"Mixed-use buildings are much more sustainable," said Edmonds, who hopes the tower creates a social network downtown. "When you go vertical, you make less of a footprint."
The philosophy of Edmonds International is that form follows not only function but also efficiency, according to its website.
Edmonds said he founded his firm 14 years ago and since then has designed more than 60 million square feet in buildings across the world, in places such as Mexico and Asia. In Asia, mixed-use buildings have been built because of tight budgets, he said.
But now his firm is shifting focus onto North American cities such as Vancouver and Midland to design mixed-use buildings for the Western world.
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