Seattle Could be Losing its Lead in Sustainability. Here's Why.
Seattle's still a leader in green, though in some ways, places such as S.F. are edging ahead. Come hear what Seattle can do in sustainability to stay cutting edge at Bisnow's Seattle's Green Building Revolution event starting at 7:30am on Aug. 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle.
Among our speakers is Unico Properties director of sustainability Brett Phillips, who tells us the company's Stone 34 in Fremont is one Seattle property on the cutting edge of green. It's home to Brooks Sports global HQ. "It's forging the way for the City of Seattle’s Deep Green Pilot Program, and is one of the most efficient buildings in the world," he says.
Every facet of Stone 34 is dedicated to creating a healthy experience for both its tenants and the community, Brett explains. For instance, the active chilled beam and thermal storage systems are driving energy usage to 65% below the national average, and the 65,000 gallon rainwater cistern captures, stores and treats rainwater to use for irrigating the rooftop garden, flushing toilets and mitigating polluted stormwater.
Brett adds that the Stack House complex in South Lake Union is a solid example of how preservation and innovation can intersect. The mixed-use development is distinctive for its reuse of the Supply Laundry Building, an early 20th-century structure that operated as a commercial laundry for decades. "It's the first project in the country to utilize an outcome-based code design to reach the 2030 Challenge goal for energy efficiency—70% below the national average," Brett says. "Stack House’s groundbreaking large-scale biofiltration swales, which will filter pollutants from stormwater and protect Lake Union, complement and strengthen the project.”
Another speaker will be Paladino & Co director Dina Belon, who tells us that the cutting edge of sustainable development are net zero energy (NZE) buildings, with California and the federal government taking the lead. Federal Executive Order 13514, signed in October 2009, requires all new federal buildings entering the planning process in or after 2020 to be NZE by 2030. California’s revisions to Title 24 building standards establish ambitious new performance goals, requiring all new residential construction to be NZE by 2020, and new commercial buildings by 2030.
But Dina says Seattle isn't leading the movement for NZE buildings. "From the onset of sustainable development, Seattle has been a leader but seems to be falling behind San Francisco," she says. Seattle does have the notable 52k SF Bullitt Center, designed by Miller Hull Partnership, which meets the goals of the Living Building Challenge, including achieving net zero energy and water (pictured are Bullitt's compressors). A smaller-scale example is the Bertschi School Living Science Building, which KMD Architects designed. It was the first building to meet Living Building Challenge v2.0 criteria, including net zero energy and net zero water. Hear more about all things sustainable at Bisnow's Seattle's Green Building Revolution event starting at 7:30am on Aug. 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. Sign up here.
