The Current, a SĀJ Architecture mixed-use project on Bend’s central west side, is among seven sites featured on the Environmental Center’s 2024 Green Building Tour. The tour takes place Saturday, Sept. 28, from 1 – 6 p.m., and follows a morning of featured speakers and community workshops at Oregon State University Cascades.
The Current’s developer and owner, Seattle-based Horizon Realty Advisors (HRA), wanted to created a “base camp” for residents seeking outdoor adventure. The name itself emphasizes the nearby Deschutes River’s currents, the energy of an active community, and the electricity the building generates via its 90kW rooftop solar array.
HRA approached the project with several sustainability-related goals in mind to reflect the company’s and its residents’ values. Those goals included pursuing LEED Gold certification and providing all-electric air and water heating/cooling. The solar array helps meet those goals by producing enough electricity to power the building’s lighting, cooling, and elevators. Heat-pump water heating technology further reduces operational costs and eliminates the need for gas-fired boilers. Building amenities include electric vehicle charging stations and a large, secure bicycle storage and maintenance room. Carports cover much of the parking lot asphalt and reflect the sun, reducing the site’s heat island effect (a phenomenon that occurs when urban areas are significantly warmer than the surrounding rural areas due to the absorption of solar energy). As required in Bend, The Current collects and infiltrates 100% of the site’s rainwater. The design team also selected water-saving interior fixtures and landscaping.
The Environmental Center’s mission is to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. Founded in 1989, the organization has become a regional leader in environmental education, engagement, and action.
SĀJ Architecture is a full-service firm with offices in Bend and Portland, Oregon. We offer architecture, interior design, and planning for commercial and public projects ranging from multifamily housing to hospitality to K-12 public and independent schools. Our team’s collaborative, client- and community-focused design process combines exceptional project management and technical expertise to create spaces and places where people live, learn, work, and play.