REI’s Portland store location features a state-of-the-art, eco-conscious design and was the first retail store in the country to win a LEED Gold Award from the United States Green Building Council. The 37,500 square-foot store occupies the first two floors of a new ten-story mixed-use building, with residential lofts above. Low-water use fixtures in restrooms reduce consumption by 32 percent. Natural light is brought into the store through high windows and skylights and photo cells shut down electric lighting when ambient light is sufficient. These strategies assist in a 26 percent reduction in lighting power.
Materials manufactured locally and materials with high recycled content are used extensively throughout the store. Fixtures are constructed of non-formaldehyde composite wood. Where paint is necessary, only non-VOC emitting types were used. The VOC emissions from the carpet are far below the limits set by the Carpet and Rug Institute. Finally, 96 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills and recycled as the store was built.
Mithun , an interdisciplinary architecture, design and planning firm and a national leader in resource sensitive and sustainable design, designed the building. Over 50% of the employees of this mid-sized firm are certified as LEED® Accredited Professionals. The firm has received numerous prestigious awards for its landmark sustainable work including honors from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Landscape Architects, Architecture+Energy, Business Week/Architectural Record, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Via: (REI)
