Talk About Recycling - Livestrong

If you visit Austin, Texas in the future - you have got to make time to stop at the Livestrong HQ, if not for cancer information and support - go for the architecture!  They offer regular public tours and a tour can be arranged by emailing livestrong@livestrong.org or calling 877-236-8820. 

My neice and I waiting on the tour, another kind person waiting in line took the photo with her camera, she posted it and I, of course, lifted it from her!

Now let's talk about one heck of a recycling job -- the Livestrong HQ located one mile east of I-35, at 2201 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas - the fourth home for the organization and the first home that they have owned - and it is obvious they are here to stay.  (The building was funded by donations specifically earmarked for this project.) 

The building was originally built as a warehouse for paper products and now owes its new (and very purposeful) life to Lance Armstrong, who found it one day on a bike ride.  Now this 30,000 square foot "warehouse" is a permanent home for Livestrong - which is an announcement that they are here to stay and are fully committed in the fight against cancer and support of the cancer patient.

95% of the building's original materials were used in its redesign and the building has earned the highest award for a renovated facility - the gold-rated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification which makes our Livestrong HQ one of the “greenest” offices in Austin - also earning four stars from the Austin Energy Green Building Program.

An open floor plan with cubicles for everyone encourages employees to use collaborative and creative interaction while they work.  The gigantic walls surrounding the openess showcases world class art from Armstrong’s private collection ... and a certain collection of 7 yellow jersies!

In his Architectural Digest interview, Armstrong said, “Most importantly, this building – like the phrase LIVESTRONG’ and the color yellow – is now…a place where you can talk to someone and say, ‘Finally, I feel that thing called…hope.’” 

My Favorite Artwork - the "boy" has great taste in art!

This artist made several of "these" this one is Lance's writing of Live Strong

This is not just a place of employment, all the employees here are dedicated to providing patient support and also providing services to the community.  Outside of everything that I found interesting on this tour .... including Lance's kids and a director playing tag and running here and there :-) ... was the emphasis Chris Brewer put on social networking.  As we are all aware social media never sleeps and the LIVESTRONG blog serves as the hub of all social media outreach with information on any and all things cancer.

Twitter "Social Media" Wall at HQ

Sorry, got sidetracked ... back to the building :-) they also encompass the "whole" of the employee, as they do in helping the "whole" of the cancer fighter.  The building includes a gym and HUGE beanbag chairs that can be "plopped" anywhere that might suit a creative moment.  The garden "out front" is complete with native vegetation, the ceiling was built for special heating and cooling qualities and the a/c - heating system is ... to quote Chris Brewer: "Well it's special." :-)

A Cooling Garden Shade Rain Collector Thingie :-)

Specially sloped with collecting tubes and the such - Yups, Chris Brewer needs to explain this one to ya!

Native Plants Thrive

Ceiling Inside

We can be very proud of our Livestrong HQ and staff - for not only being cancer advocates, but also environmental advocates ... quoted from Livestrong.org:

"We moved into our new home in February 2009 for several reasons.

• To create a permanent home for LIVESTRONG in Austin, Texas
• To contribute to the revitalization of one of Austin's most diverse neighborhoods and continue our efforts to be a strong community partner
• To create space that will be available to host meetings for other nonprofit organizations in Austin
• To show our concern for the environment by focusing on ways to be environmentally friendly, including being designated as one of Austin's first gold-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) facilities
• To provide LIVESTRONG more stability and long-term fiscal health by owning rather than renting office space"

There is plenty more to continue on with this blog, but I'll refrain from going there ... just know that if you do make it to Austin ... at any time in the next 100 years ... visit the Livestrong HQ - it is a truly beautiful building, filled with awe-inspiring people and HOPE!

P.S.  I will put this disclaimer, I looked up a few facts that I didn't have 100% remembrance on (probably from running that 5K UP Alp d'Congress Street

 :-) !!! and I truly hope I haven't mis-remembered the rest!

LIVESTRONG BUDDIES