Northglenn, a Denver suburb, opens a net zero, all-electric city hall with a mass timber structure

Northglenn, Colo., a Denver suburb, has opened the new Northglenn City Hall—a net zero, fully electric building with a mass timber structure. The 32,600-sf, $33.7 million building houses 60 city staffers. Designed by Anderson Mason Dale Architects, Northglenn City Hall is set to become the first municipal building in Colorado, and one of the first in the country, to achieve the Core certification: a green building rating system overseen by the International Living Future Institute.

Mass Timber

5 lessons in water mitigation for mass timber projects

Sustainability leaders from Skanska, RDH, and Polygon share five tips for successful water mitigation in mass timber construction.

Office Buildings

Fact sheet outlines benefits, challenges of thermal energy storage for commercial buildings

A U.S. Dept. of Energy document discusses the benefits and challenges of thermal energy storage for commercial buildings. The document explains how the various types of thermal energy storage technologies work, where their installation is most beneficial, and some practical considerations around installations.

Industrial Facilities

UK-based tire company plans to build the first carbon-neutral tire factory in the U.S.

ENSO, a U.K.-based company that makes tires for electric vehicles, has announced plans to build the first carbon-neutral tire factory in the U.S. The $500 million ENSO technology campus will be powered entirely by renewable energy. The first-of-its-kind tire factory aims to be carbon neutral without purchased offsets, using carbon-neutral raw materials and building materials.

Mohamed A. ElGawady, associate professor of civil, architectural and environ

Feb 14, 2014

Scrap tires used to boost masonry blocks at Missouri University of S&T

Research could lead to blocks that use waste material and have seismic and insulating benefits.

Feb 14, 2014

Must see: Developer stacks shipping containers atop grain silos to create student housing tower

Mill Junction will house up to 370 students and is supported by 50-year-old grain silos.

Feb 13, 2014

Extreme Conversion: Nazi bunker transformed into green power plant, war memorial

The bunker, which sat empty for over 60 years after WWII, now uses sustainable technology and will provide power to about 4,000 homes.

Feb 6, 2014

First Look: Center for Hope will welcome world's religious to Jerusalem

The space, backed by The Elijah Interfaith Institute, is meant to "bring about world-changing peace and harmony."

Feb 4, 2014

World's fifth 'living building' certified at Smith College [slideshow]

The Bechtel Environmental Classroom utilizes solar power, composting toilets, and an energy recovery system, among other sustainable strategies, to meet the rigorous performance requirements of the Living Building Challenge.

Feb 4, 2014

Must see: Student housing complex made with recycled shipping containers

Architect Christian Salvati's new structure is just the first step in bringing shipping container construction to New Haven, Conn.

Kansas City is among the metros participating in the new City Energy Project, an

Jan 30, 2014

Mayors of 10 metros unite to cut building-related climate pollution

Organizers say combined initiative could cut as much climate-change pollution as generated by 1 million cars every year, and lower energy bills by nearly $1 billion annually.

Life at HOK | Jan 30, 2014

How reverse engineering nature can spur design innovation

It’s not enough to copy nature. Today’s designers need a deeper understanding of environmental nuance, from the biome in.

Yale School of Management, Edward P. Evans Hall. All images: Foster + Partners.

Jan 24, 2014

First look: Foster + Partners' new home for Yale School of Management [slideshow]

Edward P. Evans Hall, the new home of the Yale School of Management, has opened for business. The 242,000-sf facility was designed by Foster + Partners, with Gruzen Samton as architect of record.