O'Brien& Company has consulted on green building projects for over fifteen years and worked LEED® projects since 2000. Our projects include a wide variety of building types, including high performance schools, green homes, and sustainable commercial and mixed-use projects.
On design and construction projects we integrate directly with the expertise of the design and construction team. As LEED® consultants we can provide goal setting, sustainable building planning, facilitation of implementation, documentation, and the development of education programs for building occupants and visitors. Sample projects include:
Columbia
Springs Environmental Education Center
Currently in design at the historic Vancouver Trout Hatchery in SW Washington,
the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center's new education and
science facility will enhance environmental science education and sustainability
for 8000 school children annually. O'Brien & Company is consulting
on the sustainable design and construction of this 13,000 square foot
two-building project. The project's goal is to achieve net-zero carbon
and LEED® Platinum certification. Some of the project's features include
on-site solar array, natural ventilation and expanded wetlands on site.
Download our schools flier to
learn more about the services we provide on education-related programs
and construction projects.
Shirey
Residence, Bass Cove
This signature green home will be built above Bass Cove on Lake Sammamish,
with aims for Five-Star Built Green® and LEED® for Homes Platinum
certifications. The owner's goal is to create a bold, livable, and teachable
example of their commitment to green home construction. The steep topography
and proximity to the lake pose challenges and opportunities to make this
an exemplary demonstration of minimal impact development. O'Brien &
Company has led a green design workshop with designers and owners to help
clarify project goals. Strategies to achieve these goals include a green
roof with rainwater harvesting and recycling, a small footprint to minimize
site impact, and multiple on-site renewable energy technologies: PV array,
and possible solar thermal and wind turbine. Download our residential
services flier to learn more about how we help build green homes.
Seattle
Biomedical Research Institute
During design, the developers of the new Seattle Biomedical Research Institute
(SBRI) Building recognized that there were many opportunities to save
energy and water, conserve material resources, and safeguard human health
both during construction and occupancy of the building. O'Brien & Company
worked with the design team to create a high performance, healthy, durable
and environmentally sensitive building that would benefit the tenants,
the community, and the environment. To help us achieve this goal, the
project team used the LEED® for Core and Shell (LEED®-CS) Rating System.
The SBRI building was one of the first in the country to be certified
as LEED® Silver under this program.
King
County Metro Atlantic/Central Operations Base Expansion
King County is renovating an existing facility and constructing a new
adjacent building to serve as the operations base for Metro's bus drivers,
dispatch, transit police, and administrative staff. O'Brien & Company
facilitated a series of sustainable building/LEED® workshops to explore
strategies to create a healthy workplace, use site and water resources
wisely, and optimize the project's energy systems. A final workshop reviewed
all the sustainable design ideas and created a plan for LEED® Gold and
Platinum certifications. The building strategies include natural daylighting
and views, under-floor ventilation and a ground-source heat pump.
O’Brien & Company
811 First Avenue, Suite 380
Seattle WA 98104
206.621.8626 tel
206.621.8649 fax
info@obrienandco.com
email
Kathleen O'Brien recognized
as a Cascadia Fellow
by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Read more about the six individuals who received
this lifetime achievement award.