The Living Building Challenge is significantly more stringent than LEED or Green Globes.  Version 2.0 primarily targets net-zero energy and net-zero water facilities.  The International Living Building Institute defines this challenge as: “the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible today and acts to diminish the gap between current limits and ideal solutions.” 

The new school wing includes a 1,425 sq ft science classroom and a 276 sq ft greenhouse called the Ecohouse.  Our green engineering services provided the Ecohouse with a green roof to accommodate biofiltration of storm runoff and an 18-foot-high living wall of tropical plants for greywater treatment.  UV and carbon filters have been installed to make the water potable.  After the water is purified it will be stored and reused.  A composting toilet will take care of the blackwater.  Solar panels, as a renewable energy source, will supply all of the building’s energy needs.

Morrison Hershfield helped the Architect ensure that the building envelope meets the demanding thermal performance of a net zero energy building and accommodate the high humidity environment in the Ecohouse.  We identified a critical detail that required sealing the joints in the exposed structurally insulated roof panels (SIPs) to prevent condensation on the underside of the roof membrane.  Our analysis of both the architectural drawings and the curtain wall shop drawings showed the Owner and Architect team the process of enhancing building envelope performance and durability without increasing the construction budget.  As construction progressed we periodically visited the site to verify that envelope construction was per contract and assisted the construction team in working out atypical details.

On February 11, 2011 the Bertschi School celebrated the opening of its brand new fully-sustainable Living Science Wing. Teachers, parents and students gathered to experience the greenest new building in the state of Washington.