Not only did this Tulsa loft give Oklahoma its very first LEED certification — it went platinum. Local architect Shelby Navarro pulled out every green design strategy in the book for this project from geothermal heating to a bison-grass green roof and recycled glass floors. Consisting of two attached lofts, the home is just a short walk from shopping and a block from a bike trail in Tulsa’s up-and-coming Cherry Street District neighborhood.
Navarro, principal at ONE Architecture, dubbed this the NINE Project: New Inspiration for a Natural Environment, and it is intended to be used as a learning tool for Oklahoma, expressing what a “green” home can look like. Inside each loft there are VOC-free bamboo floors in the main living areas and Eco-Terr recycled-glass terrazzo floors in the bathroom. The bedroom floors are covered in Shaw nylon carpet squares made from 27% post-industrial recycled content. The 2-foot modules, which carry the Green Label Plus certification from the Carpet & Rug Institute, are easy to replace one stain at a time and can be returned to the company for recycling at the end of their life. Stair treads, counter tops and handrails were crafted from 120-year old wood reclaimed from a barn in Wisconsin.
Prefabricated Structural Insulated Panels from USA-SIPs hug the exterior, helping to regulate temperatures and increase wind resistance. The SIPs were made to order right up the road from Tulsa, reducing industrial leftovers and shipping waste. Both apartments also feature dual flush toilets, tankless water heaters and Energy Star appliances. After a long day of LEED Platinum living, residents can climb up to a green roof overlooking downtown Tulsa.
+ ONE Architecture
Thanks to Kedha for the tip!
