| About the Company: In an era when demolishing an old
building and constructing a new one in
its footprint is standard practice, owners
pushed the envelope by choosing to
reuse a derelict building that had been
vacant for almost a quarter century.
The building that was once a three-level,
32,000 square-foot automotive and
appliance center is now a LEED Platinum
office and studio.
Charged with bringing new life to a
crumbling structure, the design team
began with one simple question: Given
what were inheriting, whats the most
environmentally sustainable thing we
can do? Maintaining the existing shell
and structure of the building eliminated
95-percent of construction waste from
local landfills, and amounted to a 95-
percent reuse of existing structural
elements. But the design team went
further than merely salvaging. They also
incorporated discarded elements. A
fantastic example of this is seen in an
old counterweight from a freight
elevator that is now hiding a time
capsule at the entrance of the building.
The 1948 Douglas fir floor joists were
repurposed to make the 35-foot long
feature wall by the entrance, showcasing
the firms history. Old ceiling furring
used to build seven bar-height
collaboration tables.
The building has many sustainable
features: solar panels provide for 10-
percent of the energy needs, and floors
are lined with cork as well as carpet
made of recycled content. Uniquely, the
building is engineered backward, with
the thermostat on the outside. Red or
green lights signal staff when
temperatures fall in or out of the passive
zone, allowing for windows |
