The Recycling Authority commissioned a facility that demonstrates sustainable building approaches, so that people could learn about recycling when they dropped off materials. The architecture reflects this with the use of recycled building materials, passive-solar heating, natural daylighting, energy-saving techniques, and sensitive site design. The result is a healthy workplace characterized by natural light, ventilation, and views. 

At the center of the project is a large processing shed where recyclable materials are deposited and processed into bales of plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum and steel, and containers of glass. These materials are shipped by rail or truck to factories where they are transformed into new products.  

The new facility celebrates the complex relationship between nature and industry. The 20-acre site features beautiful wetlands and mountain vistas juxtaposed against rail lines and a power plant. A simple industrial aesthetic marks all aspects of the design. Exposed structure and systems reveal their functions. A public drop-off area, a processing center, offices, and a public education center come together in this unique Center that both teaches about and manages the process of recycling.