07/08/09 Bend
 
After 41 years in the same building, the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District is getting ready to a move into a brand new, green office building in the Old Mill District on Columbia Street. One of the most visible things with the new building is the living roof made of dirt, grass and flowers.  It does a better job cooling the building.  The Parks District also used materials like bamboo, wheat and sunflower to make door frames and countertops.  The building is also long and narrow to take advantage of the sunlight.
 
"We always design our parks with environmental storage in mind and we feel we need to do the same things with our buildings and so we have what I think is probably the best example of green architecture in Central Oregon," says Don Horton, Executive Director for Bend Parks & Recreation District.
 
You can get a look inside the new building next Monday when they open for business.
 
Press Release:
 
New District Office Opens July 13
 
The new Bend Park & Recreation District office at 799 SW Columbia Street will open on Monday, July 13. This building will be a considerable improvement for customer experience in registering for recreation programs, getting information on parks and trails, and attending public meetings. The district has been headquartered in the current office space for 41 years. This new facility is designed to serve as the district office for the next 50 years.
 
The building is on track to be LEED gold certified by the US Green Building Council. LEED certification is awarded to buildings that meet specific standards for energy and water conservation, indoor-air quality and selection of local materials, among other things. Recycled materials used in the building include post-industrial recycled fiber cement siding, ceramic wall tile, casework laminate and carpeting.
 
Energy is conserved with the use of solar hot water, radiant heated/cooled floors and energy efficient light fixtures. It has a green "living" roof for exceptional insulation. Bioswales on the outside of the building will collect any storm water runoff so that polluted water is not returned to the river.
 
The benefits of building green include reducing operating costs, conservation of natural resources, optimizing the life-cycle of a building and improved occupant productivity. There is a higher initial cost in building a LEED certified building but that investment will be returned on energy savings within 10 years.
 
A public dedication ceremony will take place in September when the adjacent Riverbend Park is completed.