SEATTLE — Ground has broken on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation headquarters in Seattle.
The 900,000-square-foot, $500 million headquarters will feature two, 6-story office buildings, an entrance pavilion, a convening center and a visitor center. Situated on 12 acres, the campus is located at 500 Fifth Ave. N. across from the Seattle Space Needle.
The project aims to achieve LEED Gold certification by incorporating a number of green design elements, such as:
o An underfloor air distribution system for ventilation, which conserves energy and facilitates future space modifications
o A rainwater collection and storage system providing most of the water for non-potable uses, including irrigation, water features and toilets
o Air-cooled chillers and thermal-energy storage which conserve water and capitalize on lower off peak air temperatures
A 1.5-acre living roof, situated on top of an employee-parking garage owned and operated by Seattle Center, is already complete. It features a natural habitat for birds and will eventually be sustained through rainwater by using the roof’s plantings.
Project partners include architecture firm NBBJ, Sellen Construction and Ralph Appelbaum & Associates.
The campus is scheduled to open in late 2010, with the visitor center opening in 2011.