IslandWood | BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA

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Summer 2019

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN LEADERS

SUMMIT REPORT

Fifty-two Sustainable Design Leaders gathered for the 11th annual Summer Summit on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

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July 2019 at IslandWood

Table of Contents

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INTRODUCTION

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

ON OUR MINDS

Touchstones from the Pre-Summit Survey

WHAT WE SHARED�Presentations & Roundtable Conversations

ABOUT OUR FIRMS

Sustainable Metrics & Organization

ABOUT US

Our Positions and Interests

LOOKBOOK

2019 Winter Summit Participants

INTRODUCTION

Islandwood embraced us again in 2019, with its beautiful and functional structures, great food, and succession of ecosystems. This was our fourth Summit at this remarkable educational retreat center, and it’s worth the journey to get there!

Along with the amazing camaraderie and connection that SDL Summit veterans have come to expect, this year’s gathering featured deep dives into the conversations that have grabbed our attention: embodied carbon, AIA’s ”Big Move” into sustainability and resilience, and embracing equity and diversity.

The pre-Summit workshop set the stage beautifully, for those who could make it, with a wealth of lessons how to lead a successful change effort. And Nadav’s wife, Janice, joined for the first time, offering individual coaching sessions to supplement the many group discussions.

The barrage of anti-ecological attacks from the current presidential administration still wears on us, but we’re no longer reeling from it as we were in recent years. We’ve adjusted to it and are getting smarter about responding with advocacy and impact.

We’re maturing as a network: developing guiding principles, elevating a second and third generation of internal leaders, and welcoming sister peer networks of allied professionals into the community. There is ever more to be done; and we’re always better doing it together.

– Nadav Malin, and the rest of the BuildingGreen team

Inspiring and celebrating �each other

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

Themes that Caught Our Attention

• Let’s get the ego out of architecture! The “architecture as art form” mentality is an obstacle to active listening.
• Seek opportunities to speak at non-sustainability conferences �to reach a broader audience.
• The COTE Top Ten Framework succeeds best with whole-team participation & accountability.
• Design energy as the new life safety? No more excuses!
• JUST requires you to do the math and reveals what you need �to work on. Publishing despite that is key.
• Engage the mistakes!
• Advocacy can be easy: learn to rub elbows with legislators seeking expertise. Achieve local and state-wide successes.
• LCA literacy is as important across the firm as EUI literacy.
• Consider asking for pronouns at meetings.
• Did the COGfx study tell the truth? Do we really need to provide spaces with less than 800 ppm CO2?

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

Appreciations

Participants reactions from the Post-summit survey:

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• MY FIRST SUMMIT, IT WAS OVERWHELMING IN THE BEST WAY.
• Always refreshing, provoking, educational, inspiring.
• Content felt especially relevant and timely this year.
• I was in awe by the knowledge and talent gathered. I couldn’t appreciate more how honest, humble and engaging everyone was.
• One of the starkest differences between a traditional conference setting and the Summit is how the ego was not a factor (nor a theme…). It was not about individual accomplishments, rather the focus was on what’s working, what isn’t, and what can/should we be doing.
• I deeply appreciate how this forum operates. BuildingGreen empowers an important network.
• I appreciate the mix of experience levels, constantly cycling in fresh leadership but with established leadership to help guide �(but not overpower).

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

Becoming a Change Master

About 30 of us participated in the pre-Summit workshop with Barbara Grant of Crux Consulting Collective on becoming more effective as change agents. Barbara had lots of pearls of wisdom for us (and was very engaging, to boot!)

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• Don’t waste your time on the mountain of self-righteous indignation.
• You chose to swim in this ocean; expect the waves. (When you’re surprised by the unexpected it de-skills you).
• Embrace the resistance—it’s your source of energy for change that exceeds your goals.
• Focus on the ROI of your change effort, not on the change �itself (often the change happens, but it doesn’t deliver the promised ROI).
• When introducing a change, prepare people for the challenges �of the “messy middle.”

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On Our Minds

Touchstones from the �Pre-Summit Survey

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Desired outcomes

Selected responses to: What is the one most important outcome or result you'd like to see from this event?

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• Fostering hope for each other under dire environmental conditions.
• I would like to leave this event recharged and inspired to take action.
• I'd like to come away with a sense of community and connection.
• Being inspired and re-energized by the passion of everyone.
• I’d like to come back with actionable steps to addressing sustainability needs at my firm.
• Ways to leverage the momentum from AIA’s Resolution on Climate Change to propel our industry forward in a meaningful way.
• A one-year action plan for SDL advocacy efforts.
• I just need to get enthused about the work again!

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SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Initiatives we’re excited about

• Equity, diversity, inclusion work (hiring practices, outreach, �firm culture).
• Rhino/Grasshopper workflow integration.
• The design of our own new office space to meet our sustainability aspirations (including the integrated process).
• We have developed a new firm Brand "Total Impact" which is encouraging project teams to identify measurable impacts their projects are pursuing AND achieving.
• Net zero shake-outs.
• Translating relative impacts of embodied carbon/construction �and operational carbon to human health.
• Eco Block - retrofitting an entire block to ZNE and low water standards.
• Driving carbon neutral design across our portfolio.
• Case studies on using LCA tools to quantify the value of saving existing buildings.

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Applying UN Sustainable Development Goals

by Rand Ekman and Ellen Mitchell Kozack, HKS

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SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Obstacles to success

• The expectation that I can single-handedly change the current hierarchical structure and transactional culture, simply by being "inspiring."
• Too much work, too little time.
• Indifference from project leadership and clients about high performance design.
• The pressure to meet a utilization rate of 50%.
• The challenge of describing to office peers what we want to do, why it is important, and how our approach is different than business as usual.
• The reduction in aspiration and performance over time.
• It is frustrating that sustainable design is such a small part of �my work day.

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What We Shared

Presentations and Roundtable Conversations

• The Carbon Imperative: Decarbonization in operations and materials
• Architects And Firms Making A Difference
• Sustainable Design Leaders’ Best Practices
• Post Occupancy Evaluations And Occupant Behavior
• Design Process: What are the leverage points?
• Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion In Our Firms
• Research in the Firm
• Sharing Information and Lessons: Best practices
• Climate Leadership from AIA—how can we help it succeed and have an impact?

EMBODIED CARBON & DECARBONIZATION

Embodied carbon is no longer a side conversation

Embodied carbon is urgent! For new construction, it is the primary source of emissions in the near term, which is the time frame we need to be thinking about. But let’s not forget existing buildings and their operational carbon right now: �we need to address this as well, as it far outweighs embodied carbon in new construction across North America.

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• If we had a federal carbon tax, this problem might solve itself. It has to hurt �to use too much.
• Start saying “carbon” instead of “energy.”
• As the grid goes carbon neutral, every building’s operational carbon goes down—making embodied carbon ever more significant.
• Carbon-sequestering materials are a good approach.
• We need rules of thumb for embodied carbon!
• Firms are using Tally, Athena, One-Click LCA, and the Mithun tool for LCA. �But we need a good early modeling tool. How can we help develop this?
• Let’s invite structural engineers into integrative design.
• Can we develop talking points for embodied carbon ROI?
• Legit offsets are a viable strategy—but remember that trees take time to grow.

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ADVOCACY: ARCHITECTS AND FIRMS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Be the expert—but speak to everyone

Advocacy is easy! You just need to take some time to approach legislators, code developers, and strategic partners. Be a voice of expertise, but also learn to listen to others. And ditch the acronyms. To talk to people outside the profession, we need strong, pithy talking points that move people.

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• How can we communicate with the general public? Can we frame our profession as “facilitators of health”?
• It’s very easy to get engaged with code development. You don’t have to be an expert to testify.
• Let’s keep speaking with a collective voice when issues come up: whole-group communications are powerful.
• Make sure your allies are aligned. Be sure to go into marginalized communities, listen to what they are already doing, and agree to signal-boost each other.
• Green building has been politicized. Learn to talk to people who might be resistant to that framework; focus on health, resilience, and quality of life.
• The opposition has powerful sound bites. Where are ours? No jargon!
• Case studies and other stories are convincing.

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Advocacy Isn’t Hard

by Chris Hellstern

The network of plants and a new school art center school in India

by Brian Feagans, Ratcliffe

How plants talk to each other through the internet �of fungus – Bengaluru article Dhara Mehrotra

DESIGN PROCESS: How to intervene to get better outcomes?

Where are the insertion points?

A seemingly rigid design process can actually have a lot of leverage points. Look for ways to get underneath each design milestone with �your sustainability crowbar.

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• At the go/no go point: what are the potential sustainability goals?
• At the first workshop, make sure sustainability is one of the topics.
• The OPR is a great medium for talking about sustainability.
• For developer projects, remember you are helping sell a product �to future buyers and occupants.
• Take advantage of the “cold war of amenities” in developer projects: instead of golf simulations, how about WELL?
• Understand developers’ financial models so you can speak their language.

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Using the COTE Top Ten

by Mike Manzi, BORA

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR FIRMS

Diversity = inviting people to the party. Inclusion = asking them to dance.

EDI is an emerging next step in our ability to speak to and listen to traditionally excluded communities. Looking within, we’re also pushing to change the lack of diversity in our firms and our profession.

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• Implicit bias training: a lot of us are doing it!
• Working on EDI within the firm is a precursor to being successful with EDI on projects.
• The JUST tool surfaces a lot of problems—as well as successes—by asking for data.
• Harvard implicit-bias testing can be revealing at the personal level.
• Many entities are exploring EDI, including the Large-Firm Roundtable.
• EDI directors are coming on board. But beware! Don’t just have one so you can market the fact that you have one. There’s real work to do.
• Listen to new voices—then follow up on what they say!
• Does architecture look different when we are truly diverse?

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Racial Scars in Charlottesville

by Michelle Amt, VMDO

The violence that erupted here was already going on �in the 1960s, with designers in charge.

How do we discover the deeper histories where we work?

Can we help heal communities through design?

Historic black business district

VMDO’s office

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: How to give people the info they need

Let’s get technical �(but don’t forget to inspire people)

It takes a team to be green. But how do you build one that works? Communication is key—but watch out for information overload!

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• Involve project architects in doing 2030 reporting. They need to be passionate, so aim to inspire.
• Require EUI information at every internal presentation and principal meeting about a project to get everyone used to producing and interpreting those numbers.
• Give out internal awards for sustainability.
• Set up groups around particular green topics, like WELL, energy modeling, materials, QA/QC. And can you require deliverables from these groups?
• It’s okay to have technically focused meetings as long as they also inspire! �Maybe offer a two-minute project profile from another firm, with EUI and takeaways, to open every meeting.
• To avoid email fatigue, consider a monthly bulletin with sustainability news �and tips.
• Resource: KM presentation on BuildingGreen by Corey Squire.
• Outside experts can often communicate about particular topics better than we can.
• Beer helps!

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Augmented Reality Game

by Heather DeGrella, Opsis

SUPPORTING AIA’S “BIG MOVE”

Realizing the most urgent change �in our profession

Stop the presses! The AIA Resolution for Urgent and Sustained Climate Action passed by a landslide at the 2019 convention. But the next steps for AIA are unclear, and we need to support the organization with our presence, expertise, and participation.

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• Starting from the ground up, we can engage with local AIA chapters to ensure members are aware of what’s needed. �For example, we can introduce the AIA COTE Top Ten Toolkit �and the 2030 DDx tool. And we can share how we’re participating in national-level AIA committees and working groups.
• Speaking of AIA national, let’s make sure we’re in the places we need to be in order to support and influence climate priorities. For example, we can run for the Strategic Council.
• Those participating in the Large-Firm Roundtable can advocate with a unified voice for inclusion of climate metrics in design and honor awards.
• Can we encourage AIA to develop a climate-related document like the Healthier Materials Protocol?

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SUSTAINABLE DESIGN LEADERS’ BEST PRACTICES

You don’t always have to be the expert

What does success as a sustainable design leader actually look like? �How can we ensure we’re moving toward that goal without reinventing �the wheel again and again?

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• Use the sustainability action plan to realize scalable solutions.
• Engage with the design leaders: make sure sustainability is part of measuring success on every project.
• Grow carrots! Look all across the firm and acknowledge the best �projects to entice others to match or exceed them.
• Tie bonuses to EUI?
• Make sure you have sustainability resilience. Don’t lose all your institutional memory when staff members leave.
• Find and use specialists to speak to specific issues and goals.
• Use frameworks, like ASHRAE 209 and the COTE Top Ten Toolkit.

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Comparing Modernized and Non-modernized Schools in DC

by Heather Jauregui, Perkins Eastman

RESEARCH IN THE FIRM

First up: research funding sources

Many firms and other entities are offering funding for research projects. What’s the best way to take advantage of that to study and promote sustainability? And which topics are a priority?

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• Sources of funding include the firm itself, academic institutions, the federal government, AIA, and more.
• When choosing a research topic to explore, align with the firm’s values as well as your own priorities.
• Your proposal and project will likely require a hefty time commitment.
• Doing post-occupancy evaluations is a type of research too! They can even help get client buy-in for sustainable design features.
• Can we add research-related questions to the SDL pre-summit surveys?

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Conflicting Signals on Indoor CO2

by Luke Leung, SOM

Harvard, LBNL studies show adverse affects at <1,000ppm.

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U.S. Navy, NASA studies show no adverse affects �at 5,000ppm

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At right: 2019 NASA Study

“Effects of acute exposures to carbon dioxide on decision making and cognition in astronaut-like subjects”

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About Our Firms.

Sustainable Metrics and Organization

We are 52 Sustainable Design Leaders �from 49 firms representing �20,000 employees in 450 offices.

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Areas of practice.

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Markets we specialize in.

Note: 90% of each firm's work, on average, is domestic (within North America)

2030 commitment.

Typical comment: "Yes, on track for meeting reporting requirements, but not for meeting performance target."

LEED credentials.

Note: This is the average of each firm's %, �not the average number across all firms.

Number of LEED projects.

Use of other rating systems.

Sustainability team size.

Software we use.

Social equity certification for firms.

About Us.

Our Positions and Interests

Positions in the firm.

Responsibilities vs. desired activities.

IslandWood | BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA

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Brian Feagans

Ratcliff

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Rand Ekman

HKS

Mike Fowler

Mithun

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Mike Cavanaugh

CannonDesign

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Heather Degrella

Opsis

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Chris Flint Chatto

ZGF - Zimmer Gunsul Frasca

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Cindy Davis

MG2 Design

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Kate Bubriski

Arrowstreet

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Marisa Allen

Quinn Evans

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Becky Alexander

LHB, Inc

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Michelle Amt

VMDO Architects

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Audrey Alverson

Hacker Architects

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Mara Baum

HOK

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Austin Besse

Weber Thompson

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Lindsey Freel

Moody Nolan Architects

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Heather Jauregui

Perkins Eastman

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Daniel Jaconetti

HED Design - Harley Ellis Devereaux

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Heather Holdridge

Lake Flato Architects

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Jay Hindmarsh

Mahlum Architects

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Elaine Hoffman

Goody Clancy

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Kristian Kicinski

Bassetti Architects

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Jill Kurtz

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Seonhee Kim

Design Collective, Inc.

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Luke Leung

SOM

Kristen Fritsch

Elkus Manfredi Architects

Denise Mendelssohn

LPA

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Ellen Mitchell Kozack

HKS

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John Mlade

Wight & Company

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Mike Manzi

Bora Architects

Ashley Mulhall

Orcutt Winslow

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Margaret Montgomery

NBBJ

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DiAnn Mroszczak

PCA, Inc.

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Lisa Matthiessen

HGA - Hammel, Green & Abrahamson

Paula Melton

BuildingGreen, Inc.

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Mark Perepelitza

SERA Architects

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Tiombe Parrish

Jacobs

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Dan Overbey

BDMD - Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf

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Tim Murray

EYP - Einhorn Yaffee Prescott

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Nadav Malin

BuildingGreen, Inc.

Janice Malin

BuildingGreen, Inc.

Melanie Silver

Payette

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Pauline Souza

WRNS

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Graham Twyford-Miles

Stantec

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Dee Spiro

Bergmeyer Associates

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Larry Strain

Siegel & Strain Architects

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Tamar Warburg

Sasaki Associates

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Jonathan Weiss

Jacobs

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Sarah Wood

RATIO Architects

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Rushyan Yen

LMN Architects

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Stet Sanborn

SmithGroup

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Lona Rerick

ZGF - Zimmer Gunsul Frasca

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COPYRIGHT NOTES AND CREDITS

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Report Produced by BuildingGreen, Inc.

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Editor: Nadav Malin

Design: Julia Eva Bacon

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Photo and image credits: BuildingGreen and many Summit Participants

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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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To view a copy of this license, visit:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.

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