Bullitt Center

As through this blog, I talk about sustainability issues, it is time to talk about the world's most important precedent that follows the ideals of sustainable solutions.  World’s first urban mid level rise building, to achieve living building challenge certification, is set in the city of Seattle. Its six stories tall and office space is 50,000 Sq Ft, set a new precedent for buildings in urban cores. 
What is living building challenge?
“Give more than they take: create a positive impact on the human & natural systems that interact with them...
-Regenerative spaces that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature & community
 -Self sufficient & remain within the resource limits of their site. Living Buildings produce more energy than they use and collect and treat all water on site...”
How is Bullitt fulfilling this challenge?
Using the right materials  I  Planning for Long life
A lot of times the commonly used materials in the buildings contain toxic elements which are harmful for the environment. Hence there is a need to read or understand the production of all the building materials that are a part of the building. This project celebrates the fact that they only used materials which are free of the toxic elements and are not harmful. Using the materials according to their age and packing them loose in the building, is also a positive in this project. The image on the left explains it more. 
Light  I  Air  I  Water
Natural light through automated blinds, shading system, operable windows -help users with light and minimizing glare. The skin of the building allows for the fresh air to adjust the thermal comfort of the interior space. Also, having large collection of rainwater, pumping it back into the building, using it for non fresh water purposes in the building, filtering produced gray water through a rooftop wetland filter, and finally using it to recharge the groundwater table, completes the water cycle.
Bioclimatic Design  I  Energy Efficiency
Using performance matrix rather than metaphor, made this building a success. Through psychrometric chart analysis, climate analysis, temperature conditions, they designed the interior spaces to respond to all the factors, so that human comfort is achieved at the maximum potential.
Regional & community  I  Human Wellness
Integrating the building by thinking about common spaces, that can be rented out, for gatherings, is inspiring for both users and architects, to understand the necessity of improving the built spaces to be more environmentally friendly. Tackling the issue of human wellness through promoting the use of stairs, by offering views and uses of glazing, is another highlight of the project.
Overall, it is a project that prioritized the fact that buildings and spaces need to impact the nature and earth in a positive way, rather than taking away the natural beauty, and polluting it with toxic substances.
“Even though, its one building, among the multitude of high carbon footprint buildings, but it sets the standards for designers and has begun the revolution…”

Sources:
Image Credits:
Nick Lehoux, URL- https://www.aiatopten.org/node/427