Sustainable Design

As sustainability has moved to the forefront of the international dialogue, “green” design has moved from a moral to an economic, political, and market imperative. Sustainable design standards are no longer the exception, but rather an accepted and common part of the regulatory landscape; designing and building smarter for longterm life-cycle costs are becoming a necessity for public and private building owners; green products and services have proven their popularity in the marketplace.

The convergence of these trends demands not only a bigger picture vision, but also an understanding of the role design can play in building a sustainable future. It also requires concrete skills like leading teams of interdisciplinary experts, creatively integrating innovative technologies and quick assessment of the costs vs. benefits of continually evolving green design features.

the concept of “place” is fundamental to a broader vision of a sustainable development

We believe the concept of “place” is fundamental to a broader vision of a sustainable development. While studies have shown that buildings are responsible for 40% of total energy use, buildings by themselves are only part of the picture. The larger issues of public health, congestion, and sustainable land use are inextricably linked to how buildings are sited, how they come together to encourage people to walk and gather, and how people get to them. We have both the knowledge base and the kinds of skills needed to make sure your building is built in a way that is responsible to the environment, minimizes life-style costs, creates a healthy environment for its users, and is able to meet and exceed increasingly high expectations and standards.