Eco-Laboratory was born out of the idea, asserted by the team, that “there is no silver bullet for sustainability, no one solution for net-zero consumptive environments.” Eco-Laboratory is more than a building; it is where economics, culture and environment intersect to create a greater whole.
Designed to meet the Living Building Challenge, this theoretical project for a block in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, won the 2008 Natural Talent Design Competition, awarded at GreenBuild (the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual conference). The conceptual design envisions a residential development merging existing neighborhood amenities – such as the adjacent P-Patch, neighborhood market, vocational training facility and a public sustainability educational center – into a financially viable development.
Our design team incorporated a myriad of innovative and sustainable features, however the most resourceful aspect of the building can be found in its interconnected systems, which create a closed cycle so that building and community are almost completely self-sustainable.
Eco-Laboratory was included in the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial exhibit. For the exhibit we collaborated with Hansen Belyea to create a video explaning the project. View the video on Vimeo.
The Eco-Laboratory: Pure Agritecture
Agri-Tecture: Buildings That Grow Food
February 20, 2012
Vertical Farm
Deccan Herald
March 30, 2011
Design Perspective: Urban agriculture is looking up in Seattle
Daily Journal of Commerce
December 15, 2010
Are Vertical Farms the Future?
National Design Journal
Fall 2010
Jack London: Sustainable Farmer. Seattle: Vertical Farm Tower?
The Seattle Times All you Can Eat Blog
August 24, 2009
Weber Says Eco-Lab Project Will Need Help from the City
Daily Journal of Commerce
July 29, 2009
High-Rise Farms: The Future of Food?
National Geographic News
June 30, 2009
Vertical Farm Features Eco-Laboratory
Vertical Farm
March 2009
Eco-Laboratory
WorldChanging Seattle
December 24, 2008
Treehugger Calls Out Eco-Laboratory’s Big Win at Greenbuild
Treehugger
December 15, 2008
Eco-Laboratory: An Urban, High-Rise Residence For Ecology And Social Collaboration
archiCentral
December 13, 2008
Eco-Laboratory Concept Living Building
Jetson Green
December 11, 2008
A Green Dream Wins 2008 Cascadia Design Challenge
Daily Journal of Commerce
April 22, 2008
First Place, National 2008 Natural Talent Design Competition
First Place, Cascadia Chapter 2008 Natural Talent Design Competition