Recently Laird Norton Properties and Unico Properties, in partnership with Skanska USA, tenant Brooks Running Co and others, completed the City of Seattle’s Deep Green Pilot Program for Stone34, a mixed-use, 132k SF building in the Fremont neighborhood. At the culmination of the 12-month performance period, Stone34 exceeded the energy, water and stormwater-reuse requirements outlined in the DGPP.

The building surpassed the program’s rigorous sustainability benchmarks to become one of Seattle’s most energy- and water-efficient buildings—all while achieving competitive investment returns, according to Unico director of sustainability Brett Phillips. We had a chat with Brett about Stone34's participation in the program.

Bisnow: Why did Unico undertake the challenge to complete DGPP?

Brett: Stone34, built by Skanska USA, is an asset built with high-quality construction in the booming Fremont submarket. Our in-house sustainability expertise gave us the assurance that we could, with Laird Norton Properties, acquire the office building with reduced risk because of our confidence in being able to perform to the rigorous energy, water and stormwater requirements. Also, the building’s sustainable design and features are a perfect fit with our company’s commitment to operating high-performance green buildings.

Bisnow: What cutting-edge green technology was involved?

Brett: A mechanical system that integrates chilled beams, air and water heat-recovery systems, and a thermal storage tank, and a highly insulated thermal envelope, to name a few. There's also a 65,000 gallon rainwater cistern [that] collects and reuses stormwater for irrigation, flushing toilets and feeding the cooling tower.

Bisnow: Will other commercial properties follow your lead?

Brett: We think so. We already have the technology to execute on projects like this. As has been demonstrated in Seattle over the last several years, deep green commercial development is possible when smart land use policy provides the right revenue-based incentives. Then traditional developers utilize those incentives, and investors purchase the end product because they recognize the incremental value that's been created.

As this happens, others will follow, and transformation of the built environment can be realized. The incredible sustainability achievements at Stone34 represent a milestone for the built environment and provide a detailed blueprint for future commercial developments to replicate.