Firm aiming for its HQ to be first business ‘living building’ in Utah

Salt Lake City design firm Architectural Nexus has taken advantage of the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to complete a major renovation of its headquarters, with the goal of becoming the first commercial building in Utah to achieve Living Building certification. The opportunity was made possible because the bulk of the firm’s employees have been working remotely for the past year.

Architectural Nexus cited data from the American Lung Association 2020 State of the Air Report, which says Salt Lake City ranks seventh for worst air quality among U.S. cities. Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions and that inspired Architectural Nexus to undertake its rebuild project.

“This innovative project shows how we can lead the way, one building at a time, in addressing the serious air quality challenges that Salt Lake City faces,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “Arch Nexus SLC will be an extraordinary community asset that serves to both inspire and set a new standard for our community’s health and quality of life.” 

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is a philosophy, certification and advocacy platform sponsored by the International Living Future Institute, for projects to move beyond merely being less bad and to become truly regenerative. Living buildings function as a part of the natural ecosystem both using and providing resources in the same way as any natural element such as a flower or a tree would, Architectural Nexus said.

As a living building, Arch Nexus SLC will incorporate a number of regenerative features, including net positive energy (generating more energy than its uses; net positive water (using rain water collection and gray water recycling); use of reclaimed and local materials, so as to promote both environmental and human health; and biophillic design using living walls, nature-inspired murals and abundant daylight features.

In 2018, Arch Nexus SAC, the office for Architectural Nexus in Sacramento, California, became the first certified living building in California.

Kenner B. Kingston, Arch Nexus president, said, “When we embarked on the Arch Nexus SAC project, one of our many goals was to harvest regenerative design philosophy and knowledge from California and bring it to the Intermountain West. This project is the exciting evolution of that story.” 

In addition to the regenerative aspects, the newly renovated office will feature a diverse assortment of working environments, including open work spaces, hoteling offices, focus rooms, lounge areas, design labs, state-of-the-art telecommunications systems, community meeting spaces, courtyards, a café and a gym.

“As we regenerate our building to the bold LBC criteria, we are also reinventing our whole way of working together,” said Julie Berreth, Architectural Nexus vice president of operations and principal in charge of the project. “We’ll have many choices for comfort, and many opportunities to learn from those around us. We’re excited to be together again and we delight in the success of our reimagined workplace.”