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Design-build firm SolTerra, on a mission to bring more green buildings to cities, recently received recognition for one completed green apartment building and got design review approval to build another.

SolTerra鈥檚 first design-build project, the Woodlawn apartments at 909 N.E. Oneonta St., recently received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum rating, company spokeswoman Melissa Milburn said.

The Woodlawn has a green roof, solar displays and one of the largest living wall displays on the West Coast, Milburn said. The four-story, 18-unit building also has 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Meanwhile, the Woods apartments, planned at 3205 N. Williams Ave. in the Eliot neighborhood, last week received approval from the Portland Design Commission. The six-story, 50-unit structure will have living walls, 2,000 square feet of ground-level retail space, bike parking and spaces for 13 cars.

The Woods endured three design reviews before receiving the go-ahead, city planner Hillary Adam said. She recommended approval, she said, because SolTerra had made needed changes.

鈥淚t was much improved in terms of how it interacts with the street, and also the living spaces seem much friendlier and more habitable than when we first saw it,鈥� she said.

The aim for the Woods also is for LEED platinum; it will have several terraces, a green roof, solar displays and a rainwater collection system, Milburn said.

Commissioners liked the idea of all that greenery, but were concerned about upkeep, Adam said.

鈥淭hey were worried about viability, but SolTerra submitted a maintenance plan that was approved along with their drawing packet,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey intend to keep the building in their possession and have alternatives if the living walls fail.鈥�

Andrea Wallace, SolTerra鈥檚 director of design, said the design concept around the Woods is reflected in its name.

鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like having an architectural, not a literal, response that emulates the woods, with the idea of a field of birch trees with glimpses of light in random patterns and curved bends of light stucco,鈥� she said.

Wallace said the inspiration for the building鈥檚 design comes from the Oneonta Gorge.

鈥淭he idea was to hearken back to Northwest natural design elements and bring that into the city,鈥� she said. That will be accomplished through the 60-foot cascading living wall that ends with water features on the first two levels, she said.

Milburn said both the Woodlawn and the Woods reflect SolTerra鈥檚 overall mission.

鈥淓very building we design and build is designed to achieve LEED platinum,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur mission is really to reconnect people in the urban environment to nature and we want to reduce people鈥檚 impact on the earth.鈥�