Day Seven: Fort Worth, Texas

This evening we visited the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.  BRIT is located between the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and Will Rodgers Memorial Center.  BRIT documents the diversity of plant life and conducts extensive research around the world.

The BRIT building has numerous sustainable features.  The 70,000 square foot building is LEED platinum.  There are only eight buildings in Texas that hold that distinction.

Here are some interesting facts about the BRIT building:

• Built by Beck
• Non-profit, public trust
• Bamboo ceilings
• Living roof
• Natural lighting throughout
• Geothermal wells aid in HVAC costs
• Rooftop photovoltaic array
• 5,000 Gallon cistern captures rain runoff
• Wool carpeting
• Waterless urinals

BRIT owns the building and leases the land from the City of Fort Worth for $1 per year.  I did not get the chance to ask what the projected return on investment is.  With the extensive features I would imagine that it may not be reached for a long while.