Search results for "Voc levels" in Home Design Ideas

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes
Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States
We helped the clients find a beautiful lot in North Boulder, then crafted this modern 3,300 s.f. house to be their dream home.
The clients asked for a warm modern style home, with an open floor plan that connected to the outdoors and took full advantage of the rare lot. We sited and engineered the house for optimal passive solar design, while simultaneously capturing unobstructed panoramic views of the Flatirons from both levels. The home’s simple, clean lines reflect their unpretentious, easy-going character. The gourmet kitchen, dining and Great room are flooded with sunshine from the 9ft high ceilings and walls of glass. A gracious covered west porch flows seamlessly out from the Great room through a giant bank of sliding doors, creating a fantastic opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. The porch has solid cedar columns and Beetle-kill wood on the ceiling to create a warm feeling.
On the ground floor, walk past the front hall to reach a guest suite and a rec room that is divided between a small media room for the boys and a north facing painting studio.
Follow the stair to the second floor where you’ll immediately be presented with a stunning view from the open study and balcony. All the bedrooms get a south facing Flatiron view and the master has its own private balcony.
The owners wanted the HERS 37 house to be as green as possible, and the house has tiny energy and water bills as well as a healthy indoor air environment. It features solar photovoltaic panels, Energy Star fiberglass windows, foam insulation, LED lights, Watersense plumbing fixtures, a 96% efficient furnace & zero-VOC finishes.
Learn more about it and its artistic owners in Boulder Home & Garden Magazine
Built by Skycastle Construction.

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes
Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States
We helped the clients find a beautiful lot in North Boulder, then crafted this modern 3,300 s.f. house to be their dream home.
The clients asked for a warm modern style home, with an open floor plan that connected to the outdoors and took full advantage of the rare lot. We sited and engineered the house for optimal passive solar design, while simultaneously capturing unobstructed panoramic views of the Flatirons from both levels. The home’s simple, clean lines reflect their unpretentious, easy-going character. The gourmet kitchen, dining and Great room are flooded with sunshine from the 9ft high ceilings and walls of glass. A gracious covered west porch flows seamlessly out from the Great room through a giant bank of sliding doors, creating a fantastic opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. The porch has solid cedar columns and Beetle-kill wood on the ceiling to create a warm feeling.
On the ground floor, walk past the front hall to reach a guest suite and a rec room that is divided between a small media room for the boys and a north facing painting studio.
Follow the stair to the second floor where you’ll immediately be presented with a stunning view from the open study and balcony. All the bedrooms get a south facing Flatiron view and the master has its own private balcony.
The owners wanted the HERS 37 house to be as green as possible, and the house has tiny energy and water bills as well as a healthy indoor air environment. It features solar photovoltaic panels, Energy Star fiberglass windows, foam insulation, LED lights, Watersense plumbing fixtures, a 96% efficient furnace & zero-VOC finishes.
Learn more about it and its artistic owners in Boulder Home & Garden Magazine
Built by Skycastle Construction.

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes
Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States
We helped the clients find a beautiful lot in North Boulder, then crafted this modern 3,300 s.f. house to be their dream home.
The clients asked for a warm modern style home, with an open floor plan that connected to the outdoors and took full advantage of the rare lot. We sited and engineered the house for optimal passive solar design, while simultaneously capturing unobstructed panoramic views of the Flatirons from both levels. The home’s simple, clean lines reflect their unpretentious, easy-going character. The gourmet kitchen, dining and Great room are flooded with sunshine from the 9ft high ceilings and walls of glass. A gracious covered west porch flows seamlessly out from the Great room through a giant bank of sliding doors, creating a fantastic opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. The porch has solid cedar columns and Beetle-kill wood on the ceiling to create a warm feeling.
On the ground floor, walk past the front hall to reach a guest suite and a rec room that is divided between a small media room for the boys and a north facing painting studio.
Follow the stair to the second floor where you’ll immediately be presented with a stunning view from the open study and balcony. All the bedrooms get a south facing Flatiron view and the master has its own private balcony.
The owners wanted the HERS 37 house to be as green as possible, and the house has tiny energy and water bills as well as a healthy indoor air environment. It features solar photovoltaic panels, Energy Star fiberglass windows, foam insulation, LED lights, Watersense plumbing fixtures, a 96% efficient furnace & zero-VOC finishes.
Learn more about it and its artistic owners in Boulder Home & Garden Magazine
Built by Skycastle Construction.
Find the right local pro for your project

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes
Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States
We helped the clients find a beautiful lot in North Boulder, then crafted this modern 3,300 s.f. house to be their dream home.
The clients asked for a warm modern style home, with an open floor plan that connected to the outdoors and took full advantage of the rare lot. We sited and engineered the house for optimal passive solar design, while simultaneously capturing unobstructed panoramic views of the Flatirons from both levels. The home’s simple, clean lines reflect their unpretentious, easy-going character. The gourmet kitchen, dining and Great room are flooded with sunshine from the 9ft high ceilings and walls of glass. A gracious covered west porch flows seamlessly out from the Great room through a giant bank of sliding doors, creating a fantastic opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. The porch has solid cedar columns and Beetle-kill wood on the ceiling to create a warm feeling.
On the ground floor, walk past the front hall to reach a guest suite and a rec room that is divided between a small media room for the boys and a north facing painting studio.
Follow the stair to the second floor where you’ll immediately be presented with a stunning view from the open study and balcony. All the bedrooms get a south facing Flatiron view and the master has its own private balcony.
The owners wanted the HERS 37 house to be as green as possible, and the house has tiny energy and water bills as well as a healthy indoor air environment. It features solar photovoltaic panels, Energy Star fiberglass windows, foam insulation, LED lights, Watersense plumbing fixtures, a 96% efficient furnace & zero-VOC finishes.
Learn more about it and its artistic owners in Boulder Home & Garden Magazine
Built by Skycastle Construction.

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes
Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States
We helped the clients find a beautiful lot in North Boulder, then crafted this modern 3,300 s.f. house to be their dream home.
The clients asked for a warm modern style home, with an open floor plan that connected to the outdoors and took full advantage of the rare lot. We sited and engineered the house for optimal passive solar design, while simultaneously capturing unobstructed panoramic views of the Flatirons from both levels. The home’s simple, clean lines reflect their unpretentious, easy-going character. The gourmet kitchen, dining and Great room are flooded with sunshine from the 9ft high ceilings and walls of glass. A gracious covered west porch flows seamlessly out from the Great room through a giant bank of sliding doors, creating a fantastic opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. The porch has solid cedar columns and Beetle-kill wood on the ceiling to create a warm feeling.
On the ground floor, walk past the front hall to reach a guest suite and a rec room that is divided between a small media room for the boys and a north facing painting studio.
Follow the stair to the second floor where you’ll immediately be presented with a stunning view from the open study and balcony. All the bedrooms get a south facing Flatiron view and the master has its own private balcony.
The owners wanted the HERS 37 house to be as green as possible, and the house has tiny energy and water bills as well as a healthy indoor air environment. It features solar photovoltaic panels, Energy Star fiberglass windows, foam insulation, LED lights, Watersense plumbing fixtures, a 96% efficient furnace & zero-VOC finishes.
Learn more about it and its artistic owners in Boulder Home & Garden Magazine
Built by Skycastle Construction.

Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Homes
Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States
We helped the clients find a beautiful lot in North Boulder, then crafted this modern 3,300 s.f. house to be their dream home.
The clients asked for a warm modern style home, with an open floor plan that connected to the outdoors and took full advantage of the rare lot. We sited and engineered the house for optimal passive solar design, while simultaneously capturing unobstructed panoramic views of the Flatirons from both levels. The home’s simple, clean lines reflect their unpretentious, easy-going character. The gourmet kitchen, dining and Great room are flooded with sunshine from the 9ft high ceilings and walls of glass. A gracious covered west porch flows seamlessly out from the Great room through a giant bank of sliding doors, creating a fantastic opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. The porch has solid cedar columns and Beetle-kill wood on the ceiling to create a warm feeling.
On the ground floor, walk past the front hall to reach a guest suite and a rec room that is divided between a small media room for the boys and a north facing painting studio.
Follow the stair to the second floor where you’ll immediately be presented with a stunning view from the open study and balcony. All the bedrooms get a south facing Flatiron view and the master has its own private balcony.
The owners wanted the HERS 37 house to be as green as possible, and the house has tiny energy and water bills as well as a healthy indoor air environment. It features solar photovoltaic panels, Energy Star fiberglass windows, foam insulation, LED lights, Watersense plumbing fixtures, a 96% efficient furnace & zero-VOC finishes.
Learn more about it and its artistic owners in Boulder Home & Garden Magazine
Built by Skycastle Construction.

This bedroom and full bathroom are part of an adventuresome project my wife and I embarked upon to create a complete apartment in the basement of our townhouse. We designed a floor plan that creatively and efficiently used all of the 385-square-foot-space, without sacrificing beauty, comfort or function – and all without breaking the bank! To maximize our budget, we did the work ourselves and added everything from thrift store finds to DIY wall art to bring it all together.
A partial double closet bar adds a little extra space while still leaving room for longer hanging clothes.

Project Overview:
The project was a highly designed energy efficient residential new build in Colchester, Vermont by Red HouseBuilding and architect Elizabeth Herrmann using our Shou Sugi Ban – Gendai that was oiled with a Light Gray prefinish.
“Nestled into a steep Vermont hillside, this home was carefully designed and positioned to efficiently and thoughtfully take advantage of the challenging terrain and stunning mountain views. The house is characterized by a series of connected wedge-shaped volumes. Roof lines lift toward views and sunlight and provide airy, varied-height spaces within. Designed to make single-floor living possible, the home has all major living spaces including a bedroom suite and garage on the main level, with a dual-purpose guest room/office, bathroom, and dual-purpose art studio/exercise room below. Totaling just 2,200 square feet of finished area (with additional mechanical space and an unfinished garage), the house is small, though expansive in feel. A dramatically angled porch juts out over the hillside, expanding the living space by over 200 square feet in the warmer months.
This home is also a high-performance, energy-efficient home that takes advantage of solar exposure. Solar panels located just above the house generate power. The home is heated and cooled by just two air source heat pumps.
A natural, low-maintenance palette extends from interior to exterior including Shou Sugi Ban siding charred and stained a light gray, local maple wood flooring and cabinetry, and stone accents.”
Product: Gendai 1×6 select grade shiplap
Prefinish: Light Gray
Application: Residential – Exterior
SF: 2400SF
Designer: Elizabeth Herrmann Architecture + Design
Builder: Red House Building
Date: November 2018
Location: Colchester, VT

Project Overview:
The project was a highly designed energy efficient residential new build in Colchester, Vermont by Red HouseBuilding and architect Elizabeth Herrmann using our Shou Sugi Ban – Gendai that was oiled with a Light Gray prefinish.
“Nestled into a steep Vermont hillside, this home was carefully designed and positioned to efficiently and thoughtfully take advantage of the challenging terrain and stunning mountain views. The house is characterized by a series of connected wedge-shaped volumes. Roof lines lift toward views and sunlight and provide airy, varied-height spaces within. Designed to make single-floor living possible, the home has all major living spaces including a bedroom suite and garage on the main level, with a dual-purpose guest room/office, bathroom, and dual-purpose art studio/exercise room below. Totaling just 2,200 square feet of finished area (with additional mechanical space and an unfinished garage), the house is small, though expansive in feel. A dramatically angled porch juts out over the hillside, expanding the living space by over 200 square feet in the warmer months.
This home is also a high-performance, energy-efficient home that takes advantage of solar exposure. Solar panels located just above the house generate power. The home is heated and cooled by just two air source heat pumps.
A natural, low-maintenance palette extends from interior to exterior including Shou Sugi Ban siding charred and stained a light gray, local maple wood flooring and cabinetry, and stone accents.”
Product: Gendai 1×6 select grade shiplap
Prefinish: Light Gray
Application: Residential – Exterior
SF: 2400SF
Designer: Elizabeth Herrmann Architecture + Design
Builder: Red House Building
Date: November 2018
Location: Colchester, VT

Seamless Elegance is a story bringing together both old and new. A cramped kitchen and a seldom-used den in a 100 year-old house were opened up to create a sprawling 300-sqft paradise. Obsessing over the little details was important to achieving our goal of seamless elegance.
The archway and molding detail between the dining and living room was perfectly mirrored between the dining room and kitchen, right down to the hidden closets. A faux brick wall painted white was added to the back wall of the kitchen to give the illusion that the previous expansion was always there.
The existing 1.5” wide beautiful oak hardwood floor was matched to the rest of the house and continued into the kitchen. The flooring throughout the house was re-done at the same time to solidify the marriage between old and new; the result was a seamless transition into functionality. The character brought into the space by the oak hardwood floor and brick wall off sets the contemporary high gloss white cabinets.
No upper cabinets were used in this design because we wanted to showcase the brick accent wall. The storage lost from zero upper kitchen cabinets was more than made up in floor-to-ceiling pantry. This corner pantry accommodates the bulk of storage for food and dishes in the kitchen. The subtraction of the upper cabinets allows the Tom Dixon pendant lights to be boldly featured over the eating peninsula.
Visual lines were a key aspect in this design helping the eye move throughout the space. The cabinet break lines are at the same height as the counter tops creating one continuous line. The paneled dishwasher blends perfectly with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. The white quartz countertop flows down into a waterfall edge at the end of the eating peninsula, being the final grounding piece to visual lines.
Although the kitchen is all white, it is offset and given visual interest through texture and the use of different materials. The white allows the beautiful expensive appliances to be showcased along with the newly refinished flooring. The clean crisp kitchen will be the perfect backdrop to show case boldly colored art and accessories.

Project Overview:
The project was a highly designed energy efficient residential new build in Colchester, Vermont by Red HouseBuilding and architect Elizabeth Herrmann using our Shou Sugi Ban – Gendai that was oiled with a Light Gray prefinish.
“Nestled into a steep Vermont hillside, this home was carefully designed and positioned to efficiently and thoughtfully take advantage of the challenging terrain and stunning mountain views. The house is characterized by a series of connected wedge-shaped volumes. Roof lines lift toward views and sunlight and provide airy, varied-height spaces within. Designed to make single-floor living possible, the home has all major living spaces including a bedroom suite and garage on the main level, with a dual-purpose guest room/office, bathroom, and dual-purpose art studio/exercise room below. Totaling just 2,200 square feet of finished area (with additional mechanical space and an unfinished garage), the house is small, though expansive in feel. A dramatically angled porch juts out over the hillside, expanding the living space by over 200 square feet in the warmer months.
This home is also a high-performance, energy-efficient home that takes advantage of solar exposure. Solar panels located just above the house generate power. The home is heated and cooled by just two air source heat pumps.
A natural, low-maintenance palette extends from interior to exterior including Shou Sugi Ban siding charred and stained a light gray, local maple wood flooring and cabinetry, and stone accents.”
Product: Gendai 1×6 select grade shiplap
Prefinish: Light Gray
Application: Residential – Exterior
SF: 2400SF
Designer: Elizabeth Herrmann Architecture + Design
Builder: Red House Building
Date: November 2018
Location: Colchester, VT

Project Overview:
The project was a highly designed energy efficient residential new build in Colchester, Vermont by Red HouseBuilding and architect Elizabeth Herrmann using our Shou Sugi Ban – Gendai that was oiled with a Light Gray prefinish.
“Nestled into a steep Vermont hillside, this home was carefully designed and positioned to efficiently and thoughtfully take advantage of the challenging terrain and stunning mountain views. The house is characterized by a series of connected wedge-shaped volumes. Roof lines lift toward views and sunlight and provide airy, varied-height spaces within. Designed to make single-floor living possible, the home has all major living spaces including a bedroom suite and garage on the main level, with a dual-purpose guest room/office, bathroom, and dual-purpose art studio/exercise room below. Totaling just 2,200 square feet of finished area (with additional mechanical space and an unfinished garage), the house is small, though expansive in feel. A dramatically angled porch juts out over the hillside, expanding the living space by over 200 square feet in the warmer months.
This home is also a high-performance, energy-efficient home that takes advantage of solar exposure. Solar panels located just above the house generate power. The home is heated and cooled by just two air source heat pumps.
A natural, low-maintenance palette extends from interior to exterior including Shou Sugi Ban siding charred and stained a light gray, local maple wood flooring and cabinetry, and stone accents.”
Product: Gendai 1×6 select grade shiplap
Prefinish: Light Gray
Application: Residential – Exterior
SF: 2400SF
Designer: Elizabeth Herrmann Architecture + Design
Builder: Red House Building
Date: November 2018
Location: Colchester, VT

Seamless Elegance is a story bringing together both old and new. A cramped kitchen and a seldom-used den in a 100 year-old house were opened up to create a sprawling 300-sqft paradise. Obsessing over the little details was important to achieving our goal of seamless elegance.
The archway and molding detail between the dining and living room was perfectly mirrored between the dining room and kitchen, right down to the hidden closets. A faux brick wall painted white was added to the back wall of the kitchen to give the illusion that the previous expansion was always there.
The existing 1.5” wide beautiful oak hardwood floor was matched to the rest of the house and continued into the kitchen. The flooring throughout the house was re-done at the same time to solidify the marriage between old and new; the result was a seamless transition into functionality. The character brought into the space by the oak hardwood floor and brick wall off sets the contemporary high gloss white cabinets.
No upper cabinets were used in this design because we wanted to showcase the brick accent wall. The storage lost from zero upper kitchen cabinets was more than made up in floor-to-ceiling pantry. This corner pantry accommodates the bulk of storage for food and dishes in the kitchen. The subtraction of the upper cabinets allows the Tom Dixon pendant lights to be boldly featured over the eating peninsula.
Visual lines were a key aspect in this design helping the eye move throughout the space. The cabinet break lines are at the same height as the counter tops creating one continuous line. The paneled dishwasher blends perfectly with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. The white quartz countertop flows down into a waterfall edge at the end of the eating peninsula, being the final grounding piece to visual lines.
Although the kitchen is all white, it is offset and given visual interest through texture and the use of different materials. The white allows the beautiful expensive appliances to be showcased along with the newly refinished flooring. The clean crisp kitchen will be the perfect backdrop to show case boldly colored art and accessories.

Seamless Elegance is a story bringing together both old and new. A cramped kitchen and a seldom-used den in a 100 year-old house were opened up to create a sprawling 300-sqft paradise. Obsessing over the little details was important to achieving our goal of seamless elegance.
The archway and molding detail between the dining and living room was perfectly mirrored between the dining room and kitchen, right down to the hidden closets. A faux brick wall painted white was added to the back wall of the kitchen to give the illusion that the previous expansion was always there.
The existing 1.5” wide beautiful oak hardwood floor was matched to the rest of the house and continued into the kitchen. The flooring throughout the house was re-done at the same time to solidify the marriage between old and new; the result was a seamless transition into functionality. The character brought into the space by the oak hardwood floor and brick wall off sets the contemporary high gloss white cabinets.
No upper cabinets were used in this design because we wanted to showcase the brick accent wall. The storage lost from zero upper kitchen cabinets was more than made up in floor-to-ceiling pantry. This corner pantry accommodates the bulk of storage for food and dishes in the kitchen. The subtraction of the upper cabinets allows the Tom Dixon pendant lights to be boldly featured over the eating peninsula.
Visual lines were a key aspect in this design helping the eye move throughout the space. The cabinet break lines are at the same height as the counter tops creating one continuous line. The paneled dishwasher blends perfectly with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. The white quartz countertop flows down into a waterfall edge at the end of the eating peninsula, being the final grounding piece to visual lines.
Although the kitchen is all white, it is offset and given visual interest through texture and the use of different materials. The white allows the beautiful expensive appliances to be showcased along with the newly refinished flooring. The clean crisp kitchen will be the perfect backdrop to show case boldly colored art and accessories.

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Seamless Elegance is a story bringing together both old and new. A cramped kitchen and a seldom-used den in a 100 year-old house were opened up to create a sprawling 300-sqft paradise. Obsessing over the little details was important to achieving our goal of seamless elegance.
The archway and molding detail between the dining and living room was perfectly mirrored between the dining room and kitchen, right down to the hidden closets. A faux brick wall painted white was added to the back wall of the kitchen to give the illusion that the previous expansion was always there.
The existing 1.5” wide beautiful oak hardwood floor was matched to the rest of the house and continued into the kitchen. The flooring throughout the house was re-done at the same time to solidify the marriage between old and new; the result was a seamless transition into functionality. The character brought into the space by the oak hardwood floor and brick wall off sets the contemporary high gloss white cabinets.
No upper cabinets were used in this design because we wanted to showcase the brick accent wall. The storage lost from zero upper kitchen cabinets was more than made up in floor-to-ceiling pantry. This corner pantry accommodates the bulk of storage for food and dishes in the kitchen. The subtraction of the upper cabinets allows the Tom Dixon pendant lights to be boldly featured over the eating peninsula.
Visual lines were a key aspect in this design helping the eye move throughout the space. The cabinet break lines are at the same height as the counter tops creating one continuous line. The paneled dishwasher blends perfectly with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. The white quartz countertop flows down into a waterfall edge at the end of the eating peninsula, being the final grounding piece to visual lines.
Although the kitchen is all white, it is offset and given visual interest through texture and the use of different materials. The white allows the beautiful expensive appliances to be showcased along with the newly refinished flooring. The clean crisp kitchen will be the perfect backdrop to show case boldly colored art and accessories.

Seamless Elegance is a story bringing together both old and new. A cramped kitchen and a seldom-used den in a 100 year-old house were opened up to create a sprawling 300-sqft paradise. Obsessing over the little details was important to achieving our goal of seamless elegance.
The archway and molding detail between the dining and living room was perfectly mirrored between the dining room and kitchen, right down to the hidden closets. A faux brick wall painted white was added to the back wall of the kitchen to give the illusion that the previous expansion was always there.
The existing 1.5” wide beautiful oak hardwood floor was matched to the rest of the house and continued into the kitchen. The flooring throughout the house was re-done at the same time to solidify the marriage between old and new; the result was a seamless transition into functionality. The character brought into the space by the oak hardwood floor and brick wall off sets the contemporary high gloss white cabinets.
No upper cabinets were used in this design because we wanted to showcase the brick accent wall. The storage lost from zero upper kitchen cabinets was more than made up in floor-to-ceiling pantry. This corner pantry accommodates the bulk of storage for food and dishes in the kitchen. The subtraction of the upper cabinets allows the Tom Dixon pendant lights to be boldly featured over the eating peninsula.
Visual lines were a key aspect in this design helping the eye move throughout the space. The cabinet break lines are at the same height as the counter tops creating one continuous line. The paneled dishwasher blends perfectly with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. The white quartz countertop flows down into a waterfall edge at the end of the eating peninsula, being the final grounding piece to visual lines.
Although the kitchen is all white, it is offset and given visual interest through texture and the use of different materials. The white allows the beautiful expensive appliances to be showcased along with the newly refinished flooring. The clean crisp kitchen will be the perfect backdrop to show case boldly colored art and accessories.

The FINNE Svendsen Building is a striking and highly energy-efficient loft building in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood.
The design and building process was unusual, since architect Nils Finne was both designer and builder owner. The client-architect meetings were brief!
The building occupies a corner lot, with street facades on the south and west. The two street facades have a nuanced play of light and shadow. The walls of glass and wood are treated as folded planes, with each façade folding back and forth within an overall depth dimension of about 10”. On floors one and three, the large glass panels project forward, while on floor two, the glass is recessed. The pattern on floor two is an inverted version of floors one and three. The wood spandrel panels are custom-milled Western Red Cedar with a blackened stain.
The live-work building creates large, open loft spaces on three floors, with high ceilings, huge windows and exposed long-span steel structure. The building can accommodate a range of uses, both present and future.
The three floors of the building have 12-ft ceilings and 11-ft high windows with exposed structural steel supports and steel decking ceilings. The floors are clear-span without internal columns interrupting the work space. Mechanical air distribution is limited to the linear core on the northern side of the building, so work areas have clean metal decking ceilings with no ductwork. The building has in-floor radiant heating and cooling, resulting in minimal energy usage.
Operating windows are placed strategically throughout the façade, allowing the building to be naturally ventilated in Seattle’s mild climate. The oversized window walls on the south and west also allow natural lighting to penetrate deeply onto the floor plate, keeping lights turned off for much of the daylight hours.
A custom sapele wood front door presents a warm contrast to the building’s blackened wood cladding. A delicate screen of wood slats filters light into the main building lobby. The 3-story stair opens directly from the lobby and has been designed to encourage use on a daily basis, keeping elevator usage to a minimum. A three-story glass wall floods the stairwell with natural light, and the all-steel stair floats in the space. Custom-designed perforations in the steel stair railing panels provide unexpected shadow patterns when the late-afternoon sun shines into the stairwell.
The building was designed to be a sustainable structure from the start, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, LED lighting, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance Low-E insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. The building roof has been equipped with photovoltaic panels for electrical production, averaging about 850 Kwh per year. The modest initial amount of PV panels will be expanded over time.
The radiant hydronic heating and cooling system allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The 6” thick concrete slabs for the radiant tubes conserve both heat in the winter and cooling in the summer and provide great comfort for the feet. During the winter months, the radiant heating system keeps overall energy consumption to a very low level. The 9000 SF building costs about $35/month to heat! During the summer, the passive strategies of natural ventilation combine with the radiant slab cooling to minimize air conditioning load. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are also used to reduce heat gain in summer months.
During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into work spaces and passively warm the concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the building. The high level of craft evident in the building reflects another key principle of sustainable design: eschew “throw-away-ism” and make the building last many years!
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