Sustainable Architecture
Our sustainable architecture goals are guided by a set of 5 principles that work to ensure buildings are environmentally friendly and resource-conscious, to promote the health and well-being of their occupants and neighbors.
Energy Efficiency
A sustainable building’s design minimizes energy consumption and incorporates renewable energy sources where possible. This involves using passive design strategies, energy-efficient systems, and technologies that optimize the building’s performance.
Resource Conservation
Sustainable architecture emphasizes the responsible use of resources, such as water, materials, and land. This can be achieved through efficient space planning, waste reduction, and using recycled or renewable materials.
Eco-Friendly Materials
The selection of materials for a sustainable building is crucial. Sustainable architecture favors using materials that have a minimal environmental impact and are locally sourced, renewable, and non-toxic.
Occupant Health and Well-Being
A primary goal of sustainable architecture is to enhance the quality of life for those who occupy the building. This can be accomplished by ensuring good indoor air quality, access to natural light, and acoustic comfort and by creating spaces promoting physical and mental well-being.
Adaptability and Resilience
Sustainable buildings are designed to be flexible and adaptable, enabling them to respond to changing needs and conditions over time. This includes considering the building’s lifecycle, its ability to withstand extreme weather events, and the potential for future modifications.
Our Design Process
An approach for breaking down a large project into manageable steps.
BEFORE DESIGN
Conceptual-design services vary depending on the complexity of a project and the experience of the owner. Most owners need our experience and research capabilities to determine the project’s requirements.
SITE ANALYSIS AND SELECTION
Whether you already own a site or would like our assistance finding one, we are diligent when it comes to site analysis. Great design comes from a building’s relationship to its site, so we analyze how if can be best utilized for views, sun, land, access and enjoyment.
CODE ANALYSIS
Cities and specific regions within cities have different sets of rules governing many aspects of your project. Our experience in researching and understanding codes is critical to preventing costly errors.
PROGRAMMING
Programming consists of establishing & documenting requirements for your project including: design objectives, desired rooms or spaces, room sizes, relationships between spaces and relationships to the site.
BUDGET ANALYSIS
The budget should estimate both hard and soft costs. Hard costs are construction related—material, labor, and the contractor’s overhead and profit. Soft costs are non-construction related—consultants, city and bank fees, and insurance. It is also important to assess if the budget is adequate to complete the project.
SCHEDULE DEVELOPMENT
Factors that contribute to the project schedule:
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Owner’s schedule
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Owner’s decision ability
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Architect’s schedule
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Consultants’ schedules
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Project complexity
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Permit process
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Contractor’s availability
