All posts by Giulio

Architecture, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, LEED, Style, Sustainability, Top Stories, Trends

The role of new development in the future of green cities

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How architecture and engineering promote sustainable lifestyles in urban centres

Developers build for the future. But only recently has sustainability become a major factor for the industry. Over the last decade, developers experienced a dramatic shift from regarding green features as optional features to following mandatory green standards. And with each passing year, technology continues to advance and introduce even more ways to increase efficiency and overall building performance while decreasing its environmental impact.

With the severity and awareness of climate change growing, and municipalities planning towards intensification, populations are prompt to adapt new habits and alter their lifestyles to find a more sustainable way of living. From taking public transit to turning off the lights when leaving a room, many are becoming more environmentally conscientious and are seeking support to make sustainable living more convenient and accessible. Finding a balance between user-driven design and environmental performance is key, a challenge which Devron’s founders are well acquainted from their backgrounds in architecture, engineering and sustainable design.

“It only takes a couple of years to construct a high rise building, but that building will continue to stand beyond my lifetime,” says Pouyan Safapour, CEO, Devron Developments. “One of the greatest responsibilities we have as developers is to ensure that the design and construction reflects our values for the future and doesn’t simply react to the current market. We can ensure that the design of the building supports a more sustainable lifestyle and, in turn, moving whole neighbourhoods and cities towards a greener future.”

Pushing beyond Green Standards

Devron Developments is constructing a remarkably sustainable 25-storey mixed-use condominium in the Grandview neighbourhood called The Vanguard. It’s currently planned for LEED gold certification, a status only 23 residential buildings in City of Markham presently hold.

While achieving such high standards for building performance is impressive, it’s the thoughtfulness behind the design that makes The Vanguard standout. The Vanguard will use 35 per cent renewable energy, 20 per cent less water than a standard building, 30 per cent regional construction material, and 20 per cent post-consumer material. The project achieves this through a combination of green features, including the installation of Tesla Destination Chargers and Electric Vehicle chargers to the building-wide water filtration system.

The Vanguard is also designed to maintain its sustainability mandate beyond what is required of the LEED certification. The criteria for green power requires the building to have 35 per cent of its power generated from a renewable source. The Vanguard is obligated to have a green energy provider for at least two years, but Devron also added special exercise bikes to the fitness facilities that generate energy that contributes back to the building’s grid too. These will continue to be a source of renewable energy and maintain Devron’s commitment to a holistic sustainable lifestyle.

Building for families

While condos are associated with downtown urban living, The Vanguard will be one of the first high-density developments in the predominantly low-rise residential Grandview neighbourhood. Devron recognized that potential purchasers are mostly families looking into the highly desirable neighbourhood. But with limited low-rise stock in one of the city’s hottest real estate markets on record, The Vanguard offers an incredible alternative that offers more than most traditional houses.

“Families want a space to raise their kids that support their values, which includes sensitivity to the environment,” says Safapour. “They want access to the outdoors to play, enough rooms in the home to give everyone a sense of privacy, and built-in features that make sustainable living more convenient. We were tasked to design a condo that offers all of that, while furthering its attractiveness by offering amenities that support a healthy family lifestyle.”

The Vanguard will have suites with up to four bedrooms and a one-of-a-kind children’s playroom complete with a playful sculptural tree. Amenities also include a stunning 7,000 s.f. rooftop terrace, kitted out with a culinary centre, community garden and lawn space. In addition to combating Urban Heat Island Effect, the terrace is planted with native species and drought resistant plants, and is irrigated using collected rainwater.

Setting the bar for the city

The right building materials need to meet both aesthetic and sustainability goals. In lieu of constructing a predominantly glass tower, The Vanguard will be clad in cast limestone, which gives the project a timeless look while also offering superior insulation.

“Every green feature contributes to the project’s integrity,” says Safapour. “If the technology and resources exist to build a greener future, it’s our responsibility to lead the way. As developers, we lay down the foundation for a more sustainable lifestyle and a more environmentally conscious city. As long as the industry strives to further reduce our ecological impact, we will continue to do the same with each consecutive project.”

www.devron.com

Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, LEED, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

A glimpse of Toronto’s future

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The Bjarke Ingels Group’s King Street West design melds suburban sensibilities with cityscape

It’s not exactly a walk on the wild side, but standout architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has definitely stepped outside the box with its much-heralded King Street West project.

Breaking with tradition in many ways, the design in the transitional area of Toronto will stand out among the tall towers of the central business district to the east, and the low-rise neighbourhoods in the northwest. Featuring extensive greenery, there is a direct attempt to provide a stretched-out suburban feel with dense urban look. In fact, BIG’s idea has been compared to what a youthful Moshe Safdie brought to his Habitat for Montreal’s Expo 1967.

“With King Street West, we wanted to find an alternative to the tower and podium you see a lot of in Toronto and revisit some of Safdie’s revolutionary ideas, but rather than an utopian experiment on an island, have it nested into the heart of the city,” says Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG. “It would be strange if one of the most diverse cities in the world had the most homogenous architecture.”

Designed for Allied Properties REIT and Westbank Corp, the residential development juts up to a maximum height of 17 storeys, but with varied rectilinear volumes stacked together. The tallest parts would be away from the street, where the restoration of heritage buildings will be featured.

In the middle will be a sprawling courtyard, enhancing the striking design and brokering an intimate communal setting. The staggered residential levels aren’t simply aesthetic in nature – they serve to maximize residents’ outdoor space, with varying views facing a mix of terraces.

Covering about 725,000 square feet, with plans for 500 apartment units, BIG touts the design as featuring pixelated patterns, with up to a dozen different floor plans offered.

Each pixel is set at the size of a room; rotated 45 degrees from the street grid to increase exposure to light and air. At the base, pixels lift to provide 24/7 acces across the courtyard, while the roof surface is manipulated to allow sunlight to penetrate the entire building, creating space for green terraces attached to each unit.

Landscape architects Public Work have been brought in to assist with the challenges of creating sustainable greenery in the rambling gardens, but the results could undoubtedly be worth the considerable effort.

Located at the meeting point of three 20th century neighborhood parks, BIG, Westbank and Allied will provide a mixed-use development with a public plaza that will create a new centre for the community while connecting the various pedestrian pathways that crisscross the area.

The building is organized as a traditional perimeter block with a public plaza in the centre. The courtyard itself is defined by two distinct atmospheres: a lushly landscaped forest paired next to an urban, hardscaped court. A BIG spokesperson says the resulting balance between these perceived opposites is a reflection of Toronto’s current state of rapid redevelopment: the union of old and new, an open community atmosphere in an intimate setting, calming green scenery within a bustling urban context.

Surrounding the plaza, King Street West (currently in progress) will rise to create space for housing, retail and boutique offices – avoiding the footprints of heritage buildings that already exist on the site.

The resulting undulating façade is a connective topography – allowing increased circulation through the neighborhood while creating an abundance of green space normally reserved for the suburbs.

Web / big.dk

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, LEED, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories

On the cusp

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Ottawa’s Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards poised to take its place among top entrepreneurial hubs

Ingenuity and sustainable progressive thinking are talking points for Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District and Waterloo’s Communitech, but now they’ve got company.

Enter Ottawa’s Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards (ICBY).

The Innovation Centre, partnered with Ottawa-based Morley Hoppner Ltd. real estate development firm and Barry J. Hobin and Associates Architects, will be a dynamic and energized hub that serves as a basecamp for top-tier homegrown technology talent, capabilities and companies. It will be the ultimate one-stop business acceleration shop and ‘mash-up’ of technical, business and market services, resources and expertise that helps entrepreneurs and companies launch, grow and thrive – and compete with anyone in the world.

“We are extremely excited to be a part of the transformation of this heritage building into an entrepreneurial hub for new companies to emerge and grow in the Ottawa area,” says Brad Morley, President of Morley Hoppner. “


Set to open late in 2016, the Innovation Centre will sit on the site of an abandoned Ottawa garage, with 46,000 square feet of space, and will essentially combine many elements of the regional innovation ecosystem. Leveraging $30-million in public investment to date (including $15-million in funding and donated real estate from the City of Ottawa, and $15-million from the Government of Ontario), the Innovation Centre will be located within hundreds of feet of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) station.


ICBY will bring together many local innovation players that provide services and support to entrepreneurs. This includes anchor tenant Invest Ottawa, which will deliver its economic development programs from this new home, and work with many fellow academic, public and private sector partners at the facility. In collaboration with these organizations, the centre’s board is expected to provide the framework and foundations for the growth of local startups in varying states of development. ICBY will also serve as a regional epicenter for global sales, market development, expertise, investment and business development.


Moreover, ICBY will work together with leading program delivery partners such as Invest Ottawa’s Investment and Trade team, Carleton University, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) and prototypeD, to deliver targeted global programming that enables and accelerates the development and commercial success of globally-oriented, customer, market and investment-ready companies.  This is expected to create a wealth of opportunity for Innovation Centre clients, partners and investors.

Morley Hoppner’s involvement in a sustainable development such as ICBY corresponds seamlessly with the firm’s philosophy. Since its inception in 1988, Morley Hoppner has created a culture of sustainability, says Morley.

“From day one, we have recycled and composted at our office and are always looking for ways to recycle waste,” he says. “We have always worked to create environmentally-sustainable buildings regardless of LEED requirements. We are advocates for green building and sustainability and continuously promote this to our clients and partners.”

The ICBY project, he points out, includes a LEED Gold certification component. Other features include food growth, a green education program, sustainable transportation provisions, high-energy performance, innovative building automation and control system rooftop solar panels.

“We believe that utilizing more efficient systems which achieve long-term cost savings is important for all buildings,” says Morley. “Saying that, our approach is to be creative but practical, because obtaining LEED certification may not always be reasonable or financially possible given the location and type of the project proposed.

“In the case of the Innovation Centre, sustainability represented a fundamental part of its vision from the very beginning. We are proud to help realize this objective for our entrepreneurial community.”

Web / thebayviewyards.com / morleyhoppner.com

Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories

The New Generation of Canadian Energy

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Simply Green aims to become Canada’s leading force in sustainability and efficiency by 2025

When it comes to helping Canadians reduce energy consumption, Simply Green Home Services Inc. adheres to the ‘out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new’ approach – in more ways than one.

So much so, predicts company CEO/President Lawrence Krimker, that Simply Green will become Canada’s leading force in environmental sustainability and energy reduction efforts by 2025.

“Simply green’s innovative approach has been built on the minds of the industries brightest,” Krimker says.

“It’s run by a creative and innovative team that represents the new generation of the industry.”

“Across the board, Simply Green looks to add efficiency into everyday Canadian life by reducing outdated and inefficient home energy appliances as well as providing transparency to homeowners around energy consumption with the goal of reducing usage.”

While a core focus of Simply Green’s business is offering rental water heaters to home builders, Simply Green has 4 divisions, over 150 sales reps across Canada, and helps across the energy lifecycle.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s available with Simply Green:

Simply Residential New Construction / SRNC supports Ontario homebuilders to procure high-efficiency hot-water tanks during the building phase. New homes start their life with top-of-the-line equipment and are supported by Simply Green’s hassle-free maintenance plans;

Simply Sub-metering / SSM helps new residential multi-unit building developers to install sub-meters per building unit to measure and bill the right amount of utility consumption per unit. Typically, buildings see a 25%+ utility consumption reduction by raising the awareness to tenants about their individual consumption.

Simply LED / SLED helps Canadian office and condo buildings to replace existing light fixtures with high-efficiency LED fixtures and bulbs. SLED helps building owners leverage government rebates and capital investment to secure 60-70% hydro consumption and typically appreciate a 1.0-1.5-year payback term;

Simply Green Home Services Inc / SGHS helps Canadians upgrade their out-dated HVAC units to high-efficiency units that run at 96 per cent efficiency. In addition, its water and air filtration systems help reduce household air-born and water toxins;

“We also have a nation-wide installation network, supplier network and warehousing in every major city in each province west of Ontario,” says Krimker, noting that the company has a 24/7/365 emergency line, along with a 40-person call centre (located in Toronto) that services all of Canada’s time zones. “Our retrofit business has allowed for us to develop a strong focus on customer service.”

Simply Green has solidified its impact on the industry by taking on large, established companies and providing cost-efficient, viable alternatives.

“We’ve built our business by going above and beyond what’s traditionally been offered,” Krimker says, providing a number of examples.
“A very common scenario is where we find that a gas fitter hired by a builder – a non-Simply Green worker – did not properly install the equipment that we provided. The customer is upset. Simply Green has then sent out its own gas fitter, at no cost to the builder or customer, to take care of the issues that the first gas fitter has created.”
“Another example is when a customer who, once again, experienced an improper installation by a non-Simply Green plumber. In that case, the customer was not getting any hot water. The customer called the builder and the builder called us. Again, at no cost, we dispatched our own plumber within an hour, to fix the issue for the customer.”

“In yet another case, where a site manager had ordered incorrect units, we made sure the builder did not have to wait for a new shipment. I had our team load up their personal cars with as much of the equipment as possible, and they drove to the site with the deliveries within two hours of receiving the initial call. The builder was in shock that we reacted so quickly to their mistake. And, again, we did not charge them for shipping back the incorrect equipment.”

Exceptional customer service notwithstanding, Simply Green takes an innovative approach to low-rise water heater rentals and high-rise sub-metering. Krimker says all Simply Green’s equipment has the highest level of energy efficiency.

“Our retrofit HVAC business is responsible for helping over 20,000 homeowners upgrade from mid-efficiency HVAC systems to brand new Energy Star-certified 96% efficient units,” he says. “This is, on average, an energy-efficiency improvement of 20-50% in their gas consumption. This has resulted in over 30,000 tons of CO2 being lifted from the environment.”

Simply Green is a recipient of a 2016 Great Places to Work Award, ranked 43rd in the medium-sized company category. Organizations selected are outperforming their peers; both financially and in terms of innovation, collaboration, and productivity. Great Place to Work® is the research firm that produces this list. Simply Green’s Charitable Division, Simply Cares, has helped raise over $300,000 in the past three years for the Covenant House Shelter, and its sales agents and customers also provide warm clothing for the homeless.

Web / mysimplygreen.com

Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Trendsetter in sustainability

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Sinclair Construction takes a collaborative stance to reinforce its reputation as an industry leader

Many builders talk the talk about sustainable strategies, but Sinclair Construction takes the discussion to a whole new level.

An early proponent of a more sustainable approach within the residential home building industry, Sinclair Construction actually reaches out to others, seeking a collaborative approach, which cements its status as an industry leader in LID (Low Impact Development).

“Sinclair Construction has embraced LID, energy efficiency and more sustainable housing,” says Dan Sinclair, Project Manager for the Kitchener-Waterloo-based company.

Family-owned, Sinclair Construction was founded by Warren Sinclair back in 1979. Its customer-centered approach, accented by a mark of excellence, reinforces its reputation as a builder that exceeds the standard and accentuates the details.

Sinclair Construction is known as a company that builds homes to last and believes that longevity starts with efficiency.

“We don’t just comply with the energy efficient Ontario building code – we surpass it,” says Sinclair. “And this means when you own a Sinclair Construction home, you enjoy reduced operating and maintenance costs and a smaller carbon footprint.”

Over the past 36 years, Sinclair Construction has built several communities and more than 300 family homes.

Its current project, The Enclave at Victoria Hills in the town of Ingersoll, is the most recent example of a synergistic LID endeavor. Working in conjunction with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, Sinclair Construction has incorporated extensive rain gardens as a means of achieving storm water management through the promotion of infiltration and evaporation.

In a nutshell, LID is a storm water management approach that uses Best Management Practices (BMP) – small, simple designs and landscape features at the lot level to infiltrate, filter, store and evaporate and detain runoff close to its source. (BMPs can be used in new development, urban retrofits and redevelopment projects, on lawns, streets, sidewalks, medians, roofs and in parking lots.)

“By eliminating more traditional methods for storm water management we were able to avoid costly underground infrastructure and the installation of a storm water management (SWM) pond, therefore gaining more land on which to build more units,” Sinclair says, noting that The Enclave at Victoria Hills is on a peaceful neighbourhood street, and features condominium bungalow and two-storey townhomes.

The process at The Enclave at Victoria Hills project began with the existing streetscape.

Originally, Sinclair says, the site drained towards a street, in this case Ingersoll Street. After the installation, the runoff drained to the perimeter, and then either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the edge. The runoff then moves through a series of bioswales and rain gardens, towards two large rain gardens along Ingersoll Street.

Water is retained in the rain gardens before infiltrating into the soil. A perforated drain moves storm water that has been filtered by plants and soil on to the next rain garden. At the two largest rain gardens along Ingersoll Street, any water in the underdrain will flow at a controlled rate into the municipal storm water system.

Sinclair Construction also looked to industry experts for energy efficiency input.

“We worked collaboratively with Bowser Technical Inc., and Priority Mechanical Services Ltd. to ensure all homes in our project are built to the Energy Star standard, at a minimum, with most achieving higher EnerGuide ratings,” he added, noting that an Energy Star new home is, on average, 20 per cent more energy efficient than a home built to code.
“Both organizations (Bowser Technical Inc., and Priority Mechanical Services Ltd.) have provided valuable knowledge in helping us to select features to achieve these ratings, such as higher insulation values, better windows and water heaters, right-sized HVAC systems and increased air-tightness results.”

“We are looking forward to continuing to position ourselves as an industry leader in LID through the adoption of more sustainable building methods and technologies and also pursuing net-zero goals in upcoming projects.”

Sinclair Construction has consistently set the bar for new home builds in southwestern Ontario, participating in the Ontario Power Authority’s NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION initiative, which is designed to encourage home builders and renovators to construct energy-efficient homes. Sixteen per cent of the homes built in Ontario that have taken advantage of this initiative were built by Sinclair Construction. The homes surpassed the building code using energy-efficient materials and techniques to meet EnerGuide standards. The homes are more energy-efficient from the beginning, reducing waste and providing future savings for the homeowner. Additionally, Sinclair Construction has been the recipient of a residential sector ERTH award, which recognizes businesses that are committed to sustainability.

Web / sinclairconstruction.ca

Architecture, Green Energy, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Top Stories, Trends

On the cutting edge

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Derek Nicholson Incorporated has developed a stellar reputation working with some of Canada’s most innovative architects

 

The words ‘cutting edge’ come to mind whenever one thinks about the work done by Derek Nicholson Incorporated.

It’s easy to see why. As a specialized contracting and project management firm, the company has developed a reputation for producing finely-executed renovations and custom designed buildings for some of Canada’s most innovative architects.

“We also have the management structure to be cost-effective and efficient on our projects,” says company founder Derek Nicholson. “We definitely provide excellent value for money, as well.”
Grange
Founded in 2000, the Toronto-based firm has been involved in numerous projects that have received local and international awards and media attention, including four Governor General’s awards, which represent the greatest honour for architecture in Canada. Nicholson feels strongly that those distinctions are the result of dedication to excellent design, management and construction, plus credits the stellar group of architects and designers he collaborates with.

Derek Nicholson Incorporated prides itself in resolving and executing detailed projects of exceptional quality. Its team of skilled trades and craftspeople ensure that design integrity is realized from conception to completion.

The company’s office staff, Nicholson says, have degrees from architecture and interior design schools and have prior work experience at boutique architecture and design firms.

“Our qualified project managers are therefore able to collaborate with architects and designers to ensure that construction details are well-executed,” he says. “We work with the consultants and clients to ‘value engineer’ projects to meet budget requirements.

“As a result,” Nicholson says, “we have received widespread acclaim and are continuously referred to other clients by the consultants and clients of completed projects.”

Some of the innovative architecture and design firms Derek Nicholson Incorporated has worked with recently are superkül, William Chong Architects, Luc Bouliane, Teeple Architects and D’Arcy Jones Architecture. Teeple Architects, for example, is recognized for executing technically-advanced projects of exceptional quality that are conceptually and practically rooted in the specific needs and aspirations of each client. They say they are committed to responding creatively and effectively to each program, site, context and budget; inspired to find innovative and appropriate solutions for each new project.

Derek Nicholson Incorporated shares the same values. The firm provides crews that are capable of providing a wide variety of work – from the initial stages of demolition through to completion. Some of their expert in-house services include underpinning, waterproofing, poured concrete walls plus Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) and installation of structural steel and framing.

“And just a little while ago,” says Nicholson, “we opened a landscape section, completing a number of finely-designed and executed landscape projects.

“Because of our total integration, projects are seamless. Not relying on outside trades allows us to complete projects in a timely fashion.”


Next up for Derek Nicholson Incorporated is a segue into BONE structure construction, a system for assembling houses quickly, without any cutting or use of nails.

“We are now an authorized BONE structure builder,” says Nicholson. “We’ll be starting our first project right away. We’re excited – BONE structures are prefabricated steel structures that are energy efficient and create zero waste during erection compared to traditional wood framing methods. And wall and roof panels are spray foamed to achieve air-tight enclosures.”
Did we say ‘cutting edge?’

 

Web / dereknicholson.com

 

Architecture, Green Energy, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

AIA – Top Ten Plus

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Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building Lauded with AIA Sustainable Design Award

GSA project highlighted as example of reducing operating costs, saving tax payer money and providing healthier work space for a federal agency

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the U.S. General Services Administration Region 10’s (GSA) Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in Portland, OR, as the recipient of the Top Ten Plus award. In its fourth year, the award recognizes one past AIA COTE Top Ten Project Award recipient which has quantifiable metrics demonstrating the true impact the sustainable design has achieved. The project, designed by SERA Architects and Cutler Anderson Architects, was selected in 2014 as a recipient of the AIA/COTE Top Ten Project Award program

Completed in 1974, the building received funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2010 to undergo a major renovation and replace outdated equipment and systems. Under the Energy Independence & Security Act, the renovated building would have to meet or exceed stringent energy and water savings requirements. Working with Howard S. Wright Construction, the design team was able to deliver the project 10 months early, saving taxpayers more than $900,000 in the process.

“We were tasked with converting an aging energy hog into one of GSA’s highest-performing buildings,” said Don Eggleston, AIA, principal at SERA Architects.

From an initial building analysis, it was determined that for seismic safety, the precast concrete exterior would need to be removed. Energy studies led to a number of solutions, including a blast-resistant glass curtain wall, exterior shading and reflective elements and a highly-efficient hydronic heating and cooling system inside.


“These creative design solutions not only reduced utility costs, but also freed up more than 30,000 square feet of rentable space that enabled a much greater ROI for the GSA’s investment in this property,” Eggleston added.

Building performance metrics determined by post-occupancy evaluations:

  • Renovated building uses 55% less energy than the original structure
  • Harvested rainwater and water-conserving plumbing fixtures resulted in a 65% reduction in water use
  • By maintaining a central location downtown, an estimated 85% percent of occupants are not reliant on single-occupancy vehicles for transportation
  • The radiant heating and cooling system resulted in a projected lifecycle cost reduction of $2 million compared to traditional Variable Air Volume Air Systems
  • The building boasts an occupant satisfaction rating of 75%


“We’re proud that this GSA cornerstone building is one of the most efficient office buildings in the country,” said Kimberly Gray, GSA Director of Facilities Management Division. “Our tenants regularly give us feedback about how they enjoy all of the building features, especially the increased exposure to daylight throughout.”

COTE Jury comments: “This project transforms a generic concrete office building into a high-performance, environmentally responsive, comfortable place to work. This sets a great precedent for re-use and upgrade, and demonstrates the potential for creative, green re-use projects.”

 

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories

The American Institute of Architects Select the 2016 COTE Top Ten Green Projects

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Projects showcase excellence in ecological design principles and reduced energy consumption

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects that protect and enhance the environment. The projects will be honored at the 2016 AIA Convention in Philadelphia.

The COTE Top Ten Awards program, now in its 20th year, is the profession’s most rigorous recognition program for sustainable design excellence. The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology.

By conducting an in-depth study of nearly 200 COTE Top Ten Award winning projects encompassing almost 20 years in the recently released report, Lessons from the Leading Edge, it was determined that design projects recognized through this program are outpacing the industry by virtually every standard of performance.

Biosciences Research Building (BRB); Galway, Ireland
Payette and Reddy Architecture + Urbanism 

The design of the BRB embraces the moderate climate of Ireland. By locating low-load spaces along the perimeter of the building, the project is able to take advantage of natural ventilation as the sole conditioning strategy for the majority of the year and is supplemented less than 10% of the year with radiant heating. Due to this approach, 45% of this intensive research building is able to function without mechanical ventilation. This is an extremely simple, yet radical approach and is rarely implemented.

Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL); Pittsburgh
The Design Alliance Architects

The CSL is an education, research and administration facility at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Designed to be the greenest building in the world, it generates all of its own energy and treats all storm and sanitary water captured on-site. The CSL is the first and only building to meet four of the highest green certifications: the Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum, WELL Building Platinum, and Four-Stars Sustainable SITES. As an integral part of the Phipps visitor experience, the CSL focuses attention on the important intersection between the built and natural environments, demonstrating that human and environmental health are inextricably connected.

Exploratorium at Pier 15; San Francisco
EHDD

The Exploratorium is an interactive science museum that also demonstrates innovation and sustainability in its design and construction. The building takes advantage of the historic pier shed’s natural lighting and the 800-foot-long roof provided room for a 1.3 megawatt photovoltaic array. The water of the bay is used for cooling and heating. Materials were used that are both sustainable and durable enough to withstand a harsh maritime climate. The project is certified LEED Platinum and is close to reaching its goal of being the country’s largest Net Zero energy museum and an industry model for what is possible in contemporary museums.

H-E-B at Mueller; Austin, TX
Lake|Flato Architects, H-E-B Design + Construction, Selser Schaefer Architects

H-E-B at Mueller is an 83,587-square-foot LEED Gold and Austin Energy Green Building 4-Stars retail store and fresh food market, including a pharmacy, café, community meeting room, outdoor gathering spaces, and fuel station. It serves 16 neighborhoods and is located in Mueller, a sustainable, mixed-use urban Austin community. Strategies include a collaborative research, goal-setting and design process; integrated chilled water HVAC and refrigeration systems; the first North American supermarket propane refrigeration system; optimized daylighting; 169 kW roof-top solar array; electric vehicle charging; all LED lighting; and reclaimed water use for landscape irrigation, toilets, and cooling tower make-up water.

Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation; Berkeley, CA
Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Founded on the conviction that design can help address some of society’s most pressing challenges, the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation at UC Berkeley is devoted to introducing sustainable design innovation at the core of university life. The project provides a new interdisciplinary hub for students and teachers from across the university who work at the intersection of design and technology. It is designed as both a collaborative, project-based educational space and a symbol to the region of the University’s commitment to sustainable innovation, modelling high-density / low-carbon living and learning by reducing energy use 90% below national baseline.

Rene Cazenave Apartments; San Francisco
Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects and Saida + Sullivan Design Partners, Associated Architect

This supportive housing for formerly chronically homeless individuals replaces a former parking lot and freeway off-ramp with a high density, transit oriented, and healthy living alternative. Filtered ventilation, low emitting materials, ample daylight and views combine to aid the residents, many with mental and physical disabilities. Energy costs for the residents and non-profit owner are minimized by a combination of high efficiency lighting and hydronic heating, a continuously insulated rain-screen building envelope and a roof top solar canopy with both hot water and photovoltaic panels. Water is carefully managed by a vegetated roof, smart irrigation, a courtyard storm water tank and reclaimed water piping.


The Dixon Water Foundation Josey Pavilion; Decatur, TX
Lake|Flato Architects

The Josey Pavilion is a multi-functional education and meeting center that supports the mission of the Dixon Water Foundation to promote healthy watersheds through sustainable land management. Traditionally livestock has caused more harm than good by overgrazing and not allowing native prairies to play their important role in habitat and watershed protection, and carbon sequestration. As a certified Living Building, the Josey Pavilion facilitates a deeper understanding of how grazing livestock as well as the built environment can work to do more good than harm. Just like the Heritage Live Oak that defines the site, the building tempers the climate and enhances visitor experience by shading the sun, blocking the wind, and providing protected views.

The J. Craig Venter Institute; San Diego
ZGF Architects LLP

This not-for-profit research institute, dedicated to the advancement of the science of genomics, was in need of a permanent West Coast home. Their commitment to environmental stewardship led to challenging the architects to design a net-zero energy laboratory building, the first in the U.S. The result is a LEED-Platinum certified, 44,607-square-foot building comprised of a wet laboratory wing and an office / dry laboratory wing surrounding a central courtyard, all above a partially below-grade parking structure for 112 cars. The holistic approach to the design revolved around energy performance, water conservation, and sustainable materials.


University of Wyoming – Visual Arts Facility; Laramie, WY
Hacker Architects and Malone Belton Able PC

The Visual Arts Facility (VAF) consolidates the fine arts program from its scattered locations throughout the campus. The building provides a teaching and learning environment that is both state-of-the-art in occupational safety and in its concern for discharge of pollutants from building. The roof area is fitted with one of the largest solar evacuated tube installations in the U.S. Heat flows from the evacuated tubes to support the hydronic radiant floors, domestic hot water, and pretreat outside air for ventilation. The building was oriented and shaped through a process of studying the sun’s interaction with interior spaces, simultaneously distributing reflected light while eliminating solar gain.


West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library; Berkeley, CA
Harley Ellis Devereaux

The new 9,500-square-foot West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library is the first certified Living Building Challenge zero net energy public library in California. The building’s energy footprint was minimized through integrated strategies for daylighting (the building is 97% daylit), natural ventilation and a high performance building envelope. An innovative wind chimney provides cross-ventilation while protecting the library interior from street noise. Renewable energy on site includes photovoltaic panels and solar thermal panels for radiant heating and cooling and domestic hot water. The library exceeds the 2030 Challenge and complies with Berkeley’s recently-enacted Climate Action Plan.

About The American Institute of Architects
Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.