Press Release
Tulalip Administration Building Open for Business
TULALIP — 10.05.2009 — Overlooking Tulalip Bay and the surrounding woodlands, the new administration building brings many tribal departments together in one location, creating a new heart for the tribal government and its vision of working together to serve the Tulalip community. Mithun provided architecture, interior design and landscape architecture for the three-story, 74,000-square foot structure. The Tulalip Tribes served as the general contractor.
Visitors entering the building are greeted by representatives from the different departments who help them to conduct their business in a convenient and comfortable setting. The warm wood structure and artwork created by Tulalip artists frame views to the Bay. A staircase, adorned with a three-story art glass panel, and lighting that incorporates their designs, lead the way to the council chambers located on the top floor. An extensive outreach process, including tribal government leaders, elders, staff and community members, ensured that this significant project makes a powerful statement about the Tulalips’ forward-looking vision for the future.
The design represents the Tulalips’ enduring commitment to their environment and to the efficient use of tribal resources. Low-impact development strategies protect the local watershed and help to preserve the waters that empty into Tulalip Bay, while the building’s long, narrow footprint and floor-to-ceiling windows bring in fresh air and natural light, reducing energy consumption and connecting occupants to the surrounding natural environment.
More specifically, this building relies on a high performance envelope and integrated passive design strategies working in concert with a very efficient air conditioning system to maintain comfort inside. At the heart of the HVAC system is a geothermal heat exchanger that efficiently transfers energy to and from the building to the earth year round. Additionally, a hybrid air conditioning strategy allows the HVAC systems to shut down when the outside temperature is mild. Operable windows deliver fresh air and cooling during these periods. Other features include ceiling fans for further comfort control and operable window indicator lights that advise occupants when it is best to keep the windows closed (amber light) or open (green light). All of these integrated design features are predicted to lower utility bills by as much as 25 percent compared to a standard office building. The intelligent building management system will monitor energy use and provide critical information to allow the Tulalip Tribe to make adjustments and further optimize energy performance in the years ahead.
Consultants
- Civil: DOWL Engineers
- Structural: Coughlin Porter Lundeen
- Mechanical: Flack + Kurtz
- Electrical: Hultz/BHU/Cross
About Mithun
Mithun is a leading sustainable design practice that creates lasting places for people. The firm’s innovative and collaborative spirit encompasses architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, urban planning, and ecology — a multidisciplinary approach that integrates nature, technology and design. Mithun’s commitment to sustainability extends to mixed-use, corporate, commercial, residential, civic, science and technology, higher education, retail, senior living, and environmental learning. mithun.com
About Tulalip Tribes
The Tulalip Tribes is a federally-recognized Indian tribe located on the Tulalip Reservation in the mid-Puget Sound area. The Tulalip Reservation encompasses 22,000 acres rich with natural resources: marine waters, tidelands, fresh water creeks and lakes, wetlands, forests and developable land. The Tulalip Reservation provides a permanent home for the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Suiattle, Samish and Stillaguamish Tribes and allied bands living in the region. http://www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
Attachments
- Tulalip Administration Building (4.1MB jpg) Credit: © Mithun. Photograph by Juan Hernandez.
