Sustainable Design Principles

The Integrated Design Charrette

The integrated design approach is accomplished through an interative process that invites the client, builder, designers, consultants, and community members, as appropriate, to participate in a focused and collaborative design effort, known as a "Charrette". The purpose of this collaborative design team and design process is to provide for a rich exchange of ideas and information that allows truly integrated solutions to evolve. This forum and methodology encourages every team member to cross polinate the process with solutions to problems that may relate to, but are not typically addressed by, their specialty. The objective is to have every member of this collborative design team understand the issues that the other members need to address.

Benefits of Sustainable Design

Improved Occupant Performance
Reduced Operational Costs
Better Indoor Air Quality
Creating Instructional Facilities
Daylighting enhances Occupant "Well Being"
Enhanced Asset Value and Increased Profits
Reduced Environmental Impacts
Positive Public Image
Optimized Life Cycle Economic Performance
Minor or No Increase in Construction Cost

Principle of Integrated Design

Systems Integration:

Consider the Building as an Organism
Design Decisions have a Holistic, non-linear impact
Downsizing or Eliminating Systems is possible

Integration Tools:

Energy Modeling
Daylight Modeling
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
Materials Analysis and Impacts

Sustainable Design Components used on our Projects

Geothermal and Hybrid-Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems
Robust Thermal Envelope Systems
Storm Water Infiltration and Rain Gardens
Structural Thermal Efficient Panel Systems
Rain Water Harvesting (Cistern) Systems
Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures and Waterless Urinals
Integrated Advanced Lighting Controls
Wind Turbine Generating Systems
Solar Panels
Daylighting
Optimized Building Orientation
Recycled, Renewable, and Local Materials