Project Overview

Wood Rainscreen

A wood rainscreen acts much like the fly of a tent, shedding most water but remaining open to air movement so the building can "breathe."

Solar Panels

A series of solar panels—strategically located to reduce the building's power needs by shading it in the summer—will provide all of the building's power needs.

Green Roof

This living roof system provides additional thermal insulation for the building while protecting part of the building from the elements.

Automatic Windows

To facilitate passive cooling of the greenhouse, vent windows open automatically when the inside temperature reaches a set level.

Metal Roof

Made from recycled metal, the reflective properties keep the interior spaces cooler.

Eco Machine Lagoons

Wastewater circulates through a series of tanks and is cleaned by fungi, algae, bacteria, snails, and plants suspended in specialized growing racks.

Constructed Wetlands

The wetlands are full of plants that will clean water as it passes through. There are four, each the size of a basketball court.

It has become evident that we need to change the way we relate to our planet if we wish to live deeper, fuller lives in the future. In 2005 Omega began to look at replacing its aging septic system and quickly decided that a living machine—a natural wastewater treatment system—housed in a building designed and built to the toughest criteria of sustainable architecture, was the most appropriate response for these times.

Omega worked with a number of progressive, forward-thinking companies to create what is now the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL). John Todd, a pioneer in the field of natural wastewater treatment systems and head of John Todd Ecological Design, and civil engineers from the Chazen Companies, did the preliminary engineering work to envision Omega's living machine and how it would fit into the systems currently on campus. They laid important groundwork for BNIM, the sustainable architecture firm that designed the OCSL. The full team—experts in natural wastewater treatment systems, civil engineering, sustainable architecture, and landscape, mechanical, and structural design-worked collaboratively to help the Omega Center for Sustainable Living meet the Living Building Challenge and LEED Platinum level certification.

The result is a 6,200 square foot building that contains a classroom, laboratory, and a 4,500 square foot greenhouse for Omega's living machine, the Eco Machine™. Slated to come online in spring 2009, the Eco Machine will treat more than 5 million gallons of wastewater annually. The OCSL will offer visitors a direct experience with the most recent, cutting-edge technologies in green building and sustainable living, and will show, in an experiential, accessible way, how we can move forward together.