Studio

Our geothermal HVAC system works with temperate below-grade soil to heat and cool our building without burning fuel or emitting the greenhouse gases implicated in climate change. To create the system, we dug five wells in the property, each 300’ deep. It was a messy undertaking, but together with the solar panels on our roof, provides an energy-efficient and environmentally clean way to maintain a comfortable and affordable workplace climate.

We’ve often said that we didn’t buy a building, we bought a roof. Certainly, it’s the most striking exterior element and happily, the steep slope of the roof faces north and south, enjoying abundant sunshine through most of the year. Given its exposure, we installed 26 solar panels across the upper part of the south-facing side of the roof and passively collect energy that keeps the lights on, day in and day out.

Personal vehicles (i.e. cars, vans and trucks) that burn fossil fuels account for nearly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, plus 75% of carbon dioxide air pollution. Doing our small part to remedy those figures, we installed two EV charging stations in our parking area. Now visitors and staff alike can drive “green.”

Naturally, we removed parking to make way for a garden (who does that?!?). Our rain garden is a mix of Missouri native trees, shrubs and perennials planted in a small depression in the earth that channels and collects rainwater runoff from our massive roof and parking area. This bio-retentive system allows water to naturally pool and slowly drain through the underlying soil, rather than rush down gutters and add to the load on the public sewer system.

Designed by The Two Sallys our rain garden is beautiful and effective, just like good design. Yearly, since planting, we have celebrated the garden with fruit from our Pawpaw tress and just a bit of tequila–if you’ve never had a Pawpaw margarita you’re missing out!

Our studio is housed in a renovated structure that now has a 100-year zinc roof–a recyclable material that’s ‘greener” than the asbestos it replaced. We also repurposed salvaged wooden doors, and as work progressed, we recycled copper wire and other metals no longer usable. Where possible, we reused timbers, put them to use on other projects or donated the timbers to Habitat for Humanity. LED lighting and energy-efficient windows and appliances are installed throughout.