A Federal Building Goes ‘Green’ With Vertical Vegetation
Image Via The New York Times, SERA Architects
Imagine an 18 story (200 foot tall) building covered in vertical vegetation that changes with the seasons… Sound almost like a modern-day fairy tale, right? Well, in Portland, Oregon it’s more like a science that, in 2013, will become reality. The Federal Government is beginning a $133 million renovation on its main federal building that overlooks the downtown plaza. Thanks to Obama’s federal stimulus package last year, which promotes environmentally friendly projects, this federal building will soon be green in more ways than one.
The Western facing side of the building is to be covered in seasonal plants that flourish during spring and summer months providing shade for windows and cooling the building. Then, in winter months the plants will die back allowing in sunlight and warmth. The General Services Administration estimates the building will use 60 percent to 65 percent less energy than similar buildings and estimates a savings of $280,000 annually in energy costs. The building may also be equipped with solar panels that that the GSA says will provide up to 15 percent of the building’s power needs. In addition, the use of rainwater and low-flow plumbing fixtures will reduce potable water consumption by 68 percent.
All in all, “It will be one of the more energy-efficient high-rises in America, possibly in the world,” said James Cutler, whose architecture firm led the design work. And if this exterior vertical garden looks as great as it sounds, maybe it will inspire other architects and developers to build more ‘green’ buildings.
Not everyone, however, is for the project. Republican Senators John McCain of Arizona and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma believe it is a huge waste of tax payer money and that the cost of renovation is way to high. In rebuttal to some of these apposing views, the GSA points out that the construction of federal buildings is usually more expensive then similarly sized private ones because security and government requirements must be taken into account. Also, cost savings and environmental benefits must be considered. If this project is successful, the groundwork for future large-scale environmentally friendly buildings will have been laid.
To read more check out the full article at The New York Times
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