See all forum discussions about Green Commons
 Subscribe to new posts about Green Commons Post a new question aboutGreen Commons

Forum discussion

Green Commons

Market-Driven Net-Zero Office Buildings

Profile picture for user boora
Mike Manzi
Bora Architects
LEEDuser Basic Member
0 thumbs up

I'm looking for successful examples of net-zero, Living Building, or similar office buildings that are NOT owned by highly-motivated organizations like RMI or the Bullitt Foundation (or one of your firms).

We are looking to team with a developer on a small-mid-size office building that will house our new office with us as a tenant (no ownership stake).  We might not be able to hold out for an already highly-sustainable-minded developer, so we need to have a convincing case that costs can be managed (for the developer and our own rent expenses) even if not all tenants in the building are willing to pay extra for sustainability.  Direct offsets between rent and utility savings should be fairly easy, but the upfront cost premium might exceed those savings.

Is our only hope to fill the building with like-minded tenants?

Other strategy ideas or thoughts?

I'm especially looking for projects anywhere that have pulled this off.

Much appreciated!

Mike

0
Post a reply

You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?

LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.

Go premium for $15.95  »

Profile picture for user mharrell
Myer Harrell
Sr. Regenerative Design Advisor, Sr. Associate
Perkins & Will
LEEDuser Basic Member
0 thumbs up

Thu, 10/03/2019 - 21:07

Mike, two other thoughts: 1. I think you're in Portland, OR -- have you talked to Gerding Edlen? I attended a good presentation at Living Future where Jill Sherman presented their project with PAE & ZGF, with LBC as financially sustainable: https://livingfuture2019.sched.com/event/IjqW/the-pae-portland-living-building-challenges-of-developing-a-living-building-in-an-investor-driven-model 2. You might talk to developers in Seattle who are doing mid-rise office buildings participating in the Living Building Pilot Program. While there is a very large land use height and area incentive which yields additional rentable area, they have become increasingly open to net zero energy (though...with the off-site exception) in commercial development, which is a good start. Perhaps Portland is considering something similar...?          
Default Avatar
Steve Clem
Skanska
LEEDuser Basic Member
0 thumbs up

Thu, 10/03/2019 - 21:33

Mike- we should connect. Steve.clem@skanska.com

Fri, 10/04/2019 - 12:57

Mike - have you looked at Boulder Commons (Boulder, CO) as a case study yet? While RMI is there, I believe that the project was well underway as a speculative ZNE office development before they signed as a lease. From what I've read, RMI only has about 14 kSF of the first 100 kSF building.  Project info: https://bouldercommons.com/ Some add'l resources from RMI (including redacted lease language) that might be useful: https://rmi.org/our-work/buildings/scaling-zero-net-carbon/boulder-commons/
Profile picture for user Blake.Jackson
Blake Jackson
Director of Sustainability
NORR
LEEDuser Expert
7 thumbs up

Fri, 10/04/2019 - 13:08

Mike, Jacob Knowles and his team from BR+A (who are in the MEP peer group) recently gave a lunch and learn in our office on this very topic. I am sure they'd be a big help, if you wanted to reach out directly. You can contact Jacob at jwk@brplusa.com. I'm sure he'd love to chat with you on this. Best, -Blake

Fri, 10/04/2019 - 13:58

I would also recommend looking at all of Sharp Development’s project in the southbay. They have a whole handful of Zero Energy retrofits done at developer costs… STET SANBORN AIA NCARB CPHC LEED AP Principal | Engineering Discipline Lead ________________________________ SmithGroup 301 Battery Street, 7th Floor San Francisco, CA 94111 C 415.516.7946 T 415.343.2032 stet.sanborn@smithgroup.com smithgroup.com Connect with us LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram _________________________________ Fro
Profile picture for user paulinesouza
Pauline Souza
Partner, Sustainability Director
WRNS Studio
LEEDuser Basic Member
0 thumbs up

Fri, 10/04/2019 - 15:11

Was just going to add that! they have done at least three in the same area – they are all retrofits though. The same approach might work – and he has a point of view about net zero from a financial payback perspective Check out the video in the Project approach section https://sharpdevco.com/about/ we worked with Kevin on one https://sharpdevco.com/portfolio-item/380-n-pastoria-sunnyvale-ca/380-pastoria/ Fro

Add new comment

To post a comment, you need to register for a LEEDuser Basic membership (free) or login to your existing profile.