Portland International Airport is soon going to become a cenotaph for recycling. It will go on to flaunt perfectly green environs; a vibrant ecosystem, as USA Today puts it. Its new office will adroitly recycle human waste sewage and will power the airport. The green construction will begin in October and hopefully, in 2010, the new $241 million office will be made public.
What makes this project different?
It’s indeed a novel advance since black water or the sewage is provided with great usability. The 10-story building is reported to have a water treatment process. Four tanks in the lobby will double as planters. Mulch-covered beds with gravel beneath will responsibly provide nutrition to plants. In a way, the gravel-filled tanks will mimic the tide pools. These tide pools will help microorganisms convert dirt into harmless substances. After sterilizing water, it can be used in the building’s washrooms.
Martha Richmond, spokesperson for the Port of Portland, believes that buildings should be viewed as living systems if you associate them with sustainability. Therefore, she hopes to lend aestheticism and self-sufficiency to the entire project.
Image Source: Flusiforum