March 26, 2013

Greenfire wins award

Photo by Sky-Pix Aerial Photography [enlarge]

Greenfire Campus, a mixed-use complex in Ballard, received a smart growth award from Futurewise.

The developer, Greenfire Group, took over the property at Northwest 56th Street, next to the Ballard Library, after a six-story, 157-unit project had been approved, but the company decided to add environmental features and reduce the density.

Greenfire Campus is scheduled to open in June, with just 18 housing units and 18,500 square feet of office and commercial space in five stories.

Johnston Architects designed the project, Walsh Construction Co. is the general contractor and Seneca Group is providing development management services. Other team members include Robin Chell Design, The Watershed Co., WSP Flack + Kurtz, 2020 Engineering, DCI Engineers and Blanton Turner Property Management.

The developers said in a press release that they want to create an “urban ecosystem” that balances ecological construction with cost effectiveness. Both the office and residential portions are expected to generate some of their own energy and filter water.

The team added several energy-saving measures such as natural ventilation, ground-source heat pumps, photovoltaics, solar hot water systems, radiant heat, green roofs with edible plants, rainwater harvesting and natural shading.

Each tenant will get a P-Patch, and there will be raspberry bushes and peas growing near the front entrance.