The LEED Gold certified Bend Metro Park and Recreation District Administration Building is one of the most sustainable projects constructed in Central Oregon. It serves as an exemplary illustration of how to integrate a building into its environmental context successfully with an emphasis on the high desert climate and landscape. Tied into the fabric of Bend’s Old Mill District, public indoor and outdoor spaces are important features of the overall design, making this building-within-the-park a hub for community congregation and local events.

The project preserved 377,836 sf of vegetated open space, 345 percent more than is required by the local zoning code, and included the restoration of the native habitat along the Deschutes River. A large outdoor terrace lends itself as the inviting entry into an information lobby and adjacent community room. The north building façade is composed of highly insulated walls with limited glazing areas. On the south side, the building’s walls open to spectacular views to the river and allow sunlight to penetrate deep into the office spaces while providing summer shading through the use of exterior trellis components.  

One of the building highlights, a slanted green roof covered with succulents and wildflowers, blends the building into the riverfront park site and helps mitigate storm-water runoff. Native materials were locally sourced to lower the building’s environmental impact. The facility’s design is intended to demonstrate the progressive values of environmental and community stewardship, with humble, regional charm and a truthfulness of expression.