Click the photos for larger views
Mango Groves neighborhood Association put on a wonderful art show at the Eco Centre on Saturday. Local art, crafts, handmade jewelry all for sale followed by a wine tasting.
Palm Beach County’s first green, “living” building also features the Living Machine®, an on-site water purification and recycling technology that treats gray water (from the sinks and showers) and re-uses it for irrigation, further reducing potable water consumption in the building. In addition, rainwater from the rooftop is collected in an 8000-gallon cistern and re-used for flushing toilets, and air-conditioning condensate becomes the source of fish pond water, which is used to irrigate interior landscaping.
We were told that the fish in this pond are living in distilled water that is processed by the building.
Following is some trivia on fish in distilled water:
The skin of the fish is like the skin of the grape fruit. If the fish is in distilled water (devoid of impurities and minerals), there is an osmotic flow of water from outside the fish to the inside because the salinity of the fish body is higher than that of water.
Thus there is danger of dilution of the body fluids of the fish or at worst, that of being blown out, if the fish is to be in distilled water for a very long period of time. Fish can absorb many essential minerals from the water. As time goes on, however, the dissolved mineral content in the pond water decreases and it must be replenished. If the level of minerals in the water drops too low over time, the fish can actually suffer mineral depletion. (Incidentally, this is why keeping fish in distilled water will eventually kill them.) More than likely, the water in this pond water is changed periodically.
A table of art
17 comments:
Yes the building is remarkable. It really puts Lake Worth on the map as far as Green Building technologies is concerned.
I have heard talks given about the building throughout the State and I think it has been written up in National publications as well.
I heard John say that even though it is a four story building and 65' in height, that it uses as much energy as a two story building of the same foot print.
Pretty remarkable how the slate floors were all "floating" so that maintenance could be performed from above the floor.
All in all, a very nice event put on by Mango Groves N/A.
Can we start a petition to save the fish? I'm serious. I have had aquariums for zillions of years. This is not good.
I doubt if this building is that high.
Commissioner John Szerdi who designed the building said the building is 65'. If the proposed charter amendment was to pass we would not have the opportunity to have other buildings of that calliber in our quaint downtown. We'd still have an old one story medical office building there.
Sorry. There are certain people in this city who will say anything to win a political point. This is a 4 story building.
Greg, As far as I know, the Eco Centre is 45 feet. If you put it side by side with The Lucerne, you would be able to see the difference. However, the Charter amendment is for allowing buildings 45 and 35 feet in our downtown. Buildings of this caliber certainly have the opportunity of being built within the charter amendment parameters. Why don't you believe that is so? Is this more developer propanganda?
So I guess the guy who designed the building dosen't know or remember how tall the building is? Stevie Wonder could see that The Eco Centre is a lot taller than 45'.
I remember CJ stating at a public commission meeting The Lucerne was 82' tall. We, The Lucerne, had the building measured, it was 65' just like the building plans that are on file with the city says. She then said it was 82' tall from sea level. Sea level?
There is some sort of a structure on the roof that adds to its height. It's still basically a 4 story building...no?
It is a 4 story building. but a building with those efficiencies and design features needs more veritical diversity. In todays architectal world 10' per floor is a thing of the past. The look and design of our city should not be restricted to a number just for the sake of satisfying an arbitrary number. This building seems to verifing that point. Seems some of the posters on this thread didn't realize The Eco Centre is over 45' tall and is only a 4 story building.
This is how developers will get around the height limits. They build a "green" building or they give a kick-back for some public benefi. It is all BULL. Heights need to be limited otherwise we will eventually have 10 story buildings. The Eco Center appears much smaller than The Lucerne, IMO, because it IS NOT AS TALL. I hope to see the plans. It really doesn't matter too much as most don't want taller buildings. Why do you?
Why are we supposed to know the heights of building?We aren't on the p&z like you are.
" If the proposed charter amendment was to pass we would not have the opportunity to have other buildings of that calliber in our quaint downtown." Greg,what the hell is wrong with you? A bldg. has to be 65 frikkin feet high to be worth anything?!? Do you know the meaning of the word "quaint"?The Lucerne, Greg,AIN'T QUAINT ! The Lucerne is totally incompatible with it's surroundings, Greg. And if you don't understand that FACT, Greg,to use your own words-you really are height challenged. ! Katie Mcgiveron
THAT was my point as the first commenter to this thread. Height is not really the issue. It is ugly building design and ugly buildings. Commissioner Szerdi promotes using smart designs that correlate with the surrounding area.
So YES, a 65 foot tall building can be "Stunning" as Lynn put it, and one and two story buildings can be eyesores.
If you just concentrate on the heights, you risk losing "stunning" landmarks like the Eco-Center and the Gulfstream Hotel. Both of these are used to promote our city to the outside world but for very different reasons. One brings you back to a bygone era with her architecture, the other ushers in another.
Good thing heights were not restricted 100 years ago when people wanted to make Lake Worth a destination.
The Lucerne and other boxy buildings like those depicted in the rendering distributed months ago could NOT be built under current "smart building" guidelines.
The Casino was built to attract people to locate to Lake Worth. It was not a high-rise building and it has been a popular destination for 90 years. No other building was built high to attract people other than possibly The Gulfstream Hotel.
Tall buildings are not what attracts people to locate to or visit a city.
Thank God that we have rules and people can't just build what they please. The Gulfstream is an exceptional historical building and hopefully someone will buy it and it will be a hotel once again. Just because there are some higher buildings in that block does not mean that ALL OF THEM HAVE TO BE HIGH. That is a weak reason to grow buildings higher. There are some who would love to see The Lucerne leveled.
Also, there are some who want to change the building heights in our downtown to placate to their developer friends and not the charm of our city, the reason why people come here to shop and dine in the first place.
Well here we go again Lynn, and Mulvehil both stated that the renderings were not used in their scare tactics of what the City might look like.
Let's get sworn testimony that we did. The fact remains, that the downtown could grow to 65 and 100 feet. That is a fact.
RE; 7:48 "The Lucerne and other boxy buildings like those depicted in the rendering distributed months ago could NOT be built under current "smart building" guidelines."
Remember those 'smart building' guidelines that were the LDRs were not passed by the commission. They will be reworked by these development driven P&Z and HRPB Boards into 'dumb building' guidelines.
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