Last Friday the Bertschi School Science Wing opened, drawing a large crowd, of teachers, students, design team members and local green building afficianados. As Seattle’s first completed Living Building, the science wing sets the new bar for deep green, restorative sustainable design. The school has a great overview of the project on their website. The Science Wing was designed by a unique collaborative called the Restorative Design Collective. A host of local firms, architecture, engineering, sustainability, came together and approached the Bertschi School with a proposal. If the school would agree to pursue the Living Building Challenge, the RDC team would donate their design services. The Berstchi School agreed, the RDC delivered, and now the kids have an amazing space in which to learn about science, and the power of design!
Green building interest stops traffic.
Bronze fish "swim" along runnel for reclaimed water.
I attended the opening, and, yes, all the tech is cool. Water reclamation and treatment, daylighting, efficient electric lighting, solar panels on the roof of the adjacent existing wing. But what really impressed me was the aesthetic aspects of the project. The Living Building Challenge is a unique rating system, not only in that it has only prerequisites and no points, but in that it has a category for Beauty & Spirit. If it’s ugly or even just uninspired, how can a building be sustainable?
The project’s artistic touches provide a visual link to the technology, in a very appealing way – for adults and children. Additionally the native and edibles garden create a living laboratoty for learning. The keynote presenter, Ciscoe Morris of Gardening with Ciscoe, talked about the importance of nature in hands-on teaching for children. I only wish my kindergarten had been so cool!
Ciscoe Morris of "Gardening with Ciscoe" and landscape architect Mark Sindell.
The Bertschi School Science Wing will soon be joined by another Seattle Living Building. The Bullitt Foundation’s Cascadia Center for Sustainable Design & Construction is targeted for completion in December of this year. I look forward to seeing many more!
Interior Living Wall. [designed by GGLO/RDC
Thanks for the great write-up, Teresa! In accordance with the intent of the Living Building Challenge 2.0 Equity Petal, Bertschi School will offer tours of the Science Wing. Because its main use is as a classroom for students, tours must be pre-arranged by contacting Bertschi at 206-324-5476.