Built as a symbol of Washington State’s commitment to sustainability, the Catalyst building by Michael Green Architecture is the first office building in the state to be constructed out of cross-laminated timber (CLT). A fully integrated living laboratory for new sustainability technologies, materials, construction techniques, operation practices and design, the building is pursing Zero Energy and Zero Carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute.
Situated on an irregular site that was badly in need of revitalization, the building connects to its surrounding University District context via a pedestrian bridge. With a total of 165,000 square feet, the five storey building brings together industry and academia into a flexible environment designed to foster collaboration.
A central aim of the project was to showcase the aesthetic and environmental benefits of mass timber construction by demonstrating that it can exceed the performance of comparable steel and concrete buildings. The environmentally ambitious building was achieved thanks to sustainable MEP design, smart building management systems, and the use of over 4000 cubic meters of both CLT and glulam products. CLT panels specified came from local working forests, were harvested using sound ecological practices and manufactured 15 miles from the site. Furthermore a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) of the building concludes that carbon storage of the timber nearly offsets the embodied carbon impact of the project.
Passive strategies include rainwater capture for reducing water use, envelope design according to Passive House standards and materials specified for a 75 year lifespan. Airtightness test results proved outstanding, with the building performing at three times the standard required for Passive House certification.
In summary, the project shows that new, sustainable construction methods can coexist with more traditional metrics for affordability, operational efficiency and tenant comfort.
