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March 9, 2023

May groundbreaking for carbon net-neutral facility at WWU

Renderings by Perkins & Will [enlarge]
Kaiser Borsari Hall is aiming to be the region’s first carbon net-neutral collegiate facility.

General contractor Mortenson will break ground on Kaiser Borsari Hall, a new building for electrical engineering, computer science, and energy science and technology programs at WWU's Bellingham campus, in May.

Perkins & Will designed Kaiser Bosari Hall. It will be four stories and 54,000 square feet. The project is targeting zero carbon and zero energy certifications through the International Living Future Institute to significantly advance the university's vision of becoming the region's first carbon net-neutral university campus.

The building will have a mass timber/CLT structure and is designed to “smart building” standards that will significantly reduce the environmental impact of the facility from construction to operation. In a press release Mortenson said it will implement the Contractor's Commitment guidelines for green building practices on the jobsite and beyond. Construction is expected to be finished in 2024.

The building will be a new home for computer science programs.

Mortenson also announced that the project is being led by a predominantly female team, something which is becoming more common across the state. “The project showcases the power of female leadership and intentional strides made to amplify diversity in the AEC industry,” the release reads.

“Getting to work on a project that is one of only a handful of projects in the world striving to achieve ILFI certification for Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Carbon is a daunting but incredibly exciting opportunity,” Paige Adkinson, project manager at Mortenson and one of the women leading the project, said in the release. “What I love about my job most is learning something new every day from a wide range of people. With this project, I am inspired to work with a strong group of female leaders and sustainability experts, collaborate with our trade partners on innovative ways to positively impact the environment and surrounding community, and gain new insights into emerging sustainability efforts in the industry,” she continued.

The project team also includes KPFF Consulting Engineers, McKinstry, VECA, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, AEI, Hargis, and Berger Partnership.

Mortenson shared these updates in honor of International Women's Day (March 8) and Women in Construction Week (March 5 – 11). The firm has hosted a series of events this week in honor of women. These include a clothing drive with non-profit The Sophia Way in Bellevue, and a recycle denim drive with Benefit's Blue Jeans Go Green. Mortenson's project teams have also been holding member led roundtable discussions surrounding topics of diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion.

Today, the firm is hosting Kari Zee, PE., a life coach and burnout prevention expert who will utilize her engineering background and knowledge of the industry to educate and inform team members about the role they can play in perpetuating negative repetitive cycles and how to build an uplifting and empowering environment in which everyone can thrive.




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