Seattle Fund’s New Office Building Aims to Be World’s Greenest

A new, $30-million home for Seattle’s environmentally focused Bullitt Foundation could set a global green standard for commercial buildings, writes The New York Times.

The six-story structure, scheduled to be finished next year, will be built without lead, cadmium, or hundreds of other hazardous materials and is designed to produce as much electricity as it uses and supply and treat its own water.

The foundation, which will occupy the building along with like-minded tenants, hopes to secure the rare “living building” designation bestowed by the International Living Future Institute, considered the world’s toughest sustainability standard.

“For this building type and this scale, it’s the first in the world to go this far,” said Jason McLennan, the institute’s chief executive.