Walnut Fences go Up
Oct 18th, 2007 by smokeproof
There’s been a lot of buzz about The Walnut, the new development at the NW corner of 17th and Walnut in downtown Boulder. I’ve seen print materials and signage in various locations around town, and last weekend I noted that construction fences went up around the site. It looks as if work began this week… . I’m curious how the architects and the builder will address the exterior of the building, especially in relation to their intention to “bring the outdoors in.”
It looks like there’s a plan for a central courtyard, which is a nice touch and definitely different from other recent downtown developments. Another interesting note gleaned from the “sustainable” section on the website is that the developers hope that the The Walnut will become the first LEED certified all-residential building in Boulder. Given the five areas of focus for the LEED certification (sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality), certification is a lofty yet laudable goal that I hope the developers can meet.
One thing’s for sure: the views from this building can be stunning. And I’m also sure, given the tagline and the support materials available, that those views will come with a serious pricetag. We’ll keep an eye on it here.
LEED certification is a lofty goal, to be sure. Did you know that Cork oak can contribute significantly to LEED points in several categories? In Annapolis, MD, cork oak floors cover most of the Philip Merrill Environmental Center (the first to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum rating for LEED). Another bonus with cork oak…it significantly dampens sound which is what a residential building can really use. We welcome any questions you may have about Cork Oak at http://www.wicanderscorkoakblog.com
Team Wicanders