Biz 611 ‘green' building to give city sleek, modern look

Published: Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 11:15 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 11:15 p.m.

A sleek, modern design office building is going up in downtown Hendersonville that will be home to several green and computer software businesses, the structure's architect said Thursday.

Biz 611 will be on the site of the old Landmark Annex building on Church Street, said Ken Gaylord, with Blackhawk Construction Co. and Ken Gaylord Architects, a Hendersonville design and construction firm.

There will be 16 individual spaces, ranging in size from a single-person office to an office that can accommodate six to eight people, he said. The 9,000-square-foot, two-story building will contain a shared kitchen and bathrooms, Gaylord added, with enough conference room space for the businesses to hold seminars and workshops. Biz 611 also will feature porches, a rooftop terrace and "living wall" with a vertical garden on the side that faces Church Street.

The structure promises something different architecturally for Hendersonville's downtown, Gaylord explained.

"I think not so much the building, but what it represents, will be a game changer for Hendersonville and contribute significantly to a thriving green economy," he added.

Biz 611 will be environmentally friendly. Design elements include PV solar panels, which will generate electricity, Gaylord said. Materials, including brick and wood recycled from the tear-down of the annex two weeks ago, will be used in the building's construction.

It will take 12 months to complete the project, with construction expected to begin April 2, Gaylord said.

Reach Kelley at 828-694-7871 or leigh.kelley@blueridgenow.com.

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Biz 611 ‘green' building to give city sleek, modern look