When it came to sourcing materials for a new office building for a steel fabricator in Washington, Olson Kundig Architects didn't have to look too far. The firm's striking design calls for giant steel pipes made on site. Images courtesy Olson Kundig Architects The 11,700-square-foot office building will adjoin an existing steel factory. Related Links: 1111 E. Pike Rolling Huts Wing Luke Asian Museum Kundig Wins National Design Award 2009 Firm of the Year Founded in 1966, Olson Kundig Architects has become well known over the years for incorporating raw materials and metal gadgetry into its buildings. In its design

Spread over 55 acres and featuring more than 255,000 different types of plants, the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver offers the ideal setting for urban dwellers wanting to commune with nature.

Home to an expanding light-rail system, a thriving bike culture, a citywide recycling program, and a large number of LEED-certified buildings, Portland, Oregon, has long been known for its green sensibility. So it seems fitting that a government building there may soon be sheathed in a 200-foot-high living wall that would be visible from miles away. Rendering courtesy of Scott Baumberger, Baumberger Studio Related Links: Healthcare Awards: Portland Prevails Providence Portland Medical Center Portland Aerial Tram Portland Art Museum Portland International Airport The vegetated facade is part of a roughly $135 million overhaul planned for the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal