HOUSTON – MetroNational, the developer of Houston’s Memorial City, has completed The Treehouse, a sustainable office building serving as a collaborative hub for the Houston development firm and shine as a green landmark for the Memorial area.
Expected to earn LEED Platinum status for its advanced green elements, The Treehouse – a two-story, 14,700-square-foot building at 963 Bunker Hill in Memorial City – is home to all of Memorial City’s development activities including master planning, architecture, construction, and interior design.
The Treehouse has geothermal cooling and heating system, daylight harvesting lights that automatically adjust in response to changing levels of natural light, and a green roof complete with solar panels. Its rainwater collection system, with two large exterior cisterns, containing a combine maximum of 7,674 gallons, of will supply irrigation for plants and gray water for restrooms.
A wind turbine, designed by Mark Bradford, will be located in its rooftop garden, which has climate appropriate plantings and an Allee Elm tree. In addition, the building’s flooring was reclaimed from the Old Cotton Concentration Co. warehouses in Galveston. The Treehouse has bicycle racks and employee shower facilities. Five solar panels are on the rooftop of the building.
Partners in the development and construction of The Treehouse Memorial City include Acumen Design for concept and design and Studio RED Architects, the Architect of Record. Anslow Bryant Construction is the General Contractor for The Treehouse, which is located just south of the Katy Freeway in West Houston.
To ensure accessible collaboration, The Treehouse extends next door reach to MetroNational’s headquarters building via a steel and wooden bridge, which evokes the sense of an old-fashioned swinging bridge, encouraging team members to visit and work from one of the open offices or to enjoy.
“The Treehouse is an inspiring environment that ignites imagination and serves as a creative collaboration center for us and our valued partners.” said Glenn Fuhrman, AIA, Vice President of Design & Construction at MetroNational. “We are proud that the Treehouse is a highlight of our continuing sustainability efforts and the company’s dedication and emphasis to building for the future.”
MetroNational’s Memorial City development has three LEED Certified properties – with the Murphy Building certified LEED Gold in May, and the Nexen Tower and the Cobalt Center certified LEED Silver. In addition, the Memorial City development is home to six office buildings that have received Energy Star Awards.
One of the developer’s newest office buildings – the Air Liquide headquarters – which is currently under construction, is pre-certified LEED Silver.