Studies conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency and others show that indoor environments sometimes can have levels of pollutants that are higher than outside levels. Whether it’s your home or office, a healthy indoor environment is one that contributes to productivity, comfort, and a sense of well being. For businesses it’s estimated that green buildings add up to $160 billion to worker productivity from improved lighting, comfort, and employee satisfaction.
The building is oriented in a southward manner, so it’s situated perfectly for natural lightning. Bently Enterprises capitalized on this with interior walls that allow for natural ambient lighting, and enhancing natural light in every space possible. Operable windows are also a quality of life improvement — from a heating and cooling standpoint many design firms have pushed operable windows to the back seat, but new technologies like those used here allow for localized systems that can respond to the outdoor environment
© Cesar Rubio
© Cesar Rubio
When the temperatures need to be artificially lowered, we use Cooleradoes instead of traditional air conditioning systems. Not only do these require less energy, but they use no refrigerants, which improves indoor air quality.
The Bently team uses non-toxic janitorial supplies whenever they can, and environmentally friendly paint products that contain little-to-no Volatile Organic Compounds.
© Cesar Rubio
© Cesar Rubio
On the roof, a small and cramped room was converted into a larger open penthouse with comfortable furniture, drop-dead views of the Sierras, and an outdoor terrace comfortably enclosed by sloping, bowl-shaped planting areas. This patio has quickly become a favorite of employees for both working and unwinding. While the interior space feels modern, history is in the details: classical trim, pressed-tin ceilings, full-height columns, the original chandeliers, the teller windows, old cabinets, and the commercial transaction counter. Even the new elements and materials — most of the building — are faced or treated to look old and create a perfect illusion of coming from the building’s original era.
The Bently Farmers Bank Building