SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE: SEATTLE

When the Eco Village first landed in Seattle the look was already so much different. The atmosphere and the buildings that we were surrounded by seemed to be a lot different than what we are used to in Raleigh. It was exciting to see how different everything was and how they seemed to be much more advanced in their public transportation and their structures. The area seemed to be much more people and user friendly. Walking was greatly encouraged, sometimes even expected, and if walking was too far all you would have to do is wait a few minutes for a bus and then be on your way to your destination, a lot different than in Raleigh.

Each day it seemed as if the itinerary was in some way showing us doing something related to architecture. At first this seemed like an architecture overload, but being able to see how each different aspect went hand in hand with its relation to sustainable architecture was very interesting to learn. We were able to do walking tours with the Seattle Architecture Foundation which was one of the best experiences of the trip. We were able to see not only how the city has transformed over time, but also how its architecture has changed. It has taken a much more sustainable approach and the environment is considered more.

The buildings in Seattle are held under stricter sets of rules than the buildings in Raleigh. For instance, a building over a certain size has to meet LEED Gold Certification. Each day we were also able to see more sustainable buildings around us. Many are multipurpose structures that also had green roofs or another type of sustainable living which was also able to help in the efforts to create more sustainable architecture.

Overall, the sustainable architecture was much more advanced in Seattle. This is a city that is further along in its efforts to become as sustainable as possible and it shows. We were able to get a tour of the Bullitt Center, the greenest commercial building in the world. With Seattle having this certification, they have more of a stronger will to create as sustainable structures as possible.

Through these efforts the public is becoming much more educated on sustainable architecture.