Case Studies Using Water Technologies

Brock Environmental Center: Virginia Beach, Va.

For buildings to withstand sea-level rise, coastline erosion, and hurricanes, they need to be built to work with nature, not against it. The Brock Environmental Center is a living example of how to minimize impact on the environment while being resilient to future challenges. The triple net zero building is the latest to receive Living Building Challenge certification and is the first in the U.S. to receive a permit for drinking rainwater treated to federal standards.

WaterHub at Emory University: Atlanta

As water resources grow increasingly taxed and scarce in communities across the U.S., an Atlanta university is turning to an unlikely resource to reduce its drinking water demand: the local sewer. The WaterHub at Emory University turns waste into a resource, recycling wastewater via an ecological treatment facility–the first of its kind in the U.S. Its sustainable treatment process sets an example of how adaptive technology can be used to meet water needs while reducing water costs.

Stevens Library at Sacred Heart Schools: Atherton, Calif.

For schools in drought-stricken areas, net zero energy and water strategies help future-proof against utility rate hikes. But, the price tag for net zero can be too high for school budgets. Fortunately, a library project at Sacred Heart School in northern California illustrates that it is possible to deliver a net zero energy building within a conventional budget while teaching kids about the value of conserving resources.

Federal Center South Building 1202: Seattle, WA

The new home of the Seattle district headquarters of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers represents a transformation both for the occupants who work in it and for the high performing building industry.

Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building: Portland, OR

One of the most important aspects of this three-year renovation began when the construction ended.

Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS): Vancouver, BC, Canada

The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) aims to not only reduce impact on the environment, but improve the lives of its occupants and its community through net positive operation.

The Exploratorium: Pier 15, San Francisco, CA

Founded by particle physicist Frank Oppenheimer in 1969, San Francisco’s Exploratorium seeks to change the way the world learns with a focus on self-teaching and exploration

Chandler City Hall: Chandler, AZ

A splashing outdoor water feature might seem like a frivolous luxury in a desert community like the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Ariz. But Chandler City Hall’s courtyard waterfall ...