Gary Christensen - Sustainable Building Stories from the Yellowstone-Teton Region - The Banner Bank Building in Boise, Idaho
Thursday, May 17 - 3:15 pm

Gary F. Christensen graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Mathematics.  He started his real estate career in mortgage lending in 1975.  He has been a lender, a borrower, a tenant, a landlord, an appraiser, a construction manager, a property manager, and a developer.  He converted to sustainable design in 2004.

Gary has recently completed the Banner Bank Building in downtown Boise, a beautiful 11 story, Class A office building.  In August 2006 it was awarded LEED-CS Platinum status by the US Green Building Council, a distinction shared by only 3 private, for-profit developers at the time.  By searching out best practices around the country, the development team was able to meet and exceed rigorous standards for energy efficiency, water use reduction, indoor air quality, and recycling, without increasing the initial cost of the building.

Gary's next project is a mixed use office and housing development on a one acre site in downtown Boise that would cover 35 acres if done in a suburban environment.  He and his team are striving to get as close as practical - and profitable - to a Zero Net Energy building.  Their theme is "Stuffing the Envelope – Striving for Nothing".

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