SolTerra has spent over a decade across more than a thousand projects creating sustainable buildings for people. We've played the role of subcontractor and run our own electrical, mechanical and plumbing; we've performed our own concrete and landscaping; and we've been the architect, general contractor and developer. This experience has given us the ability to understand all aspects of the development process and how to best bring our core competencies to life.
Creating sustainable, long-lasting buildings is one of our core competencies, yet people still often ask if it really makes sense. Our track record speaks for itself. From winning “Project of the Year” from the U.S. Green Building Council for a multifamily project, to setting the record for the highest per-square-foot sales price for a Seattle apartment building, we believe we've created enough evidence to prove that this is far more than an ideology.
While being recognized is nice, it's not why we build. We build because we love the process and the experience of making a place people are proud of. We build because we believe we can align financial and environmental sustainability, and that if all developers don't figure this out, there will be dire consequences for mankind. We build because it allows us to be creative and create space where others can share in that creativity.
The steps below describe our approach to creating sustainable, well-crafted buildings, but they are really just a drop in the bucket. We are very transparent, so if you would like to learn more, please reach out.
Step 1: Start with a Story
The architectural design process can be abstract, and buildings often have a difficult time demonstrating their intentions to the common person or, worse, have no intention at all. Our solution is to incorporate a unique story or concept that anyone can relate to.
We love the opportunity to tell our stories and enjoy pushing the envelope beyond the architectural status quo. Our projects start with an inspiration from nature or a journey we took somewhere in the world. We then work to bring the emotion, aesthetic and essence of that inspiration to life in a beautiful, sustainable, community-oriented building. Our buildings, like movies, incorporate common storylines designed to turn abstract design into design that is concise and meaningful.
There is another critical reason we start with a story. The design-build process is extremely complex, with different people vying for input, control and responsibility for different aspects of a building. Having a unique story and mission for each project helps ensure everyone responsible for creating the building is in sync.
Step 2: Reduce Impact on the Earth
Most of our projects are LEED Platinum or better, and we are fully committed to making buildings that use less energy to create and maintain and will last well over 100 years. The cost of this commitment, while not zero, is less than you might think. Still, unlike SolTerra, many developers are financially structured so that they are incentivized to cut building costs as deeply as possible, resulting in what we refer to as ‘boxes,’ not buildings.
One thing that stands out is that when our buildings are complete, they don't have that new-car smell. This is because we design and build with ultra-sustainable materials, all the way down to the adhesives and chemicals necessary for construction. The value of this benefit to our health and the health of our planet can be difficult to quantify, but we believe it far outweighs the costs. As the saying goes, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Step 3: Master the Art of Jazz Building
In construction, just like life, improvisation can lead to some of our most beautiful, unique and meaningful creations. It can also lead to disaster without amazing communication, a great story to keep the artisans on track, and close management of the process. This fine line, which we call Jazz Building, is one we like to walk because we believe it leads to our best spaces without breaking the budget.