Realizing innovative sustainable and resilient outcomes

Utilizing our engineering rigor with our design thinking, we employ state-of-the-art simulation tools to assess building performance, occupant comfort, and resource efficiencies. With our tools we are able to provide the data our clients and stakeholders require to support key decision making fundamental to realizing innovative sustainable and resilient outcomes.

Our team is rooted in a commitment to advanced delivery, providing greater certainty earlier in the design process. We will use performance modeling as a design tool and a spine along the project timeline to evaluate options and inform strategic solutions. Our modeling process is tightly woven into our BIM workflow, allowing us to provide estimated energy results earlier and more often to advance our project’s performance.

Our team is data-driven both during design and construction, coordinating and performing analysis on energy, materials, water, cost, and carbon. Our approach includes a holistic view of carbon emissions associated with the project including the time of use of emissions and how the facility interacts with the grid- and campus utilities. We also will engage a triple bottom line approach through a cost benefit analysis tool to evaluate triple bottom line impacts for building occupants and also the larger impact those decisions have on the community.

Building Performance Analysis
• Climate Studies & Outdoor Comfort
• Early Design Energy Analysis
• Daylight studies - Glare analysis
• Embodied Carbon Life Cycle Assessments
• Envelope studies
• Whole Building Energy Analysis & Optimization
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• CFD analysis to predict air flow & thermal patterns

Net Zero Approach
We have collected methods from emerging research in each of these areas so our designs are informed to radically and honestly reduce emissions toward zero. While complex in actuality, our net zero design approach generally follows these simple steps:

1. Align priorities. Align on sustainability goals and decarbonization priorities, schedules and operating expectations, clarify net zero and embodied carbon analysis boundaries.
2. Define passive design opportunities. Explore passive solar strategies for useful heat gain and to reduce unnecessary cooling loads through building envelope. Apply “exergy” engineering analysis to map expected energy flows in building systems.
3. Quantify renewable potential. Define potential for solar PV and solar hot water energy generation capability on site. Evaluate geothermal potential underground.
4. Engage performance driven design. Establish foundational design direction for building orientation / envelope and mechanical system selection through energy modeling, solar insolation analysis, and life cycle cost assessment.
5. Optimize systems. Evaluate key energy end use drivers and optimize improvements of system designs, first cost investments, and long-term payback.
6. Integrate Automation. Incorporate smart building technology to help building maintain top performance goals.