LEED Gold Awarded to Seattle-Based Projects

SEATTLE

The Port Blakely Communities office building, an administrative office facility in the Issaquah Highlands planned neighborhood and the Terry Thomas in downtown Seattle both earned UC Gold LEED gold ratings from the USGBC. CollinsWoerman, Seattle, designed the 31,340 sq. ft. Port Blakely building, which achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use. These features include sustainable, locally grown and manufactured building materials, solar insulated glazing and roofing, and canopies and trees for shading.

The Terry Thomas was designed and submitted for LEED Gold Core and Shell certification by Weber Thompson, Seattle, and the location of Weber Thompson’s headquarters.

The building is the first privately developed building in Seattle, and only one of two buildings in Seattle, to achieve LEED Gold certification for Core and Shell. Submitted after Weber Thompson documentation for LEED Platinum certification for Commercial Interiors for the firm’s office tenant improvements in the building.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), headquartered in Seattle, announced that its prototype store in Boulder, Colo. has been awarded LEED Gold certification. REI Boulder is a remodeled and expanded store that reopened in the fall of 2007, and serves as the co-op’s first prototype location. The prototype store was designed to improve the in-store experience and reduce its environmental footprint by focusing on energy efficiency, water conservation, the use of recycled and renewable materials, and more. Designed in collaboration with Gensler, REI’s prototype initiative was implemented to help the co-op make more sustainable business decisions.

Peninsula City Receives Grant for Business Development

PORT ANGELES,WASH.

The Sustainable Design Assessment Team, an AIA program, awarded Port Angeles, Wash., a grant for technical assistance under (SDAT) program in 2009.

The collaborative SDAT brings together architects and other professionals assembled from across the country to provide a roadmap for communities seeking to improve their sustainability – as defined by a community’s ability to meet the environmental, economic, and social equity needs of today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

One of 10 communities across the country to win the award, Port Angeles will focus on design incentive program and vacant structure redevelopment.

An architect-led team of professionals including planners, hydrologists, economic development specialists, and others will be selected based on their credentials and the specific needs of each community. The SDAT will work in conjunction with local stakeholders to help shape the community’s strategy to increase sustainability. To provide the most objective assessment, team members volunteer their time and expertise and are selected from areas outside the project communities.

Seattle Green Buildings Receive Speedier Permits

The city of Seattle Department of Planning and Development launched a pilot program called Priority Green Permitting. The program is a collaboration between DPD permitting operations and the City Green Building team.

To participate in the program, projects are evaluated by using a Priority Green Building Matrix that reflects the City’s environmental priorities: Energy and Climate Protection; Green Seattle Initiative; Healthy People and Communities; Restore Our Waters; and Waste Reduction and Recycling. To foster innovation, the program provides a single point of contact for applicants. Projects must also meet the 2030 Challenge. To date seven applications have been accepted and DPD is reviewing additional proposals. Proposals range from small commercial to large multifamily developments. DPD has extended the Priority Green Permitting pilot into 2009 to continue process improvements and to move enough projects through permit review to evaluate the program.

ANSI Adopts Green Residential Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The nation’s first consensus-driven standard for residential green building has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The ICC 700- 2008 National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS) provides a flexible and robust thirdparty rating system for residential green project certification, which will be used for the NAHB National Green Building Program (NAHB Green).

Using the interactive Green Scoring Tool the NAHB Green website, builders, designers, remodelers, and homebuyers can compile information about the practices and products that make a home green. The tool specifies points that are awarded per the criteria of either the Guidelines (Lot Design, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Homeowner Education, and Global Impact) or the Standard (Lot Design, Preparation, and Development; Resource Efficiency; Energy Efficiency; Water Efficiency; Indoor Environmental Quality; and Operation, Maintenance, and Building Owner Education).