Fresh off their victory over an appeal against permits for the development planned for Madison and 15th Ave, the Bullitt Foundation is wasting little time in celebrating the path to construction for the Cascadia Center for Sustainable Design and Construction. Details on a free May 4th community event at Benaroya Hall showcasing the net-zero energy project are below.
The Cascadia Center’s backers Bullitt and developers Point32 aim to meet the goals of the Living Building Challenge, a set of 20 priorities including 100% on-site waste management and renewable energy generation.
In January, the state authorized local bonds to pay for an $11 million federal energy grant awarded to the 50,000 square-foot project. UPDATE: Point 32’s Chris Rogers clarifies the purpose of the bond:
The bond program you mentioned was actually a federal tax exempt bond program that was administered by the City of Seattle that will allow for a below market interest rate on an $11 million loan from US Bank.
The Center is planned as a living building “designed to satisfy all [of] its energy, water and waste needs on-site,” according to architecture firm Miller Hull leading its design. The building will have an expansive set of solar panels and will include retail and office space as well as serving as the headquarters for the Bullitt Foundation. It will also be built without a single parking spot.
That render looks significantly less shitty than previous ones I’ve seen.
I still think it’s silly to allow special treatment for “green” buildings.
Almost as silly as the people behind it suing because the 1 story dive bar that used to be there is getting replaced with a real building in the second densest neighborhood on the west coast.
Green is the new trend catch word …. note some sweetheart money deals from the state for this “green” building …. now that is green!!!
The good old insider Seattle network rewards itself …. with green, indeed, cash.
The solar system looks so passe, even as it is hung on the building …. world efforts on solar energy are racing to better systems.
Has anyone ever told the blog here, just how expensive this space will be? It is rental space for office workers no housing. And it sure is not a community center …. after it is built I wonder what subsidy they will get next? After all, they will be demonstrating that people can do their work in a new mini office building ….. I can see the video from their PR people …
Are they paying for the vacated street in front of the box? Or, just a gift from the city …??
Those punks! How dare they build a building. In the middle of a city of all places?! Who could possibly think that is a good idea?!
And! And! Put solar panels on it?! Solar panels are for losers.
Rabble rabble rabble!!!!
If the Seattle Way is so offensive, there’s always Omaha, dearies……
Just don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!
Who said they were just building a building? Not even the builders, this is demo project with tons of quirks, like some bond issue funding from the state, grants from the city, and a vacated street.
You sound like you are new to the discussion.
I love solar systems, used to have a total system when I lived in the desert a few years ago. Here in Seattle, good luck, and especially with old technology.
Why am I inside on this day …. out to the park.
People don’t seem to understand that this building is a *model* for sustainability. No one is saying that buildings like this are economically feasible on a wide scale yet. But we have to start somewhere because regardless of the methods- solar, wind etc. What better place than Seattle to invest in such projects? I’m surprised commenters on a blog such as this wouldn’t understand that.
It looks less shitty because it’s capturing the view from Madison (north of the building) . Previous drawings have shown the view from the south (Pike St I think), where the main thing you see is the gargantuan solar panel overhang.
Wouldn’t it be nice if they sent this notice to all the neighbors in the immedate area instead of touting it about town? I live close to this spot and this is the first I’ve heard of this event. They really do not seem to care about the area they’re moving into or getting to know their neighors. Geez.