Our commitment to sustainability
We are always working towards an architectural practice that is sustainable in every phase: from planning and design to construction to the operation of a built structure. Our goal is to facilitate a design experience that connects people, place and planet.
A sustainably built project goes beyond the use of specific materials and the incorporation of fauna - it is rooted in a thorough study of place and the surrounding climate conditions. Our team is consistently seeking professional development and training opportunities to help us reinforce this philosophy as well as to give us the proper tools and skillsets to be able to advise, design and lead with our values centered around sustainable principles.
We are collectively accredited and specialized in sustainable certifications (LEED, WELL), Green Project Management, Bioclimatic Architecture and Living Future Accreditation.
Design process
Context is everything.
Our projects begin with site and bioclimatic analysis to better understand the landscape, context and local climate conditions of the site.
A site analysis includes a study of both material elements, such as neighbors, existing buildings, roads, and systems, and reusable structures on site, as well as natural elements, such as trees and vegetation, landscape, water runoffs, and biological corridors.
Through the bioclimatic analysis we focus on understanding the climate and environmental systems that will inform the building design strategy. This includes analyzing on site sun patterns so that we are able to design spaces that take advantage of natural daylight that will also maintain temperatures at comfortable levels, relative humidity and temperature levels to develop strategies and select materials that are appropriate to context, wind movements to design natural ventilations systems and reduce the use of air conditioner, and rainfall levels for water collection and rain protection.
Understanding context helps us focus on hyperlocal, appropriate, adaptable and high quality design.
extracts from a site analysis, focusing on sun movements during different times of the year in relation to the project and property
Construction Management
We work alongside engineering teams that implement high efficiency systems and project managers that help us set project goals to reduce the environmental footprint of a construction site and ensure that social and economic impacts within a project are positive and tangible.
root and tree protection during construction process
designing around existing trees for a residential project
Operations
A big component to ensure that day to day processes are sustainable happen during the design and planning process. That is, the design and operation strategies of any given project are very closely linked. This includes energy management and designing for the use of renewable energy systems, water management and landscape design.
integrated native species landscape design