Is Rafael Viñoly’s $44.3 Million Firstsite Arts Center Green?

A flurry of criticism flooded the blogosphere after the opening of <a href="http://www.rvapc.com/">Rafael Viñoly Architect's</a> Firstsite Arts Center in Colchester last month. Critics complained that the project was late and that it cost $15.8 million more than it should have. Some called the 41,000 square foot <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-use_development">mixed-use development</a> a golden banana, other's called it a golden blunder. But hardly anybody took the time to find out what efforts had been made to reduce the project's environmental impact. So we contacted the designers directly to clear up the matter, and this is what we learned.

Although the project did not receive a BREEAM rating, the designers did make an effort to reduce its environmental impact

A sophisticated ventilation and heating/cooling system also keeps energy use to a minimum.

RVA received a lot of criticism for their $44.3 million, 41,000 square foot Firstsite Arts Center in England

The center's courtyard and auditorium.

24,000 tons of fill was recycled, the insulation and envelope metal is made from recycled materials, and most of the construction waste was recycled as well.

Since the building is so well lit, naturally, very little artificial lighting is required.

A diagram of the interior of the center.

We do have to admit that from some angles it does resemble a giant banana.

Is it green? You be the judge.