Sustainability Tree House

Boy Scouts of America

Mt. Hope, WV

ARCHITECTS: Mithun & BNIM

PROJECT GOAL
The Sustainability Tree House is an exhibit and gathering space built at The Summit Bechtel National Scouting Reserve (http://www.summitblog.org/) in Mt. Hope, WV. A showcase of sustainability, the project was built to the stringent standards of the Living Building Challenge.

SOLUTION
In order to meet the Living Building Challenge Requirements, the building was designed to generate all of its required power on site, and collect and treat all of its required water on site. The building incorporates a highly insulated building envelope, radiant heating provided by ground source heat pumps, and is cooled through fan assisted natural ventilation. A 6.5 kW solar array, and two 4 kW vertical axis wind turbines provide power to the building. Rainwater is collected for re-use, and composting toilets allow use of waste on site.

AWARDS
2013 AIA Seattle Honor Award (2012)