This three-story facility accommodates 1,200 staff and centralizes formerly scattered divisions of the Department of Ecology under one roof, providing efficient and effective co-location. A self-contained library, physical fitness facility, cafeteria, conference rooms, and laboratory space augment office area.
The facility is designed and built to minimize waste, using numerous recycled materials. State-of-the-art stormwater controls, filtration vaults, and biofiltration systems capture and treat water from parking areas, roofs, and roads before it infiltrates into the ground. Native trees, shrubs, and grasses are used so irrigation isn’t needed. Natural gas provides morning and after-hours heating. The rest of the time, the building is heated by people, lights, and office equipment. This project received a retroactive LEED Silver Certification for its groundbreaking sustainable design. This project was a seminal project for our office and has provided much inspiration for our approach to sustainability. The project was also a design-build competition winner.
