Olympia, Washington


2011 Honor Award, AIA Seattle
2011 AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects
2011 AIA Washington Council Civic Design Awards - Honor
2010 Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Beyond Green Grand Prize


AIA COTE 2011 Top Ten Green Projects: LOTT Clean Water Alliance
ECO-STRUCTURE
CASE STUDY: LOTT Regional Services Center
GreenSource
Olympia's New Water Education Center Aims for LEED Platinum
Inhabitat


External louver system at work:









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While most water treatment plants around the country are separated from their communities by a chain link fence, LOTT Clean Water Alliance’s new Regional Services Center in Olympia, Washington, actively engages the public. The project received LEED Platinum certification, and also includes the “WET Center” (Water Educational and Technology Center), an exhibit gallery and classroom.

The design challenge for the project included renovating the existing administrative and laboratory building and the creation of a new four-story Regional Services Center to house administrative offices, an emergency operations center, boardroom, and an education center with interpretive exhibits and a classroom. Designed with a contemporary, industrial aesthetic, the building complements its surroundings, while the structure’s height acts like an iconic symbol for the neighborhood. The facility is coordinated with other projects planned in the area, including a new Hands on Children’s Museum — under construction and also designed by Miller Hull — and the East Bay Civic Plaza.

Class A reclaimed water, found throughout the facility, is wastewater that has been treated to higher standards and can therefore be used for irrigation, toilet flushing, and industrial and manufacturing uses. Benefits include wastewater and water supply management, and environmental enhancement such as using reclaimed water for wetlands restoration. The reclaimed water for LOTT’s new facility is used for plumbing within the building, in a pond surrounding the center, and to irrigate the grounds and the building’s green roof.

Other sustainable elements of the project include reused timbers from a warehouse that was demolished near the site. The energy use for the project is 50 percent less than of a typical building resulting in significant cost savings over its lifetime. Natural light in the office spaces reduces or eliminates the need for artificial lighting during most of the day. Lastly, external louvers control sunlight and minimize solar gain which further reduces the need for air conditioning.

© 2013 - The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP