June 2011

Living Buildings Grow Like... Dandelions
The International Living Future Institute explains the use of the dandelion as the symbol of the Living Building Challenge as a perfect metaphor – a beautiful,  enduring flower, that has health benefits.  Many of us may not have looked at dandelions like that before, but their ability to both create opportunities for other plants by setting down tap roots and the way their seeds spread broadly on a gentle breeze does seem apt for the growth of Living Buildings in the Pacific Northwest.

With several completed buildings and over 30 registered Living Building projects, the Cascadia region has a diverse group of design, engineering, and construction firms actively engaged in the Living Building process.  As happened with Seattle’s early adoption of LEED certification, this means we are becoming the source of seeds to spread Living Buildings across the country and developing deep local capacity.

When the fourth Living Building in the world, the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab in Kamuela, HI, received its certification O’Brien & Company Principal Alistair Jackson was fortunate to be there to see some seeds of our work bear fruit.  Four years ago O’Brien & Company worked with the Hawaii Preparatory Academy to define their “Go Green” initiative, a sustainability strategy for the campus. The idea of the energy lab was generated at that event and today that process has resulted in a Living Building.  (Read more about this project in today's article in the Building Capacity Blog).

Within Cascadia, the Eco-Sense home in Victoria, BC was one of the first projects certified as a Living Building in 2010 (the project earned Petal Recognition).  In Seattle, the Bertschi School Living Science Wing is complete and in the 12 month occupancy stage required prior to audit and certification.  Designed and constructed by the Restorative Design Collective, a group that includes O’Brien & Company, Bertschi has already significantly spread its seeds via the large number of tours and educational events, and the student involvement in tracking and monitoring. It is the only other completed Living Building in Cascadia, but several other projects are close on its heels. 

A lot of press has focused on a friendly competition between the Cascadia Center in Seattle, a six-story office building, and the Oregon Sustainability Centre, is a seven-story office building on Portland State University’s downtown campus in Portland.  Both projects are completing design and nearing the start of construction.  These projects may help the market see Living Buildings as a feasible option.

Some other projects to look out for in our region are the Phinney Neighborhood Association in Seattle, the Valley View Middle School in Snohomish, WA; Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor, WA; the June Key Delta Center (a former gas station) in North Portland, OR and two projects in Vancouver, BC – the Centre for Interactive Research at the University of British Columbia and the VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre.  With more projects registering every day, I think we can say Living Buildings, like dandelions, are here to stay, and will soon be everywhere.

Elizabeth Powers is Principal and Part-Owner of O'Brien & Company. She provides project oversight, develops and conducts trainings, and contributes expert LEED consulting for commercial and institutional projects.

Transitions

Staff Roles Evolve

O’Brien & Company is happy to announce the promotion of Andrea Lewis to Senior Project Associate to lead the firm’s programs, planning, and policy work. Andrea’s promotion recognizes her deft project management skills and experience at principal Kathleen O'Brien's right hand on these foundational projects. Meanwhile, Kathleen O’Brien will be transitioning from ownership to special projects consultant. Colleen Groll was also promoted to Senior Project Associate at the beginning of 2011 to reflect her significant responsibilities for the company’s residential services. Learn more about the key responsibilities of O’Brien & Company’s staff and the plans for the firm's future in our Press Kit.