Community boasts net-zero energy with the help of sleek Pre-painted Galvalume Steel Exterior
The healthy homes of Grow Community, an urban neighborhood on Bainbridge Island, just a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. The project combines private cottages, townhomes and lofts available for purchase, along with rental flats and townhomes, with a total of 131 housing units on 2.2 hectares (5 acres). Homes are clustered in ‘pocket neighborhoods’ around pea patches and outdoor gathering areas.
Grow Community is a development that appeals to individuals and families looking to enrich their lives with environmental responsibility, while reaping the benefits of a high-quality, healthy lifestyle. Residents of this community boast zero carbon footprints and use sustainable transport, water, food and materials on a daily basis.
Unique, sustainable and energy-efficient homes are built to ambitious green building standards.
Phase I of the Grow Community project began as a community building experience and this evolved into the first endorsed One Planet Living Community in the United States (5th in the world), where every residential home lives within the resources of the planet. Grow Community’s first completed neighborhood is not only powered by a photovoltaic system employing roof mounted solar panels, but it also includes net-zero energy homes. The project team needed to match the innovative and eco-friendly environment of the Village with equally sustainable materials to achieve the desired outcome.
More than 1,115m2 (12,000 sq. ft.) of pre-painted .61mm (7/8”) Corrugated AZ50 (AZM150 in Canada) Galvalume® steel Wall Panels coloured Mistique Plus in the Kynar 500 paint system, clad the exterior walls of each home in the Village. Steel cladding met Grow Community’s sustainability goals because the panels have a long life span, are 100% recyclable and contain a high percentage of recycled material contributing to sustainable building goals, such as LEED.
All standard panel colours are ENERGY STAR® listed and can improve the energy efficiency of a building. “We knew we wanted to design with corrugated steel because it is a low-maintenance, cost-effective, lifetime material”, says Jonathan Davis. He adds, “it’s a perfect sustainable option, high quality product, with excellent design assistance.
Sustainability fuels Grow Community, the design teams goal was to insure that the project met or exceeded LEED goals. “Steel cladding is installed on my own home and I have always been impressed with both its longevity and its beauty,” adds Davis.
Grow Community appeals to individuals and families who want to enrich their lives with environmental responsibility, while reaping the benefits of a high-quality, healthy lifestyle. Residents of this community boast zero carbon footprints and use sustainable transport, water, food and materials on a daily basis.
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM
ARCHITECT:
Davis Studio Architecture + Design 206-842-5543
DEVELOPER:
Asani 206-780-8898
GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
PHC Construction, Bainbridge Island 206-780-4060
STEEL CLADDING SUPPLIER:
Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation 800-431-3470
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Grow Community; Davis Studio; Metal Sales
