Here’s the Dirt: Green design earns LEED silver

NAC Architecture’s self-designed expansion in downtown Spokane has received a LEED silver certification for environment-friendly features like natural lighting and minimization of water use.

The $2.5 million, 10,000-square-foot addition at 1203 W. Riverside Ave. contains studios and offices.

The wall facing Jefferson Street is a sheet of “low-e glass” that allows sunlight in but prevents heat loss. Lights dim automatically.

To minimize water use, NAC installed low-flow showers, ultra-low flow urinals, and dual-flush toilets. Storm water is collected in a cistern for gradual release into the ground.

Much of the southern wall is 95 percent recycled copper …

NAC Architecture’s self-designed expansion in downtown Spokane has received a LEED silver certification for environment-friendly features like natural lighting and minimization of water use.

The $2.5 million, 10,000-square-foot addition at 1203 W. Riverside Ave. contains studios and offices.

The wall facing Jefferson Street is a sheet of “low-e glass” that allows sunlight in but prevents heat loss. Lights dim automatically.

To minimize water use, NAC installed low-flow showers, ultra-low flow urinals, and dual-flush toilets. Storm water is collected in a cistern for gradual release into the ground.

Much of the southern wall is 95 percent recycled copper plate that will eventually weather to match the roof of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral one block east, project manager and Principal Dana Harbaugh said.

The building, which also won an AIA Spokane Honor Award for design creativity, joins a handful of Spokane buildings recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for energy and materials conservation.

The design is a dramatic departure from the company’s adjoining 12,000-square-foot tile-roofed and masonry structure, which NAC’s architects deliberately chose not to mimic.

“We got to be our own clients,” Harbaugh said.

Apartments for mentally ill open

Spokane Mental Health will host an open house next Friday for two new apartment buildings in Spokane’s West Central neighborhood for people of low income who are diagnosed with chronic mental illness.

The Centerstone project provides 16 one-bedroom units in neighboring buildings at 617 West Spofford Ave. and 718 West Maxwell Ave. Tenants will move into the Spofford building next week. The Maxwell building opened in September.

The buildings were funded with $1.9 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, $2 million from Washington state, and $100,000 from the city of Spokane.

In addition, HUD will provide rent subsidies to help make the apartments affordable. Tenants will pay 30 percent of their adjusted income, and HUD’s Section 811 program will pay the rest. To qualify, tenants must make less than 50 percent of the area median income.

The Centerstone open house will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at both buildings. Refreshments will be served.

Goodale & Barbieri Co. is the project developer. Clark General Contractors of Spokane and Michael Fancher Architects of Seattle also worked on the project.

Spokane Mental Health, the project sponsor, is a not-for-profit organization that has served children, families, adults and elders throughout Spokane County since 1970.

Monsanto to expand in Othello

Monsanto Seed is investing $2.8 million in its seed development and warehousing operation at Othello.

Spokeswoman Mica Veihman said the company needed more room to pursue development of corn varieties best suited to growing conditions in the Northwest.

Monsanto will add 40 to 45 acres of land to the 13 already used for corn cultivation and processing, she said.

Researchers will get new greenhouse and laboratory space.

Monsanto also owns a vegetable seed production plant at Warden.

Festival of Homes awards announced

The following builders won the People’s Choice Awards at this year’s Fall Festival of Homes sponsored by the Spokane Home Builders Association:

• Homes priced up to $199,999 – Lewis Construction.

• Homes $200,000 to $245,999 – Strahl Construction.

• Homes $246,000 to $299,999 – Split Diamond Construction.

• Homes $300,000 to $399,999 – Morse Western Homes.

• Homes $400,000 to $549,999 – Marsh Construction.

• Homes $550,000 and up – Invest Northwest.

Deputy City Editor Scott Maben contributed to this report. Here’s the Dirt is a weekly report on development and business changes in the Inland Northwest. E-mail business@spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5528.