Sustainable Design

Steele Associates, a member of the US Green Building Council, is a leading Pacific Northwest sustainable design firm. Many years ago, before sustainable design was popular, 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, Path To Net Zero workshops 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 Certified project in Central Oregon); The Steele Associates Building (the first LEED Certified project in Bend to attain a Gold rating); Community First Bank’s LEED Gold Certified Mill Quarter Branch Buildings A & B; NorthWest Crossing’s LEED CS Silver Certified Neighborhood Commercial District buildings F and G; The LEED CI Certified Riverhouse Meeting Facility; The LEED Certified 9th and Rose Retail Center in Walla Walla, WA; The LEED NC Certified Bechtel Materials Handling Office Building in Richland, WA; The Bond Building; Sisters City Hall; Franklin Crossing; 919 Bond; Seven Peaks K-8 School; Mt. Laurel Lodge; The Point; and the Mosaic Medical Clinic.

Further evidence of our commitment to sustainable design is the fact that over 60 % of our design staff is LEED Accredited. It is our 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.

Scott Steele, Principal, has built a regional reputation as a sustainable design expert, and he is frequently requested to speak on the topic of sustainable design. 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.” Steele Associates has also been a State of Oregon Sustainability Award Finalist; “In recognition of your organization’s tremendous commitment to advancing sustainability through demonstrated achievement and leadership.”

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.