Green Building

Hello friends of Pure Palette,

If I had a time machine, I think I would change my studies and professional degree to architecture.  I would love to learn the history behind great architecture and learn now to design beautiful, environmentally friendly buildings.


I have been meaning to write about a particularly cool building here for quite sometime now. Not only is it wonderful looking, it is a green building which makes it that much more special. Finally, I have found the time to introduce you to the CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) building located in downtown Sacramento, CA.

I think one of the reasons this new building is so appealing is that the outside of it is almost completely wrapped with greenery. Perhaps that is what makes the CalPERS structure so intriguing, because you can see plants and shrubs wrapping outside the building. It makes one wonder a great deal what the interiors would be like.


From a professional landscape designer I know, I recently learned that this is known as "anticipation of view" in the construction design world. So, yes it had me anticipating what was hidden within those living walls. Upon stepping in inside the building, we did not feel that we left outdoors behind.



The interesting thing about the CalPERS building, as a structure, is that it creates a standard model for environmental sustainability and energy efficiency for large-scale buildings.The building provides a healthy and very attractive work environment for all personnel employed there. It is so inviting inside that it is especially welcoming to visitors like we were. The entire property cannot help but to make you appreciate urban living.

Unlike a traditional office plaza, we found it features multiple outdoor terraces sprinkled throughout the complex. The cool thing about these terraces is that they offer visitors and workers easy and direct access to the sunlight and fresh air enjoyed in a lushly planted setting.

 
Landscape Architects, Hart & Howerton, incorporated trees to provide shade, minimize water use, and naturally reduce the issue of rising temperatures inside the building.