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Welcome to the latest GGLO news.
Did you ride your bike to work before Bike 2 Work Month
this year?
I just moved at the end of April, specifically to be closer
for commuting and hoping to ride my bike and walk more. Before that we were in
Lake City, which took about an hour to commute from. I really wanted to start
my bike commuting from the new place on the first day of Bike to Work Month but
up until the night before my bike was broken. I knew that if I didn't fix it I
wouldn't have another opportunity that was as good to jump start riding so I
spent all night beforehand trying to get it ready. That’s what I got the award
for.
Have you learned anything from biking to work?
I’ve learned that riding my bike is faster than taking the
bus. I have a really easy route so I get to work in 15 minutes. Even going
home, which is uphill – it’s faster for me to bike most of the way and put my
bike on the bus for the last 8 blocks – the most brutal part – than to catch
the bus from downtown.
Do you think you’ll keep biking once Bike to Work Month
is over?
I think I will but I will also try to walk more for the
additional exercise.
Have you seen anything fun on your rides in?
Yesterday I rode to Jackson and Maynard and was waiting at
the bus stop – it was so hot out. A little old lady at the bus stop pointed at
my bike and at my helmet and said, “Good for your health!” and then she gave me
an apple from her grocery bag.
Charla Lemoine is the GGLO Bike2Work Award winner for
Week 1 of Bike to Work Month. She won her award for staying up all night
ensuring her bike was prepped for the ride in on Day 1. During that night she
learned the long way that there is a quick release lever for her bike’s front
tire, which would have spared her from disassembling the whole thing.
Forty projects were submitted for the Washington American Society of Landscape Architects 2012 Professional Awards, among the honored is Bertschi School's Living Science Wing with a Merit Award for landscape architectural design. Of the 40 projects entered, 13 landscape architecture and urban design projects in the Pacific Northwest were awarded.
Having won the 2012 What Makes It Green Award in April, this has been a rewarding month for Bertschi School and the Restorative Design Collective team. Congratulations to all!
The Restorative Design Collective team consists of the following members:
Owner:
Architectural Design:
Landscape Architecture:
Civil Engineering:
Geotechnical Engineering:
Structural Engineering:
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing:
Sustainability Consultant:
Food Systems Consultant:
Public Relations Services:
Preconstruction/Construction Services:
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Bertschi School
KMD Architects
2020 Engineering
GeoEngineers
Quantum Consulting Engineers
Rushing
O’Brien and Company
Back To Nature Design LLC
Parsons Public Relations
Skanska
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Atria Valley View, an assisted living community located in the hills of Walnut Creek, CA, received LEED® Silver certification from the USGBC in April 2012. This certification marks the second award for the second year in a row that an Atria Senior Living project has received Silver certification, the first being Atria Tamalpais Creek in Novato, California.
Atria Valley View Senior Living has completed a full renovation the existing 2-story residential care facility with 125 apartments. The 2011 renovation work includes reconfiguration of some existing uses, expansion and remodeling of the central community areas, and comprehensive updates of the site and landscape features to enhance outdoor living. The existing building exteriors are updated to incorporate new windows, to remove an outdated mansard roofline, the repair of failing balconies, and new siding, trim, and masonry accents.
The design concept is a redevelopment of the existing site and building to be reminiscent of a Northern California Lodge. One of the primary design ideas is to create a strong indoor-outdoor connections. The primary characteristics of the building concept are the use of natural materials and the introduction of details rich with earth tone colors and textures. Fundamental to the design is the acknowledgement that Atria Valley View is a community for seniors and their families as well as the facility staff. To this end the design is welcoming, accessible and safe.
GGLO provided architectural, interior and landscape design services for Atria Valley View, as well as conducting LEED® administration. Achieving LEED Silver certification demonstrates Atria Senior Living’s commitment to the health and comfort of residents and staff. This latest accomplishment expands our large and rapidly growing list of projects that have achieved green building benchmarking standards, updated in December 2011, total combined unit count and gross building areas are summarized below:
Check out Mark Sindell and Zack Thomas:
On the list is "the world's most sustainable buildings" - the Bertschi Science Wing. The first completed building in Washington state designed to meet the Living Building Challenge. The classroom gives students an active space for hands-on learning. To read more about the project, click here.
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| Bertschi Living Building Science Classroom |
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| Bertschi Living Building Science Classroom |
Vote now for a chance to win a Kindle Fire - Thank you DJC!
Recently Avalon Walnut Creek, with the help of GGLO’s LEED Administration services, has achieved LEED certification.
GGLO worked with the client, AvalonBay Communities, on completing the process of obtaining certification and would like to congratulate AvalonBay Communities on their sustainable community.
The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
For more information please contact our Director of Sustainability, Alicia Daniels Uhlig
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| Courtesy of Avalon Walnut Creek |
The 2011 Fodor's Hotel Awards named The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Willamette Valley, Oregon Wine Country one of the world's best Casual Chic! Thirteen hotels around the world were selected and only two are in the US!
Travel+Leisure's November 2011 edition features an article by Bruce Schoenfeld on Willamette Valley's Boutique Vineyards. The article explores Willamette Valley's history as the "anti-Napa" and the changes since the boutique vineyards have been paired with luxurious new hospitality.
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| The Allison Inn & Spa is LEED Gold Certified |
"The Allison is the first hotel in the history of the Willamette in which the phrase “thread count” comes into play." Continue reading the article in its entirety here.
 Just in time for Earth Day, Tamalpais Creek, a California senior living community, received LEED Silver certification from USGBC this month. This project was a first on many levels - it's the first LEED project for our client, Atria Senior Living, as well as the two contractors on our team.
"This major renovation, tenant-occupied from start to finish, shows real possibilities for green renovations in senior living. We're looking forward to applying lessons learned from this process to future projects where clients seek to modernize as well as upgrade energy and water use efficiency," said Principal and Director of Senior Housing, Jerry McDevitt.
The renovation re-used 93% of the existing building and 576 tons of construction waste were diverted from the landfill. Today, residents enjoy ample day lighting through energy efficient windows, controllable thermal comfort systems and native, drought-tolerant landscaping. For more details, check out the green case study.
GGLO provided architectural, interior and landscape design services for Tamalpais Creek, as well as conducting LEED administration. This latest accomplishment expands our large and rapidly growing list of projects that have acheived green building benchmarking standards, summarized below:
- 4,400 housing units designed to green benchmarking standards
- 5,750,000 gross square feet designed to green benchmarking standards
- 900 housing units LEED certified
- 1,500,000+ gross square feet LEED certified
Our client, King County Housing Authority, recently announced that Sixth Place Apartments (aka Greenbridge 5) is home to the largest residential photovoltaic array in Washington. Funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds and solar tax credits, the 52.2 kilowatt array is expected to generate 52,558 kilowatt hours per year after going online this summer.
 Senior Associate Jon Hall, project manager for Sixth Place Apartments, was quoted in the release from KCHA:
"We're delighted that the installation of the solar array can be completed concurrently with the construction of the Sixth Place Apartments. This is just one of the many strategies we employed in this sustainably designed project to increase energy efficiency."
The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, West Seattle Herald, CNBC, Solar Washington, Solar Energy Industries Association newsletter, Sun Herald and International Business Times are just a few of the news sources sharing the story.
Today's Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce features an article, by GGLO's own Amy Hartwell, on Seattle Housing Authority's cost-effective renovations of its existing senior housing for greater energy efficiency and resident comfort. SHA is working with RDH Building Sciences and GGLO on several buildings in its portfolio. Based on criteria from Washington's Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard, the renovations focus on improving thermal, air tightness and moisture performance, resulting in greater endurance, better operation and increased comfort. Additionally, Amy notes, the upgrades better equip the buildings to "contribut[e] to the fabric of their communities through thoughtful architectural design and color palettes, and sustainable building practices."
GGLO project Schwabacher House, an SHA affordable senior housing building in Ballard, is one of seven properties that have undergone renovation. Residents are pleased with the "beautiful building" and enjoy living in a place that "looks like an expensive condominium." Job well done!  Pre-renovation, Schwabacher House, built in the 1980s, faced water damage and window failure.
 After renovation, Schwabacher House features new siding and windows along with an updated color palette.
When it comes to building more sustainably, GGLO not only talks the talk, we’re walking the walk. Walk yourself over to Sustainable Industries magazine and read about our first post occupancy study of green features in multi-family projects by GGLO’s Jon Hall.
Should we believe our own hype? It’s in the numbers…
“Of the three buildings in our study designed to LEED standards, the cost increases ranged from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of the total hard and soft construction costs. Financial incentives available from a variety of sources cut cost increases in half and the yearly savings on utility bills averaged another 1 percent. After one year of occupancy, the green design features actually begin earning the project money.”
True measure of success (article)
Adrienne Quinn, Director of the Office of Housing for the City of Seattle handed out SeaGreen Achievement Awards to Stone Way Apartments and Broadway Crossing, two project designed by Seattle’s GGLO. These honors recognized each project for a team approach towards integrating sustainable building materials and methods to promote environmental quality, economic savings and social benefit through design, construction and operation.
Stone Way Apartments, developed by Housing Resources Group, is a full block, urban site located in the Wallingford neighborhood. It contains 70 affordable apartments comprised of studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units for low income individuals and families earning up to 60 percent of the median income. Sustainable design goals focused on tenant health and operational savings. The project is pursuing LEED™ Silver certification with exemplary use of local and recycled content materials. Low flow fixtures reduce water use, while Built Smart measures reduce energy consumption. Solar panels, which provide some on-site renewable energy, are complemented by a green power agreement with the local utility. The project contractor was Walsh Construction. Capitol Hill Housing’s Broadway Crossing is an affordable housing project in the Capitol Hill neighborhood built by Rafn Company. The residential portion of the project includes 44 affordable apartments comprised of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units for individuals and families earning up to 60 percent of the median income. Eight apartments will be reserved for households transitioning from homelessness. The design of the building places a contextually appropriate masonry, stucco, and metal facade on the streetfront with a contrasting playful, green courtyard in the back. The project has strong community support from a very involved neighborhood population. Broadway Crossing is also pursuing LEED™ Silver certification.
GGLO’s own Bill Gaylord headlined the 2007 ISS Trash Fashion Bash, a fundraising even created to highlight waste and the need for environmental sustainability. Bill’s been involved in the event for the last two years, and his most recent created, created by GGLO Associate Jennifer Stormont and called the “Ghost of Christmas Past and Future”, was another stunner.
The Seattle Times reported it well: Gaylord's eye-popping pants are a rainbow of used ribbon sewn together with silvery Mylar. Stormont knitted together wires from old Christmas lights for a sleeveless sweater and a turtleneck with flashing lights. They glued used batteries to a pool cue for a walking cane and included plastic disposable water bottles as the base for the fez-shaped headdress adorned with salt and pepper shakers. Materials came from their garage and what they could scrounge up from businesses and friends.
"This is a really fun way to make people think but also get creative with materials that would be thrown out normally," Gaylord said. "Once you start brainstorming ideas, it gets infectious," Gaylord said. "It's fun, and you're doing it for a good cause to enlighten people on the day-to-day decisions that they make. It's all about changing people's behavior." Bill and GGLO look forward to future Trash Fashion Bash events. Photo above courtesy Hiro Davis. More great images here.
On Thursday, May 24, 2007, King County’s HOPE VI redevelopment, known as Greenbridge, was recognized as the recipient of the 10,000th Built Green Certification for green building. The redevelopment will create over 1,000 homes for more than 3,500 people. As the lead planning and design firm, GGLO submitted Phase 1 of Greenbridge, known as Seola Crossing, for certification by Built Green, and in December of 2006 the project became the home of 10,000th certified project by Built Green of King and Snohomish Counties. The ceremony honored the whole project team involved in the development and certification of GGLO's project at Greenbridge, including King County Housing Authority, GGLO, Arellano/Christofides and Walsh Construction. Executive Ron Sims highlighted the success of Greenbridge and Built Green during the ceremony when he stated, "our goal with the Built Green program was to make building homes in an environmentally sustainable manner commonplace, and we've definitely succeeded!"
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