hmmm... i think this might be hard. i've got a few:

oma, seattle central library


bksk, Queens Botanical Garden


patkau, UBC Aquatic Ecosystems Laboratory (silver)


or better yet, minergie (CH)
holl, swiss embassy residence


zumthor, kh bregenz

-daylighted galleries
-mech. zones isolated from inhabited zones, reducing loads
-actively coupled concete walls/floors
-lake constance used to cool - groundwater cooling
-thanks to mass coupling, ventilation is only for hygenic air exchange
-heat recovery system
-system was flexible enough for integrating small mech. cooling capabilty post occupancy

part of the problem is that a lot of green buildings don't fall into the LEED points system very well.

it also doesn't push innovation as much as it could, unless you take the position that green roofs, fancy mechanical systems and low VOC materials are "innovative"

for the record, that's not holz - i've got no locks, unfortunately, and a rather poor placement for a fire extinguisher...

my employer!

UT School of Nursing Houston




[img]
]http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek06/0421/0421cotenursing_b.jpg[/img]

[img]
]http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek06/0421/0421cotenursing_b.jpg[/img]

i would've thought zumthor's project at bregenz predated leed. also didn't know that the usgbc reviewed european work...

yeah the leed topic is a tough one which is why i figured we'd have to stray out into the broader 'green' movement

sidwell friends school by kieran timberlake:

it does predate LEED, i was just trying to show there are (better) alternative systems out there, and what they've achieved.

i'm surprised some of these are energy efficient given the amount of glass they have

glazing isn't really a LEED issue...

there are lots of green projects that are fully glazed.

jahn's postbank tower in bonn, for instance..


i know quite a few firms that have done green projects that are fully glazed. if the mechanics are done right, and using thermal coupling, it can easily be achieved.

lebossman,

i'm wondering if your notion of energy efficient means superinsulated, minimal windows to the north, etc...

LEED SCHMEED

no not really. i understand there are thermal performance issues where glazing can be at used to an advantage. i suppose because i live in extreme climates i tend to assume as a default that glass = bad. richard meier's courthouse in phx is an excellent example of what not to do.

le bossman

I think that most Meier projects are excellent examples of what not to do

yeah but this is a specific example of what not to do with glass

holz, what's up with the swiss system (minergie)? as far as i can tell, it seems to be primarily about energy efficiency -- like LEED, but without the bells and whistles.

What makes it better? Or maybe the swiss buildings are just better?

Minergie is tougher… for starters, it’s pass fail. You either achieve or you don’t, none of this interstitial crap.

It’s judged on energy efficiency and comfort. Energy consumption is heavily weighted, whereas w/ LEED, energy is a significantly smaller portion.

You don’t get freebie points for cool designs…