When is Santa Monica like Detroit?

When it builds a LEED-certified parking structure.

Picture by John Edward Linden from Archnewsnow via Treehugger.

Both the city of Santa Monica and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Detroit are claiming that theirs is first, but the fact that this is being done at all indicates the huge shift in thinking throughout the building industry. Some highlights:

• The BCBN structure boasts Detroit's only vegetative roof, the second largest in the state, and a 55,000-gallon storm water holding system underneath it that will supply water for the sedum on the roof and clean the structure.
• The structure sits on a plot of land that once held 125 parking spaces — and now has 1,808 spaces.
• The structure has a fitness room complete with showers. It also has a one-tenth-mile walking track on the roof made from recycled materials. Steel and concrete building supplies used for the structure were recycled.

• The building in Santa Monica is more oriented to the pedestrian traffic around it, and features retail space, a coffee shop, and a Zen garden.
  
• It uses photovoltaic panels on the roof and laminated to three facades to provide much of the building's energy needs.
• All facades allow natural ventilation and illumination to enter all parking floors.
• The ceilings are painted white to maximize the quality of light and airiness.
• It also incorporates a storm drain water treatment system and recycled construction materials as well as low volatile organic compound paints and coatings, low-e glazing for heating and cooling efficiency and energy efficient mechanical systems.