Description

Thomas/Wright, Inc. was the prime consultant for the design of an 11,400 square foot office building and visitor center for the U.S. Forest Service. The building has a Northwest "Cascadian" architecture style. In addition to the building, the project included a public kiosk outside the building, a new entrance road and parking, and stormwater improvements.

Sustainable concepts incorporated into the design included the use of natural materials such as rock and stone that are available nearby; the use of locally milled logs and sawn lumber; the use of green products for the resilient flooring and paint; and the introduction of natural light into the building.

The HVAC system included the use of economizers for heat recovery. The lighting system uses energy efficient lamps, the maximum use of daylight, and an automatic lighting control system to optimize the energy usage. The design minimizes heat loss due to high harmonics in the electrical system.