Tour the New Portola Valley Town Center

To see a really beautiful example of repurposing and the power of design, check out the all new Portola Valley Town Center in Portola, California. The project was listed among the AIA/COTE’s Top Ten Green Projects of 2009 http://ow.ly/qx2M. AIA-San Francisco is presenting a guided tour on Saturday, September 26, 2009. The tour is sponsored by Green Design Furniture www.greendesigns.com and is a featured highlight of the sixth annual “Architecture and the City” Festival, showcasing the Bay Area’s unique built environment and design community. Tickets are required but you can get AIA member continuing education credits for participating. The 11 acre site includes a library, town hall, community hall, a baseball field, a soccer field, tennis courts and a 300 foot-long stretch of restored creek – all designed to blend in with the surrounding meadows and walnut grove. Two firms collaborated on the redesign, Siegel & Strain Architects and Goring & Straja Architects, both of Emeryville, CA. Green Design Furniture was commissioned by the Town of Portola Valley to provide some of its gorgeous fastener-free hand-crafted pieces, including exquisite seating, tables and site specific design elements – all made from sustainable woods and low emissions stains. It is a must see. FMI, go to http://ow.ly/qw2A.