Well I'm glad someone is taking my advice to build clear buildings in order to preserve our precious, life-giving views of the Space Needle (glory to its name).
I really like the fact that the staircase is front and center.
On college campuses I've found that the staircases in many buildings are prominent. The easiest and fastest way to get from floor to floor is on the obvious staircase exposed in the middle of the building. See for example the Allen Library at the UW or the new Media Lab building at MIT .
In contrast many office buildings hide their staircases behind a fire door off the elevator. The staircase is concrete and completely enclosed. And, sometimes it's even difficult to get out of the staircase. I worked in a building where the elevator would take people to any floor during office hours, but the staircase was always on after hours lock down so you'd need a keycard and could only get off on your own floor or the ground floor.
Obviously many people are going to use an elevator for a fifteenth floor office, but at least the staircases should be available for shorter trips from floor to floor within the building without overburdening the elevators.
The roof is obnoxious; it's visually intrusive over the street. Imagine what a dark hovel the streets would be if every building was built like this. It's one thing to be exceptional when everything else is bad, but it's a different thing to be replicable role model.
@9 I believe the roof is a proportioned overhang. It shields the windows from the sun during the summer months, but allows the light to get into the building during the winter months. Charles will probably have an article about it. It's also covered with solar panels. I'm not sure why it has holes in it.
The overhang on the roof is solar panels. 249kw generating capacity, the largest in City Light's territory, and one of the largest in the state (there's some utility grade stuff over the mountains that I think is bigger)
@5 No, innovative design and construction. I'm amazed the GC was able to get it built given the extreme constraints (i.e. no PVC on site whatsoever) of the program.
It's not perfect and it was never intended to be. The Bullitt Center was conceived of the idea that when it comes to making the most sustainable buildings possible, you have to start somewhere.
@16 - Many geologists now believe that the weathering seen on the Great Sphinx of Giza is not due to wind erosion, but centuries worth of child blasting.
On college campuses I've found that the staircases in many buildings are prominent. The easiest and fastest way to get from floor to floor is on the obvious staircase exposed in the middle of the building. See for example the Allen Library at the UW or the new Media Lab building at MIT .
In contrast many office buildings hide their staircases behind a fire door off the elevator. The staircase is concrete and completely enclosed. And, sometimes it's even difficult to get out of the staircase. I worked in a building where the elevator would take people to any floor during office hours, but the staircase was always on after hours lock down so you'd need a keycard and could only get off on your own floor or the ground floor.
Obviously many people are going to use an elevator for a fifteenth floor office, but at least the staircases should be available for shorter trips from floor to floor within the building without overburdening the elevators.
It's not perfect and it was never intended to be. The Bullitt Center was conceived of the idea that when it comes to making the most sustainable buildings possible, you have to start somewhere.
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