Law Firm Gives Life to EcoCentre
EcoCentre, the Living Building, is a 33,000 gross square feet, four-story structure incorporating natural "living" systems and "green" technologies that are designed to save energy, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, water consumption, and create an overall healthier environment. The Lake Worth, Fla., facility, opened on June 20.
The main office occupant of the building will be the West Palm Beach trial practice firm of Romano Law Group.
"There is no second chance when it comes to the environment. We either do it right in this century, or it may well be ruined forever," said John F. Romano, senior partner. "We are looking forward to creating this 'Living Building' to prove that business can coexist with a comfortable working environment while addressing environmental concerns and needs, sustain energy, recycle water, and provide for a happy, healthy environment for our employees and others working within the building."
The building's unique feature is its water-saving technology. Its Living Machine®, a technological innovation that allows for the on-site purification and recycling of water, treats gray water from building sinks and showers and reuses it for exterior irrigation, further reducing potable water consumption. In addition, rainwater from the rooftop, collected in an 8,000-gallon cistern, will be reused for flushing toilets, and air-conditioning condensate is the source of fish pond water used to irrigate interior landscaping.
Contributing to the healthier indoor air quality, a centrally located Biolarium, or atrium, lush with plant life, acts like the lungs of the building by reducing carbon dioxide concentration.
The project is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and will seek Gold LEED certification.