Sustainable Design

Steele Associates, a member of the US Green Building Council, leads Central Oregon in promoting and implementing sustainable architectural design practices. Years ago Steele Associates sponsored the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) training workshop in Central Oregon and SAA is often a key sponsor of important sustainable design lectures, events and programs.

Steele Associates regularly implements sustainable design strategies on our projects. We have conducted LEED charrettes and implemented sustainable design principles on numerous projects including the following abbreviated list: the new Sisters School District Campus and “High Performance” High School; Midstate Electric’s LEED Gold Certified Administration Building, the first LEED project in Central Oregon; The LEED NC Gold registered Steele Associates Building, slated to become the first LEED project in Bend; NorthWest Crossing’s LEED CS Silver registered Neighborhood Commercial District buildings F and G; The LEED CI registered Riverhouse Meeting Facility; The LEED registered 9th and Rose Retail Center in Walla Walla, WA; a LEED Registered office building in Richland, WA; The Bond Building; The Black Butte Crossing mixed-use development in Sisters, OR; Sisters City Hall; Franklin Crossing; 919 Bond; Seven Peaks K-8 School; Mt. Laurel Lodge; American Licorice Building; and the Breedlove Guitar Company Building.

Further evidence of our commitment to sustainable design is the fact that more than 50 % of our design staff is LEED Accredited. It is our Principal’s goal to have 100% LEED Accredited design staff and to catalyze participation the firm covers the expense of the exam and provides a bonus to staff attaining their credentials. Steele Associates is committed to sustainable design because it is simply a good idea. We know the LEED process and how to administer it.

Scott Steele, Principal, has built a regional reputation as a sustainable design expert. His sustainable design work was acknowledged when he received the 2007 BetterBricks Emerging Leader Award at the Fifth Annual BetterBricks Awards banquet in Portland. The judge’s comments on Scott’s award: “Scott demonstrates leadership qualities in energy innovation and sustainable design with a breadth and depth of work that is outstanding. He has a commitment beyond his own portfolio, and that speaks to a willingness to go above and beyond expectations. He is truly a leader in a market that is emerging in its reputation for energy efficient design.” In addition to being a LEED Accredited design professional Mr. Steele is also one of the first thousand people in the nation to become a Certified Climate Project Presenter. He is frequently requested to speak on the topics of sustainable design and climate change.

We look forward to sharing our expertise with Sustainable Design and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design process with clients and contractors. The healthier work spaces and potential long-term energy and operational savings that can be realized are very important, but may not be as important as the fact that we are being good stewards of our environment.