The fairly rectangular structure, located just a few feet from the new light rail Expo Line’s elevated tracks in Culver City, gets most of its energy from photovoltaics—a 2,800 sq ft array sitting on top of a shaded parking canopy outside. But what makes it all work are the energy savings: It significantly reduces loads through several low-tech, high-tech, and even revolutionary techniques, most of which were developed with engineers at Buro Happold, whose LA offices are just down the street. — archpaper.com
6 Comments
Good to learn something about this building, but I find the tone of the article really off-putting. The vague language ("they never really need to turn on the AC"... oh, really?), and "Net-zero isn't that hard, is it?" Well, NO, I don't think it is, *in LA*. Try doing it somewhere with seasons and humidity. Plus it might be worth registering the implications of the fact that the large PV array that powers this building is located on a covered parking lot. So net-zero-ness of the building is dependent on the net-mucho lifestyles of the commuting employees. That *would* be hard to resolve in LA, admittedly. But regardless of commute, to be truly net zero in LA, you'd have to account for water.
water? they drink their own urine. true story!
the high-tech (Monodraught?) update to ancient wind-catcher technology seems really simple. the piece says this is first time used in USA but has been used in Europe. anybody know anything more/used them?
I was struck by the parking area too... Is a taller non-net zero building in NYC ultimately more sustainable because of public transport than a whole bunch of sprawling net-zero buildings in LA where everyone has to drive to work?
Frac, you crack me up. (I'd heard it was just Thom's urine, stored in earthen cisterns below the garden.)
Just yesterday I was sitting outside the Starbucks across the street from their old office, missing that great, funky, scaffold-mounted graphic that's been taken down, unfortunately. Interesting to see where they ended up.... It's so white!
Yes, I miss their old funky garage, dark and artistic space...kinda like California 1964. Their new space is medical/corporate white! Maybe, drinking Thom's urine will provide eternal life for them. Why do shades of blood drinking or blood letting come to mind? Maybe, its just 21st century New Ageism.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.