Seattle’s Capitol Hill breaks ground on an ultra-green commercial building, the first of its caliber. The Bulitt Center, located at 15th Avenue and East Madison Street, is a truly net-zero energy structure, designed to create as much energy as it consumes.
This six-story building has a frame constructed from the wood of forests certified as sustainable. And the rest of the building blocks — steel, concrete, wood, and other materials — are locally sourced within a 300-mile radius. When it comes to water and sewage, this building plans to be totally self-sustaining.
Dennis Hayes, president and CEO of Seattle’s Bulitt Foundation, says, “We set out to build the greenest office building — by far — in the world.” Building this one-of-a-kind project requires more up-front costs, or about one-third more than a typical commercial structure of the same size. For Hayes, the additional investment is worthwhile; he believes this green building will only increase in value as the global environment changes. If you visit the Center or work there, be prepared to walk, ride your bike, or take public transportation as no parking spaces will be provided for motor vehicles. Now that’s a leap into the future of green living.