LEED Gold Columbia Building Uses Green Roofs to Manage Stormwater Runoff
by : Nikola Gemeš |
Publication Date: March 24, 2021
Sustainability was a key priority in a new wastewater treatment facility that the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services asked Skylab Architects to design.
Sustainability was a key priority in a new wastewater treatment facility that the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services asked Skylab Architects to design.
Not only did the Portland-based architects need to make sure the project meets a minimum of LEED Gold certification, but the building would also have to educate people by demonstrating a working onsite stormwater filtration.
According to Inhabitat, the Columbia Building was completed in 2014, winning a dozen awards for its ingenious design, attractive green roof, and a visible stormwater management system.
Located south of the Columbia River and about 9 miles north of downtown Portland, the 11,640-square-foot Columbia Building primarily serves as a workspace for the wastewater treatment’s engineering department. The building also includes a visitor reception area and public meeting spaces. Large windows with operable air circulation vents and mirrored glass along the north facade frame views toward a partially enclosed Commons area and the riverine landscape beyond.
The project accomplished three unique objectives: it created a vibrant and efficient workspace, green on-site stormwater filtration, and a dynamic conversation on the health of the surrounding watershed.
Among its many awards, the Columbia Building has received the 2015 Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design: American Architecture Award and the 2014 ASLA Oregon Award of Excellence.
Nikola uses his background in electrical engineering to break down complex sustainability topics for GreenCitizen's readers. He is a firm believer in environmental conservation, which he practices daily through recycling and home-grown food. He enjoys hiking, engaging in white-water sports, and collecting pocket knives.
Green News
LEED Gold Columbia Building Uses Green Roofs to Manage Stormwater Runoff
by : Nikola Gemeš | Publication Date: March 24, 2021
Sustainability was a key priority in a new wastewater treatment facility that the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services asked Skylab Architects to design.
Sustainability was a key priority in a new wastewater treatment facility that the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services asked Skylab Architects to design.
Not only did the Portland-based architects need to make sure the project meets a minimum of LEED Gold certification, but the building would also have to educate people by demonstrating a working onsite stormwater filtration.
According to Inhabitat, the Columbia Building was completed in 2014, winning a dozen awards for its ingenious design, attractive green roof, and a visible stormwater management system.
Located south of the Columbia River and about 9 miles north of downtown Portland, the 11,640-square-foot Columbia Building primarily serves as a workspace for the wastewater treatment’s engineering department. The building also includes a visitor reception area and public meeting spaces. Large windows with operable air circulation vents and mirrored glass along the north facade frame views toward a partially enclosed Commons area and the riverine landscape beyond.
The project accomplished three unique objectives: it created a vibrant and efficient workspace, green on-site stormwater filtration, and a dynamic conversation on the health of the surrounding watershed.
Among its many awards, the Columbia Building has received the 2015 Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design: American Architecture Award and the 2014 ASLA Oregon Award of Excellence.
Nikola Gemeš
Nikola uses his background in electrical engineering to break down complex sustainability topics for GreenCitizen's readers. He is a firm believer in environmental conservation, which he practices daily through recycling and home-grown food. He enjoys hiking, engaging in white-water sports, and collecting pocket knives.
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