The Green Building Resource Center is a winning competition entry in West Dallas near the south levee of the Trinity River. The center — targeted at LEED Platinum — was intended to provide information about sustainability to the public and to house offices for USGBC North Texas. The required program included display spaces, meeting rooms, and support/office spaces. As an educational facility, the center would “teach by example” using many of the elements of the building itself.

DSGN’s design for the 6,700 sf GBRC was a common-sense example of timeless and passive sustainability strategies. The design centers on a dogtrot (a breezeway inspired by Texas vernacular architecture) that functions as lobby, manufacturer’s showcase, and gallery. It could be enclosed when weather is harsh or opened to cooling breezes when weather was clement.

Display areas were designed to be flexible, easily incorporating ever-changing sustainability technologies and approaches. Educational opportunities were included throughout, from the “petroglyphs” that illustrate fundamental “green” strategies, to display of functioning wind turbines, to the garden porch that ties the building to the community and serves as outdoor classroom and gathering place. DSGN also proposed a bike connection to the Dallas bikeway system, including the nearby historic Continental bridge.