The Green Building: Cultural Center Rejuvenates a Neighborhood

They weren't just being glib when they named this adaptive reuse, mixed-use commercial building <a href="http://www.thegreenbuilding.net/" target="_blank">The Green Building</a>. Located in Louiseville, KY, the gallery, restaurant, office and event space is the first LEED Platinum certified commercial building in the city. The renovation of the 115 year-old dry goods store was designed by LA firm <a href="http://www.ferstudio.com/">(FER) studio LLP</a>, who made the building more energy-efficient, added a green roof and rainwater collection, and installed a large solar system to offset the building's energy use. Since its completion, the project has become a catalyst that has regenerated the East Market district of Louisville.

The Green Building is a 10,175 square foot <a href="http://inhabitat.com/david-brower-center-is-a-green-built-non-profit-community-hub/" target="_blank">mixed-use commercial building</a> that houses a gallery, event space, offices, tenant office spaces, a conference room, and a separate tenant restaurant space.

A monthly rotating <a href="http://www.thegreenbuilding.net/gallery/index.html" target="_blank">gallery</a> exhibits artwork by various regional artists, and a street-facing café called <a href="http://www.732social.com/" target="_blank">732 Social</a> dishes up <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-greenest-restaurant-in-america-is-in-omaha-nebraska/" target="_blank">farm-to-table</a> eats and organic wines.

Each month The Green Building hosts an open-air market featuring locally produced products, a recycling center, and an electric car charging station.

Storm water is collected by the building's <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/category/green-roof" target="_blank">green roof</a> and stored in rain barrels or directed to a rain garden.

Many of the materials from the original historic building were reused in the <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/category/green-renovation" target="_blank">renovation</a>. For example, structural wood from the original building was re-milled into finished flooring and furniture.

The facility also has space for events in a protected courtyard with a roof covered by 81 solar panels.

Bricks from the original building were carefully disassembled and re-used in other areas of the remodel.

Additionally, many materials inside of the building are recycled -- including the flooring and the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/recycled-blue-jean-insulation-by-bonded-logic/" target="_blank">blue jean insulation</a>, which was made by a local Kentucky company.

Geothermal wells and an ice storage system help provide energy-efficient cooling for the large space, and help achieve a 65% increase in efficiency compared to Kentucky building codes.

The Green Building is located in an area that was federally classified as distressed when it was bought.

Construction and renovation of the facility was completed in 2008, and the building has since helped spur on other developments.

The East Market District has now become a hip city center for the arts and sustainability, coined NuLu, or ‘New Louisville.’

The Green Building prior to renovation.