ABSTRACT

The new Bullitt Center building is capable of establishing a connection to nature and maintaining a comfortable work environment while balancing heating, cooling, ventilation and sun control. While the irresistible staircase at the Bullitt Center stands as the symbol of a green, living building, connections among humans, man-made structures and nature go deeper and broader, pointing towards future sustainable designs for the built environment. The Bullitt Center was targeting Living Building Challenge certification. Located on the south side of East Madison Street, which runs at an angle to the orthogonal grid, the building has one facade facing directly west, one facade blocked by a neighboring building, and the remaining two facades facing north-west and south-east. Rainwater collected from the roof below the photovoltaic canopy is stored in a 56,000-gallon cistern in the basement. The ideal orientation and tilt of a photovoltaic roof canopy were found to be a sloping surface facing due south at a 25 degree altitude angle.