural finishes. The team worked to dematerialize and simplify finishes (such as exposed concrete shearwalls and ceilings) and assemblies and this greatly reduced the number of products expected on this project.

A workflow process was set up to act as a set of filters to capture as much as possible each step of the way. The team chose to research ahead of time and utilize the expertise of the team instead of relying on subcontractors. The team adopted a strategy shared by other LBC project teams to implement a “pre-submittal” process which captured information about products that were not going to be called out in the specifications. For example, it made more sense to ask an electrical subcontractor who they typically purchase conduit from and then research those vendors, than to fully vet and specify three of the many manufacturers on the market and potentially not receive a budget effective product. This also reduced the product data submittal review period and avoided holding up procurement for LBC vetting. 

Upon contract award, each subcontractor was scheduled for an onboarding training, and required to complete the pre-submittal template. Every firm received a training about the LBC Materials Petal and documentation expectations. Due to the pre-submittal process, the subcontractors already had most, if not all, of the necessary LBC documentation for their products ready to submit. A submittal cover sheet template was provided, titled an Environmental Building Materials Certification Form, or EBMCF. We would review the cover sheet and backup against the pre-submittal and previously vetted specified items and stamp the cover sheet as verification of LBC approval. For the most part, this is where the success of the pre-submittal would bear out, as this LBC review turnaround could happen within 24 hours.

A separate training was created for the field. The project superintendent would spend 5-10 minutes after each worker’s first day mandatory safety orientation to provide a condensed summary of LBC, to enforce that all materials must have approved submittals, trucks and toolboxes should be cleaned out and hardware store runs had to be approved, and to follow Construction Waste protocols. After orientation, each worker signed a form and received a hard hat sticker.

Advocacy to Manufacturers and Suppliers

When did advocating to manufacturers and suppliers result in changes to a product’s formulation or manufacturing process? Did a manufacturer choose to pursue a Declare label as a result of the team’s advocacy? What should teams keep in mind when working with manufacturers to identify the best product for the job?

Lessons Learned

Are there discussions the project team would have initiated at a different time in the process? Are there processes or documents the team wished they had implemented during construction to help with certification compliance? What worked well in the team’s design process that other teams should consider implementing?

The post Santa Monica City Services Building first appeared on Living Future.

Project Team

Place Petal

The Gradient Canopy project team leveraged the Place Petal to restore natural ecosystems and build biodiversity, connect employees to locally grown food, and encourage pedestrian and bicycle circulation.

In the late 1800s, the site was developed into farmland and then sat as a vacant tilled field until construction started on Google’s Gradient Canopy office. Google worked to reestablish ecosystem elements once prevalent in Silicon Valley, such as oak woodlands, willow groves, chaparral, and grasslands. The landscape is composed almost entirely of native species, including approximately 400 native trees, nearly half of which are oak trees that were planted as a part of the Re-Oaking Silicon Valley initiative. The goal was to revive the area’s ecological heritage and bolster the human experience, while creating thriving, functional landscapes for a biodiverse constellation of species.

Google blended over four acres of native pollinator habitat with urban agricultural elements on site to demonstrate how native landscaping and gardening can work together for more resilient local food production. Google’s Farm-to-Table Program, which leads on-site agriculture initiatives and community partnership opportunities, manages two demonstration garden beds that supply produce for Google’s cafes and teaching kitchens. The landscape also features three honey bee boxes onsite, providing education opportunities about honey harvesting and pollination. Googlers and their guests are invited to attend honey harvests and the honey is also used in Google’s employee teaching kitchens. As part of the site design process, ecologists studied how the landscape can support both native bees and non-native honey bees to benefit both native biodiversity and local food production.

To encourage sustainable transportation choices and meet the intent of the Human Powered Living Imperative, Gradient Canopy offers ample secure bike parking as well as other amenities, including helmets for Googlers, on-site bike repair stands, showers, and lockers. Occupants also have access to Google’s “GBike” program, which maintains a fleet of shared bicycles that are readily available on campus and can be used to travel between Google buildings or to reach shuttle stops on campus.

Materials Petal

Beauty Petal

Google has called Mountain View home for more than two decades, and the Mountain View community is at the heart of the Google Visitor Experience. With the Visitor Experience at Gradient Canopy, Google aims to support local community organizations, small businesses, artists, nonprofits, and the Mountain View community as a whole.

Inside the Google Store, Cafe, and the Huddle community space, visitors will find murals and artworks from local artists who are a part of Google’s Artist in Residence program. Outdoors, visitors can explore life-sized art pieces facilitated by Burning Man Project, with input from the local community.

With the help of the non-profit Burning Man Project, Google held a series of community listening sessions and design thinking workshops that invited the local community to offer input on the art that would create the most vibrant community spaces. Through these gatherings, community members shared stories of childhood adventure and curiosity, the role of landmarks, and a strong desire for things that are playful. Many hoped for interactive artworks that relied less on technology and more on tactile, hands-on experiences. As the culmination of this process, community members were encouraged to vote on the final artworks via a public website.

The six public artworks embody the rigorous sustainability and healthy materials goals of Gradient Canopy, as each artwork is made from materials that are Red List Free and support zero-waste efforts. For example, “Curious” by Mr & Mrs Ferguson Art is a giant grizzly bear sculpture — the official state animal of California — whose fur is crafted from more than 160,000 pennies. Together, the public artworks offer moments of surprise and delight, creating places for the community and Googlers alike to gather, reflect and get inspired.

The post Gradient Canopy first appeared on Living Future.

Project Team

Mithun, a design firm dedicated to fostering positive
change for people and communities, embarked on an
ambitious journey to enhance its own office space,
placing a strong emphasis on employee well-being.

Recognizing that many people spend the majority of
their waking hours in an office, creating a nurturing and
health-focused workspace became paramount. The
team sought to ensure the redesigned environment
would enhance the physical and emotional health of its
staff. Taping that valuable user resource, staff input
played a crucial role in the transformation, revealing the
need for innovative workplace features like all-gender
restrooms, a mother’s room, wellness spaces, and
private areas.

Additionally, there was a call for
improvements to more traditional elements such as the
reception experience, meeting rooms, collaborative
spaces, and multifunctional gathering areas.

Navigating the complexities of being their own client
presented both advantages and challenges. On one
hand, the firm’s day-to-day responsibilities required
prioritizing external client projects, often pushing internal needs to the side. On the other hand, the team had the unique flexibility to pause demolition and construction, allowing them to realign with their original project goals.

Weekly material review meetings became the backbone
of the project, extending throughout construction. Early
in these sessions, it became clear that 89 originally
specified products did not meet the stringent Red List
requirements, necessitating a search for suitable
alternatives. The review process was thorough,
involving 946 products with ultimately 724 products
installed, reflecting a significant effort to meet the Red
List.

This transformative experience not only underscored
the power that a strong team commitment can make to
successfully navigate challenges, but also illuminated
valuable lessons that would inform future projects. The
office renovation project demonstrates that with
determination and collaboration, even the most
ambitious goals are within reach.

Ultimately, Mithun affirmed their commitment to Petal certification, understanding that the benefits would not only enhance their interior environment but also eliminate harmful chemicals, fostering a healthier
workplace and ecosystem.

Product Selection & Material Reuse

Did the team use a new (or new to the team) product or material or assembly that helped meet the project’s certification goals that other projects should consider using? Was a material or product used in a novel way? Was a salvaged product used in a different way than originally intended that tells an interesting story? How did the team engage artisans, fabricators, or makers to support the local materials economy? 

The Mithun office showcases a thoughtful blend of
material selection, salvaged materials, and collaboration with local artists, creating an inspiring and engaging environment.

One standout feature is the stunning four-piece glass
artwork by Preston Singletary, a renowned Native
American glass artist and lifelong Seattle resident. His
creations are displayed in prestigious institutions like the National Museum of the American Indian, SmithsonianInstitution in Washington, DC, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Ethnographic Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and the British Museum in London. Mithun commissioned the installation, Return of the Salmon Spirit, specifically for their workspace. This art depicts salmon, symbolizing the rich heritage of the Tlingit culture and connecting deeply with the region’s natural beauty and office location on and above the water. This remarkable artwork warmly welcomes staff and visitors as they enter the office space.

The reception desk tells its own story, crafted from mass
timber wood salvaged during the demolition of the
Seattle Curtain Manufacturing Company, located at
12th Avenue and East Yesler Way. This piece adds a
layer of local history and character to the welcome area.
The cut off waste portions of timber were used to create
table bases in the Library space. Additionally, the reception area features a striking timber-half log and steel table, meticulously designed and handcrafted by Mithun partner Brendan Connolly. The wood used for this table comes from a Hemlock tree that fell during a windstorm on the IslandWood site, a project that Mithun undertook in 1998 on Bainbridge Island.

In the newly designed wellness room—a tranquil space
for quiet reflection and rejuvenation—resides another staff handmade art piece by associate principal Greg Catron. His artwork, crafted from deeply saturated and
soothing felt textiles, enhances the calming atmosphere, making it a perfect retreat for employees seeking a moment of peace. Together, these elements reflect Mithun’s commitment to engagement and artistic expression, enriching the overall experience of the workspace for all.

Lessons Learned

Are there discussions the project team would have initiated at a different time in the process? Are there processes or documents the team wished they had implemented during construction to help with certification compliance? What worked well in the team’s design process that other teams should consider implementing?

The post Pier 56 Mithun Office first appeared on Living Future.

The Monarch School Studio serves as an environmental stewardship and educational tool that engages students and the Houston community. It achieves a two-fold mission as a demonstration, hands-on space as well as provides a place for students to connect with nature. Climate responsive design features allow for both active and passive technologies which can be controlled by the students through daily choices and interactivity. For example, the sliding barn doors can be moved into one of five different configurations according to the local climate and learning environment students and teachers want to engage in. For example, students and teachers can move the sliding barn doors into one of five different configurations in response to the daily local climate and/or to create a physical learning environment.

The Monarch School is dedicated to providing innovative, therapeutic education for individuals with neurological differences such as autism. The site is an 11-acre campus and the Studio itself is set into a hill that was formed out of the excavation of the detention pond during the previous phases of construction.

Place Petal

01. Limits to Growth Imperative

The studio is located near the back of The Monarch School campus. Behind the studio is an area that is being restored to its natural state. It is this area that is the future site of an amphitheater, nature trails, and environmental education zones. Some of this is already happening. It is significant that the studio, the building that is an example of being a responsible steward of the Earth, is the gateway to this area that allows nature to be center stage. The views from the studio are beautiful. From the south-covered porch you can see the play areas, and open fields, as well as the
larger three campus buildings. From the north deck you can see the natural areas and the restored detention pond. And, from the catwalk inside the studio there is an arial view of the natural landscape, as well as, a partial view of the green roof on top of the container. The latter was a wonderful surprise view that the team did not anticipate. The views from the studio engage one in the studio’s natural surroundings and evoke a sense of curiosity and exploration of the natural environments.

Materials Petal

11. Red List Imperative

The team used several strategies to comply with the Materials petal Imperatives. In all phases, they considered the procurement of salvaged or reclaimed materials. In the design phase, they repurposed a shipping container into a storage and mechanical space. It dually functions as the east side of the dogtrot. Most interior finishes for the studio are reclaimed, repurposed, or salvaged materials. Additionally, this space can be converted to serve several other purposes, perhaps a residence. The ultimate purpose of the studio is education. The team designed and selected materials and systems that supported this purpose through interactive mechanical and passive systems, as well as, transparency of systems.

12. Construction Carbon Footprint

Monarch Studio used Green Footstep to determine the amount of carbon needed to make the building a carbon-neutral building. This narrative serves to explain the assumptions made within Green Footstep. To ensure carbon neutrality, the assumptions made were conservative. Monarch Studio did not account for vegetation on-site as required. Also, the studio did not account for emissions
reduction from design. The Athena EcoCalculator did not provide all materials used in the design, and rather than assume inappropriately, a more conservative path was chosen. Lastly, the Site Energy Intensity (EUI) was determined from the initial energy model for the building and the size of the building. The solar panels offset a portion of the energy consumed on-site, and the remaining carbon offsets will be purchased for compliance. This building meets the intents of the Architecture 2030 Challenge, even with the conservative assumptions.

13. Responsible Industry Imperative

More than 25% of the campus was constructed from recycled materials. In addition to providing a home for recycled building materials, 89% of the tase produced during construction was diverted back into the recycling chain so that it may be put to good use elsewhere. Reusing materials reduces the negative impact of extracting and processing virgin materials while diverting waste from landfills.

14. Appropriate Sourcing Imperative

More than 25% of the campus was constructed from materials that were extracted and manufactured within a 500-mile radius. Choosing indigenous resources supports the local economy and reduces the environmental impact resulting from the transportation of goods.

The entire design and construction team was local to the greater Houston metro area with the single exception being the daylighting analysis performed (via remote work) from Seattle which is approximately 1100 miles from Houston.

15. Conservation + Reuse Imperative

The faculty and learners of the Monarch School Outdoor Learning Studio work to manage waste in the most sustainable way as possible. The learners work to identify recyclable materials based upon the numbering system on the plastic item. Learners are encouraged school-wide not to bring single-use plastic water bottles to campus. The studio mostly collects paper and occasional plastic items. The recycle bin is clearly marked as “Recycle” and the other is marked “Landfill” in order to impress upon the learners that items placed in the landfill one is going somewhere instead of it simply being “thrown away”. The Monarch School Outdoor Learning Studio is not maintained by a cleaning service; it is cared for by the learners which include collecting both recycle and landfill bins, weighing and recording them, and then transferring the contents into a larger bin that isn’t quite full enough. The learners do not line the recycle and landfill bins with plastic bags in an effort to minimize the use of plastic.

Learners also work to reuse materials for projects and the maintenance of equipment. For example, a group of learners in STEAM class have created a catapult that was made using reclaimed wood, bamboo, yarn, a couple old bungee cords, and a reclaimed plastic container from the studio recycle bin; only the screws and hinge were new. Currently, Monarch learners in the STEAM class are working on 2 old garden carts to retrofit them with parts in order to keep them working as opposed to purchasing new ones. The learners also increased the height of a table from the use of old spindles! In addition, last year learners in Horticulture sent out a request from the Monarch community for flower pots instead of purchasing new ones. Monarch also had a learner in the Science of Sustainability class that took apart an old drafting table that was superficially in disrepair with the intention of creating a bookshelf
from the parts of wood that are not badly damaged by the elements.

Beauty Petal

19. Beauty + Spirit Imperative

The Living Building Challenge of the Monarch Institute meets the Imperative of Beauty in several ways. It is esthetically beautiful by design, the wood exterior and interior that are different from the rest of the campus and offer a soft, welcoming, nature-like feeling. The contrast of the natural wood with the aluminum solar-paneled roof that includes an element of the other buildings on campus in that it represents the wings of a Monarch butterfly draws one’s eyes to be curious about the space. The design of the studio into the hill is not only practical for passive cooling purposes, but it also depicts a connection to nature, as if the hill and the building are
joined together. And finally, the building holds the beauty of the entire student body’s creativity as 130 students worked to each contribute a painted pallet board for the interior finish. This mural of sorts provided the colorful backdrop for the cork mosaic that depicts the wetlands/marshland and the piney forest. All of this esthetic beauty is increased exponentially by knowing all the materials for the finishes, including the fence-like finish on the top of the container are all salvaged materials that are serving a higher purpose as they are reclaimed and repurposed. Having student involvement was imperative as it is their efforts that will serve to enrich the lives of those they will be invited from the community at large to learn that sustainability, beauty and utility are achievable even in a large metropolis such as Houston and even at a school that services students with pretty severe neurological
differences. These students who are often considered and looked upon as incompetent will be the experts on how to use and conserve energy on a daily basis and share that knowledge with others.

The design brought many people together to create pieces of art that embody the ideas of repurposed. Trees made from corkscrews and bent metal accent the outside of the space and bring curiosity to the building. Signage on the space includes an old Logo of the organization which is juxtaposed to the new buildings and serves to blend the story of the history of development with the promise for the future of the Institute. The balance, proportion, embellishments, and congruity with the environment make it a beautiful, inviting space. The building at once stands out as a beautiful structure and simultaneously melts in harmony with its surroundings and gives off a sense of impressiveness.

This building represents so much beauty in so many aspects. The beauty of giving back to the environment the precious energies that are being depleted, the beauty of students learning that buildings can be 100% off the grid and teaching the community that it is possible, the beauty of the students using the building for classes, yoga, dance, and reading, the beauty of knowledge that the school they attend cares enough of about the world they live in and the future, that they would accept the tasks necessary for a Living Building Challenge. This brings tremendous pride to the students, the faculty, the parents, and the community

20. Inspiration + Education Imperative

Education is the underlying driving principle of this project. The design features several passive and active systems that were coupled. For instance, the mechanical system mimics the passive cooling technique. Passive cooling happens as air moves through the studio and pushes hot air up and out the clerestory windows. The mechanical system brings cooled air in through the geothermal loop and moves it gently across the room at the floor level through two low flow air displacement units located on the south wall and the warm air is pushed up to the ceiling where it is returned and exhausted. It is in the understanding of one of these systems/techniques that the other can also be learned. So, if a student is drawn toward mechanical systems, he/she can learn the workings of that system and then apply it to the passive system and visa versa.

Project Website: http://www.monarchinstitute.org/news-and-events/news/living-building-challenge

The post The Monarch School Studio first appeared on Living Future.

PLACE PETAL

01. LIMITS TO GROWTH IMPERATIVE

The Gulf State Park Interpretive Center is built on a previously developed greyfield in Transect 1, the site of a 10.7-acre beachfront parking lot and pavilion that were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. The parking lot and pavilion were rebuilt. 2.6 acres of the original site were restored into dunes, and 1.81 acres were set aside for the new Interpretive Center. The Interpretive Center buildings, boardwalks, and porches are all elevated, floating above the ecosystems of the dunes. The project also removed 15,250 SF of asphalt from the rebuilt parking lot to further reduce the amount of the site dedicated to motorized vehicles and increase the amount available for dune restoration.

The Interpretive Center site lies within a sensitive ecological area of the coastal floodplain, but following exception E15, development is allowed since the purpose of the Interpretive Center is to promote conservation and sustainable coastal development. After careful study of the dune morphology, our team established a 225’ setback from the primary dunes. This exceeds the 40-meter LBC setback from primary dunes and is intended to allow sufficient space for a secondary dune system to bolster the habitat value and resilience of the primary dunes.

The coastal dunes adjacent to the Interpretive Center are undergoing restoration after Hurricane Ivan and the building is designed to give a unique experience of the dune restoration and the diversity of coastal floodplain. Interactive interpretive exhibits, including a sand play area for children, help visitors understand that the beach is more than a tanning platform and that the dynamic dune ecosystems have much to teach us about resilience.

02. URBAN AGRICULTURE IMPERATIVE

Because the Interpretive Center is located in the sensitive ecological environment of the coastal dunes, which provides habitat for many migrating birds, butterflies, and sea turtles, and since the landscape of the Center is a dune habitat restoration, the Urban Agriculture Imperative is not required. Sustainable Agriculture is planned for other, more appropriate locations within the larger Gulf State Park.

03. HABITAT EXCHANGE IMPERATIVE

The agency that manages Gulf State Park for the state of Alabama, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, also acquires land for the purpose of conservation through the Forever Wild Program. In the past 5 years prior to the construction of this project, they protected well over 1,000 acres through Forever Wild. In 2017 alone, as the Interpretive Center construction neared completion, Forever Wild ensured the protection of 8,700 acres across the state, with almost 3,500 of those acres located in our coastal region.

04. HUMAN-SCALED LIVING IMPERATIVE

The Interpretive Center site is now the gateway to the beaches of Gulf State Park, for visitors traveling on foot, by bicycle, or by car. Prior to the completion of this project, it was almost impossible to access the park’s beaches without a vehicle because a busy beachfront highway separated the beaches from the park campgrounds and cabins. The Gulf State Park Master Plan and the design of the Interpretive Center both greatly increase pedestrian and bicycle connectivity with 15 miles of new trails and 2 new pedestrian bridges linking the uplands of the 6,150-acre park with its popular beaches. At the Interpretive Center, a ramping path connecting a new pedestrian overpass to the beach passes between the Interpretive Center and the Exhibit Porch. As visitors move along the pathway, they experience dynamic views of the larger park, the dune restoration, and the gulf.

Gulf State Park has launched a bike share program, offering free bikes to visitors. Secure sheltered bicycle parking and bike share bikes are provided immediately adjacent to the building, along the ramp that connects the park to the beach, and additional bike parking is located at the Entry Plaza off the existing parking lot.

New Gulf State Park passenger trams operate every day from 8 am- 5 pm, and they stop at the Entry Plaza next to the Interpretive Center every 30 minutes.

Instead of providing new parking for this project, 15,250 sf of an existing asphalt parking lot was saw-cut and removed to create more space for people and vegetation. The existing parking lot was re-striped, with spaces reserved for carpool parking and spaces reserved for low-emitting vehicle (LEV) parking.

There are existing bike lanes along the busy beach highway, but they have minimal separation from the high-speed traffic and are not well used. In anticipation of future bicycle lane improvements along the beach highway, we provided a continuous sidewalk entrance connected to the bike lane and separated from the automobile entry.

The Entry Plaza provides a human-scaled, shady drop-off area at the base of the ramp to the Interpretive Center, adjacent to the existing parking lot. Swinging benches, signage, and interpretive elements provide a human-scaled contrast to the existing parking area. The surface of the entry plaza and the spacing of benches and bike racks are designed to allow GSP staff vehicles and emergency vehicles to access the beach across the Entry Plaza. The shaded “porch swings” of the Entry Plaza are many visitor’s favorite part of the site.

WATER PETAL

05. NET POSITIVE WATER IMPERATIVE

The Gulf State Park Interpretive Center’s approach to the Water Petal is to celebrate the abundant rainfall of the Gulf Coast and engage visitors in the systems that create a net positive water building. The Interpretive Center collects rainwater off the building and porch roofs, using gutters and decorative rain chains to convey the water to an 11.000-gallon cistern that is prominently displayed along the entryway to the building. The cistern captures about 200,000 gallons (757,082 L) of water annually. With an inch of rain, the roofs and gutters of the Interpretive Center can gather 4,000+ gallons.

A kiosk on the exterior of the building shows how the Center is using water in real-time. Drinking fountains, restrooms, and water/sand play station areas use only ultra-violet filtered rainwater. The water filter system can clean up to 530 gallons (2,006 L) of rainwater per day using more than 50 filters and an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system. The Center is certified as a water treatment plant by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), just like a large municipal water treatment facility.

Overflow stormwater and used water from the sand play area, and treated greywater from sinks are directed to a wet swale for groundwater recharge. Swales and wetlands are a natural part of the dune ecosystem, and the new swale fits seamlessly into the dune ecology.

The composting toilets are foam flush and only use a minimal amount of water. The leachate from the composting toilets will be utilized as fertilizer in the larger park landscape when the leachate tank is filled. This will be an infrequent occurrence every few years.

An additional water-related feature is the interactive hydrology maze, where children and other occupants are encouraged to explore the water cycle of the Interpretive Center in the larger hydrological system.

The amount of water available for use in the sand play area has been limited, but since the dune vegetation is well established and there is no need for supplemental irrigation, the system has a water surplus. ADEM recently temporarily suspended our use of the sand play area until a fence can be erected around the day tank under our building to prevent public access. When that has been completed, and the sand play area is again operational, we can increase the amount of water available to the sand play area and public enjoyment of this amenity.

ENERGY PETAL

06. NET POSITIVE ENERGY IMPERATIVE

To achieve Net Positive Energy, the design team first performed a detailed climate analysis to identify opportunities for passive design strategies and set constraints on the proposed building design. An 18.14 kW, 51-panel solar array, mounted adjacent to the building, provides all of the building’s energy, and a 13.5 kW battery system provides backup capacity for resilience. On an average day, the system generates 68 kWhs of electricity, more than enough to meet the 52 kWhs used on a typical day. The system is capable of producing 105% of the building’s energy demand, and the batteries can provide emergency building use for a week.

Solar system production, weather, C02, and building consumption are continuously monitored online using SolarEdge and Green Hub apps. A kiosk on the exterior of the Center shows how the building uses electricity in real-time.

RENEWABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS INFORMATION

Renewable Type	Solar Electric (PV)
Total Renewable Capacity	18.14 kW

MATERIALS PETAL

10. RED LIST IMPERATIVE

The design of the Interpretive Center eliminates excess finishes and showcases simple, local materials, primarily southern yellow pine. This simplified materials vetting and allowed the team to employ a readily available, red-list compliant wood preservative treatment option (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) for the majority of the project’s structure. Structural beams and columns are exposed and integral to the building aesthetic.

​​As this was a publicly bid project, the team had to specify a red list compliant basis of design products and materials and alternates wherever possible and also establish a strong vetting and documentation process for construction.

A total of 314 unique products were used in the construction of the Interpretive Center. The team spent roughly 3,500 hours vetting materials for this project. We estimate that we paid a premium of $300,000 in materials and labor costs to ensure red-list compliant materials were used.

11. EMBODIED CARBON FOOTPRINT IMPERATIVE

During design, our team focused on lowering the embodied carbon of the Interpretive Center building. Our primary strategy was established in the Integrated Design Charette- to design around minimally processed, locally available materials, with a strong focus on southern yellow pine. After the design was complete, we calculated the Embodied Carbon of the construction of the Interpretive Center project at 172.22 MTCO2e and then purchased verified Carbon Emission Reductions (CERs) to offset that embodied carbon. The CERs were sourced from projects that have been validated and registered under high-quality project standards, specifically, Green-e® Climate Landfill Gas Carbon Offsets.

12. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE

To meet the imperative of a Responsible Industry, the project team used 100% FSC-certified wood or salvaged wood from local sources. The project includes a variety of salvaged materials, including salvaged metal stakes for the project’s perimeter silt fence, locally salvaged wood interior flooring in the Exhibit Gallery and Storage Room, and locally salvaged wood interior wall finishes from American Cast Iron Pipe and Company in the Exhibit Gallery, Storage Room, and Restrooms.

LBC requires us to use one Declare Certified product for every 500 square meters of building area. We were happily surprised by the availability of Declare Certified products when the project was underway. The Interpretive Center is a 518 square-meter project, and 22 Declare Certified products were used, well exceeding the requirement.

13. LIVING ECONOMY SOURCING IMPERATIVE

The Gulf State Park Interpretive Center was designed to make efficient, thoughtful, and elegant use of locally available, easily procurable materials. To eliminate the dependency on concrete and steel for the project’s structure, as well as to mitigate the sourcing challenges of finding FSC-certified heavy timbers, the building’s primary vertical structure is composed of individual and built-up 6×6 Southern Yellow Pine posts. ​​Salvaged wood was reclaimed from American Cast Iron Pipe and Company in Birmingham, AL, and processed into the final product at Evolutia’s warehouse in Birmingham.

As this was a publicly bid project, the team had to both specify locally available products and materials and also establish a strong vetting and documentation process for construction.

The core members of the design team and construction team were local. The Architect of Record, Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, and Gulf Sustainability Consultant are residents of Alabama and live a maximum of 430km from the site in Birmingham. The Construction Superintendent lived on-site at Gulf State Park during the project. No consultants live more than 1,553 miles from the site.

14. NET POSITIVE WASTE IMPERATIVE

To achieve net positive waste, the design, construction, and operational team worked to minimize waste and reuse materials from the onset of design through construction, to operations.

The exterior finishes and exterior boardwalks are designed around the dimensions of the lumber and siding to optimize the use of the materials and minimize waste. For example, the composite wood decking used in the orientation porch is 20′ in length, and the raw material is detailed to measure a length of 10′.

Waste management goals and requirements were written into the specifications, and the general contractor established a waste management plan before mobilizing on-site. They required all subcontractors to participate in the plan from procurement through construction.

LeMoine and their subcontractors worked directly with suppliers to reduce the amount of packaging used to ship materials to the site. When possible, they returned packaging to the suppliers for re-use.

Containers were provided on-site for recycling paper/cardboard, metal, and plastics, which were recycled through the Gulf State Park’s recycling program. Since the building is constructed largely of wood, wood “cut-offs” comprise the largest construction waste stream. Most local waste management providers burn wood for biofuel, so we contracted with a chipping company to chip the wood for reuse. The park has utilized wood chips for the maintenance of its extensive system of trails. Prior to chipping, the owner of the chipping company culled larger pieces of wood for salvage. The salvaged wood was shared with the construction team, family, and local businesses, who used it for small projects, including a table, dog bed, and decks.

The project team also worked directly with the team operating the Interpretive Center and Lodge to develop a robust recycling and composting plan for the operations of the facilities. Planning for the composting of food waste at the Interpretive Center sparked a larger vision of a composting center within the park, which is currently under development.

EQUITY PETAL

16. HUMAN SCALE + HUMANE PLACES IMPERATIVE

The signage, scale, and proportion of the Gulf State Park Interpretive Center were all designed to support the human scale in contrast to the busy beach highway, the existing parking lot, and even the vastness of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Exhibit Gallery can be reserved as a meeting space by local groups, and provides a place for people in the regional community or the community of visitors to the park to gather and connect with each other. The Entry Plaza is a crossroads for visitors to the existing Pavilion, the beach, and the Interpretive Center, and in that way, a connection to our “neighborhood.” The Sand Play area serves as a sort of pocket park at the edge of the dunes, providing an opportunity to interact with the natural elements of the site (sand and water) and an ideal vantage point for the recovering dunescape habitat.

16. UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO NATURE + PLACE IMPERATIVE

The Interpretive Center is a launch point that allows for equal access for all to nature. All boardwalks and ramps are ADA accessible with slopes of less than five percent. The Sand Level is designed with accessible boardwalks, turnarounds, and access to play equipment. In addition to encouraging human access, the project accommodates its natural environment. The elevated deck structure allows for native animal species to continue occupying the site post-construction and permits the migration of sand and the cultivation and establishment of native plant species, resulting in the reestablishment of natural dune systems on the site.

The building is limited to one story, excluding the elevated decking, and all shading caused by the project’s roof structures is intended to provide ambient comfort for visitors throughout the day, specifically in the summer months, without imposing on adjacent sites. The pedestrian bridge increases circulation between the site and the expansive remainder of Gulf State Park and offers users the opportunity to leave their cars behind when they visit the park and enjoy a more immersive experience in nature.

17. EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IMPERATIVE

This project is funded by the State of Alabama and qualifies for the equitable investment exception of “exempt organizations funded by public agencies.”

18. JUST ORGANIZATIONS IMPERATIVE

Integral Group acted as MEP Engineer on Record for the project. Integral Group is a registered JUST organization and meets the diversity requirement with 3 boxes for Non-Discrimination and Ethnic Diversity. Our project team advocated for participation in the Just program in team meetings and sent participation letters to more than 10 project consultants and sub-consultants.

BEAUTY + INSPIRATION PETAL

19. BEAUTY + SPIRIT IMPERATIVE

Beauty is an inherent quality of the Gulf State Park Interpretive Center’s site: located on 2 miles of white, sandy beach on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, the building is bathed in the warm southern sun during the day and cool northern breezes at night. It shares its site with the pelican and the piping plover, the nesting sea turtle, and the burrowing Alabama beach mouse. Moody summer storms hover on the horizon; the tide ebbs and flows. In addition to the sand, waves, and salt, the building is situated on the southern edge of another wild and wonderful landscape, one rich in flora, fauna, and cultural history. It is a palimpsest of the slow migration of the shoreline, leaving behind maritime forests, freshwater lakes, and low-lying grasslands.

In short, there is no scarcity of beauty surrounding the Interpretive Center, and the challenge facing the design team was to conceive of a building that did not compete with its context. The Interpretive Center is intended to be beautiful in its simplicity and restraint. The architecture is a pared-down interpretation of the local coastal vernacular that emphasizes porches, deep overhangs, and wood construction.

The material palette is refined and intentional: exposed Southern Yellow Pine glue-laminated beams span between built-up columns fabricated from Southern Yellow Pine posts. Exposed glue-laminated purlins and decking add another layer of dimensionality while eliminating the need for finish ceiling materials –an unspoken lesson in structural framing. Reclaimed wood flooring and wall finishes of native Alabama wood species add depth and warmth to interior spaces while providing sound attenuation. Deep, cantilevered roof overhangs protect wall openings while increasing the available surface area for roof rainwater collection.

The building’s sources of energy and water are also celebrated with boldly designed infographics and highly visible collection elements. The 18 kWh photovoltaic array is proudly visible from the adjacent pedestrian bridge, efficiently oriented due south for optimal energy harvest. The 11,000-gallon cistern is boldly exposed above ground, the mid-point of the project’s hydrology narrative. During a rainstorm, custom gutters tied into multiple decorative rain chains and sculptural rain basins transform the building into a kinetic, living sculpture.

20. INSPIRATION + EDUCATION IMPERATIVE

The design of the Gulf State Park Interpretive Center places education at its core; Infographics decorate the outside of the building, teaching visitors and regular occupants about the water cycle in the region and energy conservation of the building, and the boardwalks feature signage describing the dune ecosystem and our human connection to the Gulf. On the Orientation Porch, an interactive water maze placed at child eye level provides a fun way to interact with, and subsequently learn about the building’s water treatment system. The custom rain basins allow children to reach in and play with the rainwater as it falls into the project’s collection system. The educational and engaging spirit of the building is meant to inspire even in the youngest visitors with a sense of wonder and discovery.

The exhibit porch features interactive installations to teach children more about the animals, flora, and fauna surrounding the Interpretive Center. Bright colors, imagery, and play help to draw children in and encourage interaction and hands-on learning. The sand play area, complete with a water pump and dedicated cistern, allows children to engage with sand in a new environment – in lieu of sand castles by the seashore, this sand play area is intended to give kids the opportunity to understand sand’s vital role as a buildable component of the Interpretive Center’s dune landscape. The sand play area also helps children develop motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and proprioceptive senses and encourages independent play and connection to other children.

The open house days in 2019 and 2020 were a great success, inviting families to explore the exhibit porch while learning about birding, developing fishing skills, and meeting certain reptiles and owls up close. The interest and interaction we observed indicate that the educational experience of visiting the Interpretive Center will serve children of all ages for years to come.

PROJECT WEBSITE:https://learningcampusgsp.com/interpretive-center

The post GULF STATE PARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER first appeared on Living Future.

TEAM ROSTER

3.1

EQUITY PETAL

I15 HUMAN SCALE + HUMANE PLACES

The site subdivision contains a connection point with a highly trafficked pedestrian corner with interpretive signing about LBC & Indigenous history in the area, as well as pedestrian seating. The site also contains uninterrupted access to pedestrian corridors leading to the center of town and various outdoor recreation areas. The pedestrian corner is bordered by an art wall planted with native wildflowers and other plants donated by various other members of the community. Parking only occupies 18% of the total site area.

I16 UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO NATURE & PLACES

The Living Homes on Mill Creek are designed single-story, highly accessible single family dwellings. In addition to the biophillic home design of the structures, the native edible landscape immediately proximate to the exterior access points provide frequent access to nature in addition to pedestrian & vehicle access to high value natural areas, such as highly desirable recreation areas located in public lands and two national parks in close proximity.

BEAUTY PETAL

I16 BEAUTY & SPIRIT

The projects at Mill Creek were designed to be beautiful inside and out, enjoyed by inhabitants, neighbors and community members. The beauty of these homes draw the inhabitants deeper into connection with the landscape, with each other, and with the ecosystems in which they exist. Inside the living homes, light pours in through beveled south-facing windows and french doors. Thick straw bale walls, hand coated in earthen plasters are imperfect and inviting, born of the dance between mud, palms and trowels. The exterior of these homes are designed to reflect the desert palette, complimented by the rich assortment of native plantings that adorn the periphery. A beautiful plaster and rock-gabion wall curves gracefully around the perimeter of the site, paying homage to the original earthen plaster architects that inhabited this region and gabions filled with local rocks honor the legacy of Civilian Conservation Corps workers who once installed them in the canyons.

I20 INSPIRATION + EDUCATION

Community Rebuilds (CR) has participated in educational efforts around this project within our local community and in broader capacities since taking on the Living Building Challenge. CR hosted several LBC presentations, open to the public and for our student education program. Discussions around project planning and goals have been held several times a semester with our intern classes since 2018 and staff have presented on the project with various groups at natural building, sustainability, and educational conferences. We have kept updated information about the project on our website and have a case study among the Affordable Housing projects on ILFI’s website.

Unfortunately, the construction for these homes was completed amid the Covid-19 pandemic so open days have been restricted to smaller groups and we were unable to hold a large open day for the public. However, we have reported about the project in local newspapers over the course of the construction and performance period of the homes.
https://www.communityrebuilds.org/project-vision

LBC 4.0

PLACE PETAL

I01 ECOLOGY OF PLACE

Through careful and lengthy analysis of the site, the chosen reference area, and parameters resulting from the eventual development – a pragmatic conceptualization of an ecologically coherent, multi-family subdivision was conceived. Based on plant communities and ecological processes extant in the reference biome, peripheral space adjacent to the four homes was to be apportioned into areas dedicated to the re-establishment of a native and productive micro-ecology. Aware of the constraints placed upon the small site by a limited water supply and minimal available area for the restoration of foundational species crucial to the high desert biome, a vision for a productive and regenerative landscape was rendered around situating landscape elements in proximity and coordination with infrastructure features across the site. Around water-harvesting vessels and overflows, stormwater mitigation earthworks, and greywater dispersal units native species would be re-established, providing a variety of complementary and accessory functions; nitrogen fixation, erosion control, invertebrate habitat, forage and edible fruit production, and pollinator benefits. Stormwater shall be managed on-site to provide its potential benefits for ecological restoration, and plantings shall be located to be minimally invasive to home-owner-occupied areas. As discussed in other relevant areas of the design, the homes have been situated to optimally receive passive solar heating and cooling, around which plantings can be strategically placed to reap the same benefits as the human occupants. Rainwater harvesting tanks and complementary systems have also been designed in accordance with the functionality of the larger system as well.

Native plantings will be patterned to aid in the production of both native and non-native food crops while mimicking their function in their native habitat. Three primary areas shall serve as the foremost areas of intentional ecological restoration, with the ability to add more with the active or more likely tacit permission of the homeowners. Shown in the adjacent diagram, the three areas will also mimic three prominent hydrological zones of the native landscape, creating a gradient across the site as water moves across – slowly accumulating and infiltrating at different levels in accordance with the natural contours of the site aided by the earthworks implemented by the design team. In several years, with careful monitoring of the recovery process and intervention when necessary, the syncopation of the layered hydrological, ecological, and substrate systems operating in tandem shall provide this small subdivision with a regenerative and productive slice of the native ecology. Which shall in turn provide its complementary benefits of health, happiness, and connection to nature sought after so highly by the design team and the Living Building Challenge.

I02 URBAN AGRICULTURE

Given the scale and primary usage of the Living Buildings on Mill Creek, agricultural methods are limited to small-scale kitchen gardens and edible landscaping. Following each single-family household’s diverse needs, desires, and capacities for stewarding agricultural space, each residence is allocated an area to use for in-ground planting. Homeowners are equipped with greywater basins for aiding in the growth of larger fruit-bearing trees and other woody-stemmed perennial food-producing species. Mulch basins situated in the rain gutter overflow areas provide additional water-retaining areas for growing annual species less equipped to grow in the desert. Rainwater catchment cisterns are also situated close to designated food production areas, vastly reducing the need to use supplemental culinary water for more water-intensive annual species.

In peripheral spaces and edges, the design team combined efforts to revegetate the site with edible native and adapted plants in tandem with other native plants providing ancillary ecosystem function. Non-edibles located in marginal areas on the site, less suited for easy access and maintenance, provide necessary pollinator and invertebrate habitat, nitrogen-fixing, erosion control, and pest repellent. Approaching edible landscaping in this manner provides low-maintenance food harvesting opportunities in common areas and enables residents autonomy over agricultural plantings in their independent plots, in accordance with their stated needs and available resources capable of devoting to food production.

I03 HABITAT EXCHANGE

This imperative required us to offset the amount of land we built our project on by purchasing an equivalent amount of land that will be protected in perpetuity. We were approached by someone from Kelvedon Hills in Tasmania, Australia, a 1300-hectare area of high-conservation land that protects 40 kinds of rare and endangered species. We purchased one acre for Community Rebuilds to protect and preserve the land and animals, from insects to eagles, for the foreseeable future.

I04 HUMAN SCALED LIVING

The proposed homes for this project are a half-mile from the downtown area, a bikeable, if not walkable distance, for most. It is common for residents within city limits to walk and bike to work or other daily activities.

A major asset to this site is access to the Mill Creek Parkway. This quiet trail follows Mill Creek through the city and provides pedestrians, cyclists, and other human-powered transit users with access to many parts of the city. An entrance to this trail is at Rotary Park, just a block away, and provides easy access to the grocery store in the center of town. This path along with the network of sidewalks and bike lanes makes Moab more accessible to human-powered transportation than a walk score of 19 suggests. It is worth noting that the walk score does not appear to count Rotary Park or the Mill Creek Parkway in its results. The site subdivision contains a connection point with a highly trafficked pedestrian corner with interpretive signage, as well as pedestrian seating. The site also contains uninterrupted access to pedestrian corridors leading to the center of town and various outdoor recreation areas. The pedestrian corner is bordered by an art wall that is planted with native wildflowers and other plants donated by various other members of the community. Parking only occupies 18% of the total site area.

Moab is a growing city, and the project team deemed it particularly important to concentrate that growth near the downtown area to increase the amount of human powered living in the area and to protect the surrounding public lands from development. For this project, we will be turning one lot with one home into four lots with four homes, which will add to the density and walkability of the area. An increase in permanent residents will also have a substantial impact on the sense of community on this side of town. More “eyes on the street” increases safety and comfort within the neighborhood. On-site improvements will encourage pedestrian circulation through the site and active transportation will be encouraged in homeowner guides. Each home has a utility room and an option for a shed where bike storage can easily be accommodated.

WATER PETAL

I05 RESPONSIBLE WATER USE

The Living Homes on Mill Creek are 4 single-family homes. End water uses include; sinks (kitchen and bathroom), showers, and laundry for potable water, toilet flushing, and irrigation for non-potable water (greywater and rainwater). All non-agriculture landscaping at The Living Homes on Mill Creek follow a xeriscaping strategy that will require extremely minimal supplemental watering after establishment. All water for irrigation will be non-potable water collected in the outdoor rain cisterns from the roof-top rainwater harvesting systems. As seen in the urban agriculture diagram, greywater systems will be the primary source of irrigation for agriculture mulch basins, with supplemental water provided from the aforementioned harvested rainwater. The attached landscape / planting drawings show the planting layout which is designed primarily along bio-swales constructed on site or in stormwater systems located on the site’s periphery. The vast majority of the plants are native to the Moab area and can survive the unique conditions of the high desert. Non-native plants were approved as non-invasive and serve other ecological functions outlined in the planting plans. Most plants on site are multi-functional; providing one or more of erosion control, soil rehabilitation, edibility, and stormwater mitigation. Through research performed for this Living Building Challenge project Community Rebuilds has become dedicated to using water-saving appliances in all our future homes.

I06 NET POSITIVE WATER

The release of the LBC 4.0 Water Petal Handbook allowed our project to have more consideration for the cost and benefit of installing water systems fully independent from the public utility in four separate single family homes. Pursuing the Living Building Challenge has resulted in key advocacy and important strides for water reuse and conservation in both Community Rebuild’s program and the state of Utah. However, since none of the individuals or organizations involved in the project’s design are the final occupants or managers of these buildings, it became deeply important for our organization to consider the burden we are placing on our low-income homeowners by pursuing this certification.

Under the LBC 4.0 guidelines, and as an affordable housing project, we have decided to connect certain aspects of these homes back to our public utility to reduce the project’s maintenance impact on the homeowners. Additionally, the City of Moab opened a brand new wastewater treatment facility around the same time this project began that meets most of ILFI’s requirements for a “sustainable utility,” making it still a low-impact option.

The Projects at Mill Creek are using a combination of Option 1-On-site Treatment, Option 3- Handprinting, Exception WT-003 Municipal Potable Water Supply, Exception WT-006 Municipal Overflow Connection, and Exception WT-009 Municipal Sewage Treatment for Affordable Housing to fulfill the I06 – Net Positive Water Imperative.

ENERGY PETAL

Energy and carbon reduction has been a central goal of the Community Rebuilds program since its founding in 2010 and is a key way to create long-term affordability in our homes. By attempting the Living Building Challenge, Community Rebuilds was finally able to put our model to the test. The Living Homes on Mill Creek were built in standard CR fashion with passive solar design and natural materials. Our small homes are oriented south with maximized windows and primary gathering spaces on the south side of the home, and secondary spaces with smaller windows to the north. Large roof overhangs serve the dual purpose of protecting straw bale walls and exterior lime plaster, and shading the interior from intense southern sun exposure in the summer. These homes have minimal hallways and wasted space (fewer areas to heat and cool) and have proven to have minimal energy needs compared to conventional single family homes. The natural materials used are carbon sequestering or carbon neutral and add to the health, beauty, and affordability of the homes. Examples include straw bale insulation, adobe floors, lime and clay plaster finishes, and significant use of salvaged materials. All together these material choices result in an embodied carbon footprint that is just a quarter of an average similar sized single family home.

I08 NET POSITIVE ENERGY

The strategies employed to reduce energy needs in the Living Homes on Mill Creek, and their desert habitat with tons of sun and little rain, made the use of renewable energy to supply all of the project’s energy needs a simple requirement to fulfill for this project. Each home has a solar array between 5 and 3.7 kWh. These sizes were chosen based on the performance of previously built Community Rebuilds homes that perform at Net Zero Energy and increased a little because we did not know our household sizes during the planning phase of the project. Any additional solar production, beyond the needs of the homes’ operation requirements, can then be used to offset the carbon footprint from the homes’ total embodied carbon emissions from construction. The heavy utilization of salvaged and natural materials, which are carbon sequestering or carbon neutral, brought the homes’ embodied carbon footprint to just a quarter of the average embodied carbon footprint for similarly sized homes. These material choices made carbon calculation itself a challenge because none of the approved carbon calculators at the time had the ability to select salvaged and natural building materials. Thankfully, CR was able to work with The Endeavour Center and use their Beam Calculator to come up with a much more accurate number. Finally, the resiliency strategy for these homes is also owed to simple passive solar design strategies. The same techniques used to reduce energy needs, paired with strategic thermal mass and occupant strategies, make these homes habitable without power in case of an emergency during any season.

The post MILL CREEK first appeared on Living Future.

TEAM ROSTER

PLACE PETAL

01. Ecology of Place

The Salt Lake City office for Architectural Nexus, or Arch Nexus SLC,  sits on the lower foothill slope of the Wasatch Mountain Range, where the arid Great Basin shrub-steppe meets the Wasatch Mountain Forest ecoregion. It is a developed urban area, located half a mile from the nearest natural habitat and along a major traffic arterial. Arch Nexus previously designed the limited site area with low water use, and climate-appropriate plantings, contrasting with the surrounding pavement and turf-dominated properties.

The new renovation project aimed to regenerate the site and empower the building occupants as stewards to contribute towards a healthy local ecology that resembled pre-development native ecosystem conditions. Features like bioswale drainage, soil restoration, and diverse plant species selection reflect the nearby foothill and canyon habitats. The design improved the diversity of flora and fauna and included seeded soils from the local foothill habitat to enhance microbial and fungal diversity.

02. Urban Agriculture

The climate in the Salt Lake City region is classified as semi-arid continental, with low average temperatures in winter and high temperatures in summer. While summer is drier than other times of the year, there is no distinct wet or dry season—some precipitation occurs year-round.

Plants chosen for the urban agriculture garden are adapted to the local climate, water availability, terrain, microclimates, and indigenous ecosystems. Apple trees and drought-tolerant juneberry trees were planted for the urban agriculture tree canopy. Vertical plantings of grapes and raspberries on screen structures were included, with native wild strawberries planted on the ground below. Existing golden currant shrubs, which produce excellent fruit, were retained and additional golden currant plantings were added to the urban agriculture design.

Native grasses and wildflowers, along with adjacent plantings of native sagebrush and Gambel Oak attract pollinators and create habitats for beneficial insects.

The project partnered with The Green Urban Lunch Box to help with large harvests. This organization’s mission is “to empower people to connect to food and their community by revitalizing urban spaces and building a resilient food culture” (https://thegreenurbanlunchbox.com/). The Green Urban Lunch Box distributes produce to local free farm stands, senior centers, cancer centers, food banks, and other distribution routes that provide hunger relief to community members.

03. Habitat Exchange

This project was an existing building therefore the project team could not set aside on-site land for the Habitat Exchange. Nexus participated in the ILFI Habitat Exchange program to satisfy the requirements for this Imperative. The participation included 1.34 acres.

04. Human Scaled Living

Architectural Nexus Salt Lake City office is a re-use project. While no new square footage was added, necessary functions were incorporated, and indoor and outdoor space utilization was improved. The goal was to use this building as a teaching tool to demonstrate how to reuse a building in a way that benefits both the environment and the community. This building reflects the core values of Architectural Nexus and its employees.

Architectural Nexus designed large open spaces inside and outside the building to facilitate occupant gatherings and community connections. To enhance community connection, Architectural Nexus created outdoor areas at the street level, including a public art installation, benches, canopies, and landscaping. Within the building, the company has a dedicated training room that seats up to 100 people which is available for use free of charge to community organizations.

The building also provides secure indoor storage for 19 bicycles and 10 outdoor spaces, maintenance tools, shower areas, and lockers to encourage human-powered transportation. Additionally, the company offers 4WD hybrid and 2WD all-electric pool cars for use during the day to promote active transportation year-round. The parking calculations remain the same, and the site maintains six Electric Vehicle (EV) charging spaces.

WATER PETAL

05. Responsible Water Use

The Arch Nexus SLC design team created a life cycle for the water used on site. The use of potable water for toilet flushing and irrigation was avoided by implementing a greywater system and on-site rainwater collection. Although the project jurisdiction required all potable water to be municipally sourced, once it entered the site for hand washing, showering, and other uses, it was reused through the greywater system for flushing toilets and urinals.

The greywater system also supports the building’s aesthetics and biophilia by watering the interior living walls. Rainwater is collected and used for office clothes washers and exterior irrigation for urban agriculture.

Stormwater runoff from parking lots is managed with a swale, designed to slow runoff during storms. The swale includes strategically placed check dams to slow the water and allow it to percolate into the soil, irrigating new and existing trees and shrubs. Any excess water is directed to an on-site underground sump storage system.

06. Net Positive Water

Salt Lake City is prone to drought and threatened by wildfires. A 2,500-gallon rainwater cistern was installed on the Arch Nexus SLC site. In an emergency, the building can shelter its 109 occupants using rainwater and on-site personal water filtration devices.

Due to health and utility regulations in Utah, municipal sources were required for potable water in sinks, faucets, and showers. The team aimed to minimize waste and eliminate potable water use for toilet flushing and irrigation; typically, the two largest end uses for potable water in office buildings. Greywater was used for toilet flushing and interior irrigation of the five living walls, while rainwater was used for laundry needs and exterior irrigation for urban agriculture.

Arch Nexus SLC adopted a hand-printing approach to manage its blackwater. They purchased and donated low-flow water fixtures for employees who lived in the same municipal system to offset the predicted blackwater discharge. Because of lower than expected occupancy post-pandemic, the actual discharge was much lower than predicted.

Utah is a high desert environment with prevalent water rights and restrictions. A 2010 state bill limits rainwater collection to 2,500 gallons per parcel, with 2,250 gallons designated for outdoor urban agriculture and 250 gallons for internal laundry use. Fortunately, the Utah state legislature adopted the International Plumbing Code, allowing greywater use in buildings. Arch Nexus took advantage of this, using greywater for toilet flushing and watering the five living walls in the office.

ENERGY PETAL

07. Energy + Carbon Reduction

The project was estimated to generate 109% of the energy consumed on-site, with a total photovoltaic (PV) capacity of roughly 270,000 kWh. The new on-site PV system was commissioned in June 2021, producing 67 MWh in the first two months.

A baseline Energy Use Index (EUI) of 95 was established for this project. The estimated EUI is 24.8 kBtu/sf-yr, with an error margin of +2.5/-0.5, resulting in a range of 27.3 to 24.3 EUI. This represents an overall energy reduction of 75%.

Carbon reduction was a key focus during the design development of the Arch Nexus SLC Office Remodel. Utilizing the existing building had the most significant impact on reducing embodied carbon. The team aimed to minimally modify the building while prioritizing natural and carbon-sequestering materials. Wood floor planks from the original gymnasium were salvaged and used as accent materials. Railroad ties and metals were salvaged for finishes, and site furniture was designed in-house and constructed from salvaged materials. Existing kitchen equipment was relocated for reuse. The team also considered carpet, ceiling tiles, and gypsum board to reduce embodied carbon. These efforts resulted in a 59% reduction in embodied carbon compared to EC3 baselines.

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PETAL

09. Healthy Interior Environment

To improve occupant health by reducing or eliminating indoor pollutants, the Architectural Nexus SLC project not only adhered to Living Building Challenge (LBC) requirements but also exceeded them, creating synergies with other LBC Petals and Imperatives. The project included entry approach technologies like walk-off grating at the main entry, dedicated exhaust systems for areas like housekeeping, on-site smoking prohibitions, CDPH-compliant interior finishes, and Greenguard Gold certifications for new furnishings.

Air testing was a significant challenge due to the local and regional environment. While Salt Lake City is not on the EPA watch list, it is an urban area where regional air pollution can accumulate. Additionally, the increase in wildfires across the country means that smoke often reaches Salt Lake City. Despite these challenges, the building’s features, such as MERV 13 filters and operational practices like using EPA DfE cleaning products, safeguard indoor air quality consistently.

The team also installed indoor air quality monitoring devices to actively track CO, CO2, Particulate Matter (2.5 & 10), and TVOCs. Operable windows and an outdoor air quality monitor were added, and occupants must check the outdoor air quality before opening any windows to ensure it meets indoor air quality requirements.

10. Healthy Interior Performance

The team at Arch Nexus conducted a six-month post-occupancy test with the help of a third party, meeting the required thresholds in the first round of testing. They continued to monitor indoor and outdoor air quality levels using an approved RESET device. To reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the building, they complied with the CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 for interior building products.

Arch Nexus has had a cleaning policy since its first LEED certification pursuit. The policy has evolved with improvements in cleaning products, but the core principle remains to use the safest products for the environment and human health. The team uses EPA Safer Choice products for cleaning and purchases only tree-free or 100% recycled paper products for disposable paper goods.

All regularly occupied spaces have access to daylight and views. To enhance natural lighting, the project team constructed a new courtyard in the darkest area of the building. SolaTubes installed throughout the roof provide ample lighting to the point that electrical lighting is almost never used during the daytime. Additionally, two existing courtyards were adapted with large operable doors, which occupants open when temperature, humidity, and air quality are optimal. These doors enhance the connection with nature by bringing the outside in, and occupants love using them at every opportunity.

11. Access to Nature

Access to nature is central to Arch Nexus’s identity. Planted living walls and various finish materials provide a range of calming or exciting visual and tactile textures. Small spaces were designed for private conversations or individual focus and offer a calming refuge from open communal areas. Large, light-filled spaces for working and gathering foster community and connection with natural cycles.

A key feature of this connection to nature are the interior courtyards running through the middle of the office space. Glazing on all four sides allows daylight to enter, and operable window walls bring in fresh air when conditions allow. These features enable visual and direct connections with biophilic elements like plants, stone, and wood. Even when the windows are closed, occupants enjoy watching the rain or snow from the courtyards as they work.

Outdoor spaces were also designed to enhance access to nature. Areas for work and relaxation, to be used by individuals and groups, are integrated with the performative functions of a living building and its interaction with natural cycles. The outdoor conference room to the east of the building is shaded by solar panels, creating dappled light. From this space, the urban agriculture and the artful piping of the rainwater cistern are visible. Tables and benches are arranged for individual or group work or relaxation among native grasses, wildflowers, and fruit trees.

All building occupants benefit from frequent and meaningful interactions with nature, which are integral to the design and operation of the space.

MATERIALS PETAL

13. Red List

Arch Nexus also certified its Sacramento location in 2018, which achieved Living Building Challenge certification and became the first Living Building In California. The efforts from that project laid the groundwork for a Red List-compliant material catalog in the Arch Nexus SLC office. The design team anticipated that this materials library would streamline the design process. While Arch Nexus SLC mimicked many materials featured at Arch Nexus SAC, the two buildings were designed under two distinct versions of the LBC handbook. Arch Nexus SLC was built under LBC v4.0, requiring additional due diligence for nearly all materials vetted under LBC v3.0. Some products were no longer available, while others no longer complied, necessitating a search for compliant alternatives.

The material vetting process was integrated with the design process throughout the project, beginning in Schematic Design with one material expert and intensifying efforts during Design Development with two additional material vetters. Each vetter focused on their list of products by CSI division. This approach resulted in fewer products needing selection during Bidding and Construction, avoiding delays.

The team aimed to reuse as many materials from the preceding Living Building as possible as well as utilize natural materials where possible. They also deconstructed and repurposed existing materials from the building, incorporated recycled materials, and used Declare Labeled products. Compliance was achieved in innovative ways, such as finishing salvaged vertical cabinet faces with furniture linoleum.

The General Contractor and major subcontractors were integral to the team by helping locate salvaged material opportunities, advising on relative costs of compliant material options, and sourcing cost-effective alternatives. Despite these strategies, the reduction in material vetting efforts was not as significant as expected due to the need to re-vet previously used materials to an expanded Red List and the complexity of some systems.

Lessons learned from Arch Nexus’s first Living Building were incorporated, such as sending advocacy letters to manufacturers as each product was vetted. This approach resulted in several manufacturers adjusting their product ingredients to meet Red List compliance. Manufacturers like NLS Lighting and Lumenwerx modified their exterior lighting fixtures to comply with non-PVC wiring and compliant powder coating.

Some challenges remain, such as brass components in products containing trace amounts of lead. Advocating for manufacturers to eliminate these trace amounts will be challenging until technological advancements make them obsolete. However, progress has been made, and manufacturers are now more aware and open to modifying their products for compliance.

14. Responsible Sourcing

The project team salvaged as much wood as possible while all additional wood was sourced as FSC certified. Building casework, wood benches, wood doors, and hardware were relocated and repurposed. Building wood ceiling panels became living wall frames and elevator enclosure paneling. Trestlewood planks from a local abandoned railroad trestle formed courtyard paving. The casework subcontractor unearthed and salvaged FSC MDF board. The general contractor reused wood and plywood formwork.

A project of this scale requires 3 Living Products. The team chose 4. The office chairs, carpet, and two types of insulation were certified Living Products during construction. The project used 67 products with Declare labels and 37 salvaged products.

15. Living Economy Sourcing

Arch Nexus SLC proudly sourced 29% of its materials, by cost, within 500km of the project location and 24% within 1,000km. The availability of mills in the Salt Lake City area offering FSC wood has significantly decreased, but FSC vendors are still within a reasonable distance of the project site. This project highlights the importance of designing with regional materials in mind, as specific regions in the United States may face challenges in procuring materials locally.

16. Net Positive Waste

Originally built in the 1950s, the Arch Nexus SLC office space was purchased in 2009 from a popular fitness center. Despite the fitness center being at the end of its life, Arch Nexus saw an opportunity to remodel the building to meet LEED Platinum Standards.

In 2019, Arch Nexus began planning the renovation to meet Living Building Challenge requirements. During construction, the general contractor successfully deconstructed and reclaimed a significant amount of useful building materials, salvaging nearly 8% of the total materials budget for on-site reuse. This approach not only reduced waste but also provided insight into how the office space could be continually deconstructed and repurposed in the future.

The project team diverted 2,529,626 lbs of waste from the landfill, which accounted for 98% of the total project waste, including various materials like metal, paper, cardboard, soil, biomass, rigid foam, carpet, insulation, and demolition waste. They also developed an Operations and Maintenance Plan to sustain waste diversion throughout the building’s life.

With plans to occupy the office for the next 50 to 100 years, Arch Nexus prioritized adaptive reuse and durability in their design and material selection. They focused on material conservation methods, such as procuring construction materials for longevity, designing for efficient disassembly and deconstruction, ensuring quality and value, selecting materials that are visually, physically, and ergonomically suitable as well as environmentally healthy and safe, and chemically compatible. They also designed the systems/components for easy disassembly for repairs, replacements, reuse, and recycling.

EQUITY PETAL

17. Universal Access

This project emphasizes human scale. Architectural Nexus incorporated several public amenities, including outdoor shaded bench seating, an outdoor workroom, and bike racks. These features, along with the surrounding urban agriculture, are open for the entire community to enjoy and use at any time. It is gratifying to see these spaces regularly utilized in this manner.

The design also includes spaces intended for community gathering and connection, such as the outdoor workroom and an indoor room that the community can reserve free of charge. Additionally, the lobby can serve as a cooling room during extreme heat events.

18. Inclusion

Arch Nexus received a JUST label in 2017 and has continued to maintain its JUST label since then. BNA Consulting obtained JUST labels and plans to continue to maintain their label as well. Five consultant groups completed JUST Self-Assessments including the Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineers.

Arch Nexus donated >0.1% of the project cost to Fresh Start Ventures, a community-based nonprofit focused on equity and inclusion. Fresh Start Ventures assists formerly incarcerated people with their transition back into society.

As part of the non-profit donation initiative through the Living Building Challenge, Arch Nexus designed and built a tiny home through its internal community service program, Nexus Builds. The tiny home complied with LBC standards and was donated through Fresh Start Ventures

BEAUTY PETAL

19. Beauty + Biophilia

Arch Nexus SLC was designed with principles of restraint, reconnecting to place, being formed by process, and dissolving boundaries. This adaptive reuse project transformed the existing building from an isolated object into a space that reflects the company’s values: inspiration, stewardship, and regeneration.

Located near the mouth of Parley’s Canyon, the project sits at a crucial geographical and transportation interchange. It transitions between the Wasatch & Uinta Montane Forests and the Great Basin Shrub Steppe ecoregions. Historically, Parley’s Canyon has been a key interchange for goods, people, and information since pioneer days. Previously housing a railroad, the office features a railroad ties theme, with five living walls surrounded by wood shrouds made from salvaged ceiling clouds, once part of a gym floor. Other salvaged materials include carpet, ceilings, and trestle wood pavers from the Great Salt Lake, used in exterior landscapes and an art installation along Parleys Way.

Essentialism guided demolition and remodel design. Existing materials were retained where possible, excess materials were stripped away, and natural, raw finishes were embraced. Exposed concrete floors reveal the building’s construction history, and raw steel is used for millwork, mirror frames, and a lobby feature wall. Raw steel elements in the furniture complement the architectural finishes, aging beautifully with a natural patina.

Many of the building’s boundaries were dissolved to create new opportunities. Operable windows were installed around the perimeter, and glass bifold doors replaced large sections of storefronts in the courtyards, blurring transitions. Occupants are reconnected to nature as they move in and out of the courtyards and enjoy natural ventilation. Dappled light from the dissolving PV canopy outside mimics a tree canopy, creating a beautiful outdoor space. Green walls fed by graywater beautify each of the office’s five “neighborhoods,” and Solatubes flood the space with daylight. Planters between workstations provide immediate access to nature and privacy for each occupant. Environmental graphics anchor each neighborhood, reinforcing its place-based names and adding biophilic views and color. Interior finishes, such as tile patterns in restrooms and salvaged wood cladding for the elevator, also reflect the dissolving theme.

20. Education + Inspiration

Over 100 people attended the first annual open day and toured the space, including clients, consultants, architects from other firms, former employees, students, friends, and employee family members. Arch Nexus SLC holds an annual open house to celebrate the space and as a means to strengthen connections among the community.

Informational signage, installed as wall graphics, plays a key role in educating occupants and visitors about the regenerative concepts of the Living Building Challenge. The color-coded signage also serves as a way finding tool throughout the space.

A Virtual Reality model allows viewers to experience projects in a unique and detailed way, more immersive than a video or physical brochure. Viewers can walk through the space, learn about the Living Building Challenge, and explore sustainability initiatives. You can find the virtual brochure at https://www.archnexus.com/arch-nexus-slc/arch-nexus-slc-virtual-reality/

The post ARCHITECTURAL NEXUS – SALT LAKE CITY first appeared on Living Future.

TEAM ROSTER

PLACE PETAL

01 LIMITS TO GROWTH IMPERATIVE

The Environmental Nature Center Preschool was designed to provide education through a hands-on experience with nature. The design of the playground area consists of different outdoor classroom spaces that provide multiple activities that respond to particular natural environments. These spaces will encourage children to interact and engage with their natural surroundings and foster creativity and creative play by leaving problem-solving in their hands. Different areas and elements of the site can be manipulated daily to create different characteristics and landscapes.

The reference habitat for the site is the California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion in the greater California bioregion which is comprised of Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub.

All new plant materials planted on the project site, such as Artemesia, Encelia, Mimulus, and Salvia, are native to California. Planting does not utilize supplemental irrigation, fertilizer, or pesticides, just as it would in the native habitat. All non-native plant material was removed from the site prior to the preschool’s development.

This project restores the native landscape consisting of plants found in the coastal sage scrub ecoregion that will aid in the conservation of resources and provide habitat for endangered animals and birds, such as the California gnatcatcher.

I04 HUMAN POWERED LIVING IMPERATIVE

The ENC Preschool is an early childhood education center serving children ages 2- 5 who, of course, are not old enough to walk or ride bicycles safely to and from school. The project site is designed for small humans to explore and experience nature safely once they arrive at school.

ENC Preschool staff are encouraged to walk or cycle to the site. The project includes a staff shower room and both short-term and long-term bike storage.

ENERGY PETAL

The Environmental Nature Center Preschool is a single-story, 5900 square foot preschool facility in Newport Beach, CA, completed in 2019. The building was designed and is being operated as a net-zero energy facility with on-site renewable energy systems offsetting annual energy consumption.

(The Environmental Nature Center also owns and operates an 8,000 square foot visitors’ center, completed in 2009, located on an adjacent site that has operated as a net-positive energy facility for over ten years.)

The enclosed areas of the Preschool building are naturally ventilated via operable windows, operable partitions, and manually controlled operable wall louvers. Space heating is supplied via radiant slab heating systems served by heat pump water heaters. Interior and exterior lighting systems are designed to be energy efficient and to complement abundant daylighting. Laundry, kitchen, and water heating appliances are energy-efficient and all-electric. There is no on-site combustion of fossil fuels.

A 32 kW rooftop photovoltaic system offsets the facility’s energy use on an annual basis — including the consumption of three electric vehicle charging stations.

EQUITY PETAL

I16 UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO NATURE + PLACE

The ENC preschool was designed and constructed such that the project does not diminish the quality of fresh air, sunlight, and natural waterways for neighboring homes, buildings, or sites. The preschool has no on-site emissions, does not block views from or cast shadows on adjacent sites, and is developed to support natural drainage flows in the neighborhood. The facility was designed to preserve mature shade trees both on and adjacent to the project site, with the preschool building and photovoltaic system located in the least shaded area of the property to maintain the existing shade trees without limiting photovoltaic energy generation.

I17 EQUITABLE INVESTMENT

The Environmental Nature Center is a non-profit 501(c)-3 public benefit corporation located in Newport Beach, CA, and founded in 1972. https://encenter.org/donate/

The ENC employs 18 staff who provide education through hands-on experience with nature. The ENC provides educational programs to thousands of local children each year and relies primarily on community donations to support its operations.

In 2019, the ENC opened the Nature Preschool that educates 72 children daily, engages parents in active learning, serves as a model nature preschool, and provides a research forum on early childhood and environmental education. The preschool is part of a non-profit organization. It relies on both donations and tuition to support nature-based early child education for neighborhood families regardless of their ability to pay.

ENC Nature Preschool is a developmental play-based emergent curriculum where children’s ideas, inquiries, discoveries, and investigations are nurtured and implemented. With hands-on daily experiences, children acquire a deep, intuitive understanding of nature and the natural world. Engagement in the environment and with others is where real learning occurs.

The ENC Nature Preschool is actively and equitably investing in its students and community.

Overall project costs for the ENC Preschool were approximately $8M, including land, soft costs, construction hard costs, and furnishings, fixtures, and equipment. The vast majority of the funds for the project were raised from local donors who contribute to the Environmental Nature Center as an essential community and educational resource.

I18 JUST ORGANIZATIONS

The project design firm, LPA, engaged in a process to review and obtain the JUST Label, partially inspired by our work with the ENC Preschool pursuing Living Building Challenge Petal Certification.

LPA achieved the JUST Label for our company in 2021 and renewed it in 2023. The process of becoming a JUST Organization allowed our firm to evaluate and refine various company policies and initiatives in an effort to be a more just and equitable company.

BEAUTY PETAL

I19 BEAUTY + SPIRIT

The ENC Preschool celebrates the spirit of learning through nature and nature play.

The ENC Preschool uses a developmental play-based emergent curriculum where children’s ideas, inquiries, discoveries, and investigations are nurtured and implemented. With hands-on daily experiences, children acquire a deep, intuitive understanding of nature and the natural world. Engagement in the environment and with others is where real learning occurs.

Students are greeted each morning by large, artist-designed sliding panels depicting the evolution of a leaf, which creates view portals into the outdoor collaborative spaces. These panels are designed to provide protection during the day as well as dramatic patterns of shadow and light through the outdoor gathering spaces. These light patterns evolve throughout the day depending on the sun’s movement. In addition, bird and butterfly shapes are created through bent metal and inhabit the structure of the space, providing opportunities for donor recognition.

Outdoor musical instruments provide the opportunity for students to create music on rustically designed and constructed musical instruments, designed by local artists to provide a distinct connection for the students to art, nature, and music while also encouraging creativity and social skills.

I20 INSPIRATION + EDUCATION

The Preschool is part of a great campus led by the ENC, the ENC is a community center for education about nature, and now its Preschool is a place where early learners can be immersed in nature during their developmental years daily. When students pull up to the ENC Preschool, they will know this is a place for them. It’s slightly more playful than the original ENC and shows progress in sustainable design. Breaking down the building into two masses brings nature through the building. The building is bisected by nature, blending seamlessly into the spaces.

The relationship between the ENC Preschool and the original ENC emphasizes early education about nature and sustainability. Everything about this school and its curriculum will support early education, contributing to the mission of the ENC even more effectively than its original center.

This is a facility designed for kids to get involved in nature. Students will feel “off the grid” in more ways than one, inspiring them to be hands-on and in tune with the environment rather than watching it on a screen. They have a kitchen on-site to grow and prepare their own food. Everything about it is about how to connect better with the environment.

Tours will be more frequent than just annually. In fact, tours will technically be often for any parent looking to enroll their child in preschool. The Preschool will be open at least three times a year with expanded co-hosted events with the ENC itself. The Preschool and Center will also offer several summer camps and special events. The Annual tours (postponed due to the pandemic) usually occur in the Fall before the fall quarter school year (Aug./Sept.), Winter (Jan.), and Summer (May/June).

The post ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER PRESCHOOL first appeared on Living Future.

Vital Stats

Project Team

The BLOCK Project is a program of Facing Homelessness. Facing Homelessness’s mission is to inspire deliberate relationship-building and community engagement as a pathway to ending homelessness. Based in Seattle, Facing Homelessness began its journey in 2010 with a belief that it will end homelessness when the larger community is a part of the solution. To advance its mission, Facing Homelessness offers a variety of programs that provide resources, support, and connection to individuals experiencing homelessness, including The BLOCK Project. The BLOCK Project has created an inclusive, permanent, affordable, and sustainable housing solution in the Seattle region. At $75,000/unit, four BLOCK homes can be built at the price of one typical low-income housing unit. Similarly, where the other low-income housing solutions take several years to develop, BLOCK homes can be built in a matter of six months.

Through an engaged community of hosts, residents, and volunteers, the BLOCK Project is creating conditions necessary for Seattle to respond to homelessness in a safe, sustainable, effective, equitable, and affordable way. It embodies the model that everyone has a role to play in ending homelessness.

While Architectural Nexus built BH009 remotely, Facing Homelessness addressed other lessons learned in building the previous eight BLOCK homes. The first eight BLOCK homes required general contractors and took much more time and effort than anticipated. In July 2019, a charette was held with The BLOCK Project’s closest building, engineering, and design partners to reimagine building BLOCK homes in a much safer, efficient, and accessible manner, all the while maintaining the LBC aspirations and beauty; all participants took pride in the project. This charette started the research and design of Version 1.1 (V1.1) efforts to update the BLOCK home design to meet the aforementioned goals. Incorporating Architectural Nexus’ efforts of material vetting selection, Facing Homelessness had an incredible portfolio to start with while refining the entire design.

Through the creative use of jigs and a panelized process made possible in V1.1 and the BLOCK Shop, a BLOCK home prefabrication facility, Facing Homelessness made vast improvements in efficiency. The advancements resulted in a nearly 40% reduction in costs, allowing Facing Homelessness to build three BLOCK Homes at the previous price of two. Due to LBC Certification, this cost efficiency also meant scale for positive environmental impact. BLOCK homes are built and supported by an incredible, compassionate volunteer community. Through LBC Certification and hundreds of hands-on building opportunities, volunteers could now experience firsthand what it means to build and live sustainably.

By incorporating the Living Building Challenge, The BLOCK Project gave its AEC partners an opportunity to demonstrate their values and expertise at the intersection of community and environment. Whereas in Seattle, labor and expertise for building, design, and engineering were high in demand and short in supply, the BLOCK Project demonstrated a contrast in generating well over $250,000 of pro bono services from this community to make the Living Building Challenge possible for Seattle’s most vulnerable community members.

The LBC Certification of BLOCK homes is unique to other Living Building Projects through Volume Certification. After the creation of V1.1, Facing Homelessness intends not to implement major changes in the BLOCK Home design. As such, in collaboration with ILFI, volume certification was determined to be most appropriate for the project. Accordingly, ILFI stipulated volume requirements that apply to every BLOCK home and project-specific requirements that must be tailored to each site and BLOCK home.

Water Petal

The water requirements for this project took a lot of time and energy to get underway. Efforts by local city council member Sally Bagshaw in 2019 made it possible for King County Public Health to permit the first potable rainwater harvesting system in King County for the BLOCK Project. The implementation of requirements of this petal, along with material vetting, made it a challenging task. If it were to be done again, some design improvements for the potable water system should be addressed. At 230 square feet and 130 square feet of conditioned living space, BLOCK homes do not have much room to spare without compromising the living and storage space of residents. For BH009, the team ended up placing the water filtration system in a conditioned and insulated box in the outdoor storage closet, limiting the amount of room that the resident could use for storing their items, in addition to creating more maintenance hassles.

However, the potable rainwater harvesting system turned out to be successful on a few levels. For one, the resident loved how clean the water felt and tasted, and through the performance period and beyond, it was self-sufficient in providing all water consumed at the BLOCK home. The cost of doing it, however, is another $10,000 of costs. Compared to the cost of building a BLOCK home at $75K, however, it’s difficult to justify continuing the potable rainwater collection at the cost of providing more housing and community to the neighbors in need.

While there were lots of good intentions and plans in place, the composting toilet posed safety and health risks for the residents living in the BLOCK home. These challenges led to a remediation effort in the spring of 2023 that led to the decommissioning of the composting toilet.

Materials Petal

In conjunction with the embodied carbon results, a great lesson learned from material selection was the transition from sheet metal siding to restoration juniper rain screens. Utilizing juniper creates multiple opportunities for place and environment-based conversations with volunteers, in addition to creating a beautiful, warm aesthetic that many admire. The BLOCK Project uses nearly 1,000 square feet of juniper in each home. Juniper is a native species found throughout the high deserts of the West Coast of the United States. Decades of wildfire suppression have allowed it to take over what was formerly a high desert grassland ecosystem. Its out-of-control population growth and thirst for limited water supplies lead to erosion and a loss of biodiversity. The removal of juniper is helping restore this fragile ecosystem, improving habitat for threatened Sage Grouse, salmon, and other wildlife, restoring the flow of water in tributary streams in this arid region, and providing economic development in rural Oregon.

Moving to Havelock Wool from other traditional forms of insulation has also created lots of fun and educational conversations for the BLOCK Project Community to participate in and learn from. Most other forms of insulation have a negative impact on the environment, from their carbon footprint to microplastics in the ocean. In addition to many advantageous performance characteristics, Havelock Wool is the insulation that is hands-on friendly for volunteers to touch and learn about. It also challenges the community to think about the balance between financial costs and benefits for the planet.

Beauty Petal

The biophilic charette created an incredible opportunity of excitement and energy for The BLOCK Project that, unfortunately, was interrupted by the pandemic and limited resources, exacerbating homelessness and capacity for the BLOCK Project. As the project continues to grow and survive, however, Facing Homelessness sees that more design opportunities should come about for the BLOCK Project to continue ideas spurred by the charette and further the incredible beauty that The BLOCK Project fosters on a human, spiritual, biophilic and design aesthetic level.

The post BLOCK 009 first appeared on Living Future.