• The construction industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
• CHRYSO and GCP develop new technologies that help to reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete, and foster the circular economy.

The UN Climate Change Conference COP28 closed in December and included the release of “State of Decarbonization: Progress in U.S. Commercial Buildings 2023.” It may come as no surprise that the report indicates achieving US climate goals will require deep reductions across the US commercial real estate sector. The report provides key data and strategies for reducing buildings’ carbon emissions.

Some manufacturers, like CHRYSO and GCP (Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals), have long been focused on sustainable construction with a portfolio of concrete admixtures and cement additives well-positioned to assist the industry on its journey to carbon neutrality by 2050.

We recently talked with Lisa Barnard, sustainability and customer engagement program manager for CHRYSO & GCP, about why it’s important to them to lower carbon—and how that’s ongoing now.

Why is the carbon conversation more important than ever?

GHG emissions by sector according to the “State of Decarbonization: Progress in U.S. Commercial Buildings 2023” report. Image courtesy of USGBC

The construction industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. And traditional concrete has long been a major contributor to carbon emissions due to the energy-intensive production of cement. It is our responsibility as a worldwide leader in the construction industry to develop new technologies for sustainable construction that play a critical role in helping to reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete, and foster the circular economy.

How does that factor into CHRYSO and GCP’s mission?

We are aligned with Saint-Gobain’s purpose of “Making the World a Better Home.” Enabling concrete and cement producers to reduce their carbon footprint and extend the life of their projects makes an exponential difference around the world.

We partner with our customers throughout the cement and concrete life cycle, enabling them to achieve their technical, business, and sustainable objectives. We are focused on delivering solutions that not only reduce carbon throughout the life cycle of concrete but also deliver resiliency and performance.

What solutions show this mission in action?

The integration of CHRYSO & GCP creates a vast depth of R&D expertise and technical know-how, alongside recent technologies for sustainable construction.

CHRYSO®Quad is one of our more recent solutions to assist the industry in achieving technical, business, and sustainable objectives. The innovative product offerings enable the use of lower quality, locally sourced or manufactured sands without compromising concrete quality, while improving the concrete CO2 footprint.

Another example is EnviroMix® SE—a novel class of strength enhancers for concrete. The next generation admixture solution plays a key role in Saint-Gobain’s commitment to the decarbonization of construction.

EnviroMix SE is part of EnviroMix—the first global range of innovative products and services aimed at reducing and controlling the carbon footprint of concrete. EnviroMix SE is the inventive strength enhancer for concrete that reduces the cement factor by approximately 10% in addition to the water reducer while maintaining premium concrete quality and performance. Water reducers are a powerful solution to reduce cement factor, but they can reach limits. EnviroMix SE is a powerful solution to further reducing cement and carbon while increasing the strength of concrete.

What does eco-innovation mean?

Our eco-innovation approach is to reduce the amount of carbon in concrete throughout the product life cycle. This means starting at the macro level by working with stakeholders to optimize design, delivery, and service life while also addressing the micro level to optimize materials,through chemistry and intricate life cycle analysis. This two-level approach allows us to make the most eco-efficient choices.

How have sustainability efforts evolved there?

There are tremendous opportunities/efforts engaged already to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete throughout its life cycle by and not only:

Increasing concrete performance through mix optimization strategies, which can include lowering the cement content

Sourcing locally available aggregates

Reducing rejected concrete loads through the automation of slump management

Treating returned concrete to reduce waste

Optimizing production processes to reduce the energy and water consumption

Evolving construction practices to use less steel reinforcement systems potentially using synthetic fibers instead

Extending the life of concrete structures.

CHRYSO & GCP provide solutions for all these efforts and work hand-in-hand with our customers to maximize their impacts.

Why is low carbon concrete important?

The production of cement contributes an estimated 85 to 90% of concrete’s carbon footprint. CO2 is produced during a chemical reaction that takes place when cement is being manufactured. In addition, the high-heat kilns used to produce cement run on fossil fuels, which results in more CO2 emissions.

We evaluate the entire life cycle of concrete, including cement, to make an impact on its carbon footprint. Thanks to the long life of concrete structures, the finished product has one of the lowest environmental footprints. Reducing the carbon footprint of the production of concrete even further will contribute significantly to reducing the construction environmental footprint, as concrete remains the most used construction material on earth.

What’s next for low carbon concrete?

The journey toward low carbon concrete is an ongoing process marked by continuous research and development and construction standards evolution. One promising avenue of research involves exploring new sources of supplementary cementitious materials, like natural and glass pozzolans and blended cements. These materials have the potential to further reduce the carbon footprint of concrete and offer additional benefits, such as improved durability and reduced permeability.

As a cement additive and concrete admixture supplier, it is key to partner with our customers to address the new and very specific challenges generated by these lower carbon materials.

What are other signs of sustainability at CHRYSO & GCP?

We use LCAs and EPDs both internally and externally for product development and transparency. In the journey toward carbon neutrality it is important to provide accurate and robust data. To that end we work with third-party providers to assist our customers in the development of their own LCA and ultimately mix specific concrete EPDs using our admixture specific data.

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• The multifamily industry must balance ambitious climate goals with a first-rate experience for residents while tackling a severe deficit of housing units in the US.
• The Artisan in Cleveland is a 24-story high-rise apartment property that also meets ambitious environmental goals in the city.

Dozens of cities across North America have signed on to sweeping climate pledges, many targeting carbon neutrality or net zero emissions—some by 2040, others by 2050. With buildings playing an outsize role in energy-related carbon emissions worldwide, there is no arguing that these goals will forever change the real estate industry.

A recent CBRE study outlining the climate initiatives of 10 North American cities notes that government regulations are a critical part of decarbonization efforts but also outlines the “transition risks,” or business-related risks associated with these policy shifts. In a market where obtaining capital and purchasing materials is increasingly challenging and the housing crisis grows more severe, the addition of further government regulations is another stumbling block on the road to development. The question becomes: How can the multifamily industry balance ambitious climate goals with providing a first-rate experience for residents and tackling the severe deficit of housing units in our country?

Combatting Prohibitive Development Costs

The Artisan. Photo by Salvi Media

What makes it so expensive to build today? Recent years have deepened certain obstacles—inflation, labor costs, and rising interest rates, to name a few. Outlining overall factors, a 2022 National Multifamily Housing Council report found that regulation by all levels of government accounts for an average of 40.6% of multifamily development costs, with 11.1% of those costs attributed to changes to building codes over the last 10 years alone. The profits ultimately obtained by multifamily developers are also lower than one might expect—the National Apartment Association published a breakdown of where each rent dollar goes on average. Only seven cents of every dollar is returned to owners as profit. The housing deficit in our cities is staggering, and by implementing overly stringent policies too quickly, we risk discouraging anyone from developing at all. In our quest for necessary climate action, we cannot neglect the fundamental needs of our communities.

Of course there are solutions, and there will continue to be great successes along the road to a more climate-conscious building industry. One such example is Artisan, a 24-story high-rise apartment property in Cleveland’s Circle Square. In addition to providing a growing neighborhood with 298 new housing units, Artisan is the first multifamily high-rise project in Cleveland to achieve Green Globe certification. It is also the first multifamily high rise entered into GBI’s Net Zero Energy and Carbon Pilot Programs and is beginning its journey toward zero.

Firsts are meaningful because they set examples for others to follow. Precedent and example play such an important role in how sustainability evolves. So what made this remarkable project financially viable? The city of Cleveland provided tax abatement for the project on the condition that it met the Cleveland Green Building Standard. The Artisan is a testament to what we can accomplish through civic reinvestment.

The Impact on Design

Photo by Salvi Media

Our nation’s cities are going to start looking different. We have fallen in love with the iconic all-glass high-rise in recent decades. As we reconsider how we design exterior elevations to align with increasingly stringent energy performance standards, this may mean more insulation and less vision glass. As an industry we are just beginning to explore what new construction systems we will use and how these will impact the look and feel of our buildings in the future.

The process has already begun. At Artisan we reduced the overall glazing area, upgraded the remaining to a high-performance glazing product, and introduced insulated spandrels in the facade design to increase energy performance. Additionally, a vast green rooftop helps combat the urban heat island effect, reduces stormwater released into the city’s system, and reduces heat gain and loss. The most ambitious design strategies are still at the bleeding edge. They will require a willingness to adapt to (and pay for) unfamiliar tactics, but they will ultimately drive better, and more creative, architecture.

The Resident Experience

Photo by Salvi Media

On the surface level residents may only feel the direct impact of energy conservation measures minimally through our energy-consuming systems. Cities like New York, Denver, and Chicago are shifting away from gas and toward requiring electric appliances. Depending on the type of electric range installed, this may change the way our residents cook and what kinds of pots and pans they use. Residents will also see increased electric bills compared to mixed gas/electric systems. There will be a transitional period, but it will be considered the norm by the next generation.

The impact will trickle down in other ways. Efforts to meet aspirational climate goals will drive system selections that are more expensive to build, which will increase rents. Keeping rents attainable is a huge part of fostering diverse and balanced neighborhoods. Ultimately there is a finite amount of money to spend on any project, and owners and architecture firms will need to collaborate to solve for budget constraints. This could mean cutting back on popular building amenities that increase resident satisfaction to use that available space instead as profitable apartment rentals.

It is important to note that the shift to a more climate-conscious building industry will also have long-term benefits for residents. As we develop better-performing insulation practices, utility costs for heating and cooling will drop. While government regulations for the time being are focusing primarily on energy performance, the industry is prioritizing health and well-being, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid crisis. Our buildings will be healthier, with better indoor air quality and nontoxic materials. Holistic resident wellness was a huge priority in the development of Artisan, which incorporates active filtration equipment, acoustical sound controls, access to green spaces, and materials specially selected for their low- or no-VOC ratings.

Looking Ahead

Photo by Salvi Media

We are in a moment of change. As an industry we are going to struggle, and we are going to find moments of success. As technology progresses many of these hurdles will become easier. Many of our building owners and developers are reeling, trying to survive amidst new regulations instead of striving to do better.

As a firm our motto is to “do better tomorrow than we did today.” The year 2050 is a long way off, and research may have accelerated new building methods we can’t conceive of right now. Instead of hanging our hat on “Net Zero by 2050,” we can set obtainable goals in a manageable time frame.

But to truly implement meaningful change, we all need to work together. With increased government codes, increased government participation is needed—through tax incentives and programs that will make greener buildings possible. Together we all can contribute to a solution.

Mike DeRouin, president at FitzGerald, co-authored this article.

Photo by Salvi Media

Photo by Salvi Media

Photo by Salvi Media

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• A top architect at LRK looks at what it really means to value and integrate nature in architecture.
• Modern architecture and design isn’t just about green buildings; it’s about green communities.
• Consumers are demanding the ability to engage and experience nature in the communities where they live.

Over recent years the architecture community, including our team at LRK, has witnessed a progressive shift in the emphasis on environment and nature as an integral part of design and development. The industry has moved from a focus on green buildings to an emphasis on green communities. Architects are embracing nature when master planning communities and approaching designs and plans with the overarching guide of prioritizing nature first. In addition to honoring our responsibility to the environment, architects and planners are seeing nature as a highly valued part of their developments.

The pandemic shifted the value nature brings in from the consumer perspective; there’s a desire to bring the outdoors into daily living. After the world was stuck inside their homes and unable to be out socializing, a desire to be outside was born. People found value in indoor-outdoor living and nature trails and places where they could be in touch with the outdoors during an isolating period.

The value people found in nature carried over to post-pandemic life and continues to grow. People want to experience nature, not just look at it. Additionally, the pandemic spurred the popularity of remote work and the convenience of delivery. In a world where people have the option to work from home or have food delivered to their front door, what draws people out? The drive to connect with nature draws people out, and we can’t compete with that. We’ve seen this value and emphasis on the experience of nature over just the view of nature across all types of planning and projects—retail, restaurants, office campuses, housing, mixed-use, and more.

When looking at the process of how we ensure we have a seamless integration of nature with development, it’s important to start with listening to the land. We start with walking the property and understanding the landscape and its unique aspects. By observing and listening we can learn from nature and see how it will be seamlessly incorporated. This approach is not new; it is a return to how towns, neighborhoods, and communities were traditionally planned around the advantages the land and natural environment provided. Now we’re seeing more of a return that approach in today’s industry.

Painted Tree in McKinney, Texas. Photo courtesy of LRK

A few specific projects come to mind when thinking of developments that exist in harmony with nature. Painted Tree in McKinney, Texas, is a master planned community where “your front door is your trailhead.” In lieu of a fitness center the community has an expansive system of hiking, biking, and walking trails that run throughout the community. The amenities are designed to nestle in nature and draw upon the architectural vernacular and inspired by state park architecture.

At Painted Tree the architecture is secondary to its surroundings with nature is acting as a backdrop for the built environment. Each building is intentionally positioned to preserve the existing natural environment. The buildings share a language with nature through the use of natural materials and simple details.

Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village, Kansas. Photo courtesy of LRK

Another great example is Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village, Kansas, where the community planned for a former 136-acre golf course, surrounded by established neighborhoods lacking sufficient park space, to be redeveloped as a planned neighborhood with significant open space. The community was re-envisioned as two beautiful neighborhoods with a mix of single-family homes, attached homes, luxury apartments, a senior living complex, and a boutique hotel with a café, restaurant, and food truck.

Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village, Kansas is a former golf course community that was redeveloped to emphasize open green space. Photo courtesy of LRK

Two-thirds of the original Meadowbrook site was transformed into a public park that focuses on three centrally located ponds that were environmentally upgraded. The neighborhood form and building locations intentionally preserve mature trees and blend with the park through a formal frontage, green courtyard connections and neighborhood parkettes that act as a seamless continuation of the park experience. Repurposing private golf courses into public parks integrated with neighborhoods provides more people with opportunities to interact with nature and open space without the limitations of club membership and access fees associated with golf course use.

With master planned communities the return on investment is more valuable when there is an intentional incorporation of nature. The industry has seen heightened interest and sales in developments that have a heavy focus on nature. The accelerated lot sales in communities that integrate nature have enabled developers to see a quicker return on their investment.

The industry has seen heightened interest and sales in developments that have a heavy focus on nature.

Communities and developments that bring an opportunity to engage with nature to the people who inhabit those communities brings an intangible value as well. Being present with nature brings positive impacts to both mental and physical wellness. Discussions among buyers are becoming more and more centered around personal wellness, and in a time where remote work is bringing the office into the home, nature inspired wellness is more important than ever. The calming effect of being within nature has a significant impact on mental wellness, and the opportunity to be outside walking or riding a bike on nature trails contributes to physical wellness.

I believe we will continue to see master planned communities; multifamily developments and all types of projects continue to trend in the direction of incorporating nature. The indoor-outdoor living component is a trend we’re already seeing across all spaces—including retail, office space, and multi-use spaces with sliding doors, screened porches, and garage doors. The industry is moving toward thoughtful integration of nature and the built-form and moving away from creating a contrast between the two.

Moving forward I anticipate the industry will continue to push the envelope when it comes to developments not just coexisting with nature but allowing nature to be ingrained in development. Buildings will be intentionally and appropriately sitting within nature; they will be secondary to what the land already brings, and construction materials will be chosen based on what blends with the land. Consumers will continue to demand the ability to engage and experience nature in the communities where they live, and design will follow that demand.

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• Flooring and surfaces manufacturer Tarkett is a leader in circular design.
• Sustainability leader Roxane Spears says circular design is no longer nice to have; it’s essential.
• From recycling to design, the circular economy encompasses all elements of responsible manufacturing.

In the built environment the days of “out with the old, in with the new” are long gone. But “out with the old to recycle and reclaim materials, in with the next-generation product made from those materials?” It may be a mouthful, but embracing a circular economy is the only way forward, says Roxane Spears, vice president of sustainability at Tarkett, a top flooring and surfaces manufacturer and leader in circular design.

“When we talk about circularity, it’s not a ‘nice-to-have.’ It’s a necessity,” she says.

She’s not the only one who feels that way. In December 2022 the World Bank released its first comprehensive study on the circular economy, which found that the current “take-make-use-waste” model is increasingly unsustainable for not only the environment but also from an economic and inclusion standpoint.

And yet circularity seems to be shrinking. In 2023 the global economy is only 7.2% circular, down from 8.6% in 2020 and 9.1% in 2018, according to the annual Circularity Gap report.

We can’t keep throwing things away.

“We can’t keep throwing things away. We have to keep finding solutions of how we reuse, recycle, and repair because of our limited resources. We need to be able to create that circular economy,” Spears says. “And it’s not just one product, and we’re done. Once we get one working, we need to move to the next type of product, so we’re always thinking about how we can be better.”

The Road to Circularity

So how do we get there?

“The very first part of being able to design something that’s circular is starting with really good principles of design,” Spears says. “We use Cradle to Cradle and their five pillars as our principle of design. That gives us the ability to create a product that has healthy materials that we know we can recycle, that has good social equity, and is not jeopardizing supply chains, soil, air, or water. We don’t want to develop a product that doesn’t have good materials and create it to be circular to just keep putting bad materials out there.”

Of course every material—its makeup and the processes around its manufacture and recycling—differs. Manufacturers must develop a system that accounts for the proper, sustainable way to work with each material across its entire life cycle.

“At Tarkett we’re really working to make sure each product has its home and its process. It’s always a journey, but as a manufacturer you have to be responsible for what you produce. Even if it’s a product we produced 30 years ago, and we can’t use it back in new product today, we still have that responsibility to make sure we do something with it so it doesn’t go to a landfill, that it is recycled responsibly.”

The challenge, though, is often finding those material waste streams to begin with. Spears admits that, at this stage, it’s a hit or miss process.

“There’s no database or specific place you can go to. Where our team has found success is in simply starting conversations,” she says. “A lot of it starts with our procurement team looking for alternate materials and asking new suppliers, ‘Do you have something that’s recycled content that could fit our purpose?’ Or for our current suppliers, asking, ‘What else do you have? What else is out there?’”

Overall the built environment is lacking transparency around what reclaimed materials exist and are available to be reused or repurposed. If you’re not actively searching for circular materials, you won’t find them, Spears says.

“We really need innovation in the way we manage and process waste,” Spears says. “At Tarkett we probably have materials that could be used in a different manufacturing process, but how do we communicate that? That’s a missing link in the circular world.”

It’s Time to Get Creative

Designed for education and health care facilities, iQ Granit is certified asthma and allergy friendly and is part of ReStart, Tarkett’s program for take back and recycling. Photo courtesy of Tarkett

The other missing piece is creativity.

“I think all manufacturers really need to think outside of the box to discover the next generation of ingredients. I would love to see more diversity in the types of materials that are available,” Spears says. “Flooring has to be durable. It has to be easy to clean. It has to have low VOCs and contain healthy materials. But are there non-conventional ingredients we can use and still achieve our objectives? We’re getting to that point where people are like, ‘You know what, I’m ready to take a little leap of faith and try something really innovative.”

Despite current limitations, the industry is still shifting. Spears says she’s heard more general contractors talking about deconstruction and decommissioning of buildings than ever before, trying to figure out what to do with the waste streams they have and determine ways for those materials to live on. Manufacturers across the entire supply chain are in the weeds trying to grasp how to go circular and be more sustainable.

“Some of the suppliers we work with are now saying, ‘Oh, I need to look at my carbon footprint and make sure I’m doing the right things because it’s affecting your carbon footprint. You’re not going to want to use my product if it’s having a negative impact on your flooring,’” she says. “That’s exciting to me because that’s where we can move the needle. We always say designers have great buying power, but manufacturers do, too. We’re buying those raw materials. Let’s use our buying power to affect change across the industry.”

The post Why the Circular Economy is a Must for Manufacturers appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• JZA’s Jeff Zbikowski shares the benefits of walkable design in communities across the US.
• JZA specializes in the dense, walkable projects that aim to ease the affordability crunch in cities across the US.
• Other benefits of walkable design include reduced CO2 emissions from fewer car trips and health benefits from residents walking and biking more frequently.

Across the US two separate but related trends are coming to define the current housing market. On one hand an affordability crisis is putting homeownership out of reach for many. On the other both home buyers and renters are gravitating toward more walkable communities, where daily amenities and necessities can be reached without a car.

For architects like JZA Architecture principal and founder Jeff Zbikowski, specializing in designing affordable and walkable communities, the two go hand-in-hand. That’s because the rise in popularity of denser housing developments that forego onsite parking is helping to alleviate a housing shortage that has driven up costs from coast to coast.

“Eliminating cars typically frees up ground floor space for retail and eliminates basement parking, which reduces the cost of construction and allows developers to provide more dense housing,” Zbikowski says. “That increases supply and further drives down the costs of those units, creating a more affordable community.”

A number of factors have made walkable design increasingly popular, especially among young professionals in major cities. The rise of remote work and post-pandemic desire for socialization has had a large impact.

“People really value living in a community where they don’t need to drive to work. They’re biking, taking transit, and walking around,” Zbikowski says. “If you’re not spending 45 minutes a day each way going to the office, you have so much more time to go out and live in your community.”

Strong walkability design in a multifamily project like Beta Apartments may include reducing or eliminating parking, freeing up space for pedestrians. Rendering courtesy of JZA Architecture

But as Millennials age and struggle to purchase a home as previous generations have, the affordability that walkable design offers is critically important.

Few areas have experienced the nationwide affordability crunch like cities such as Los Angeles. But over the last year conditions have begun to change—dramatically—with a new California state law. “This year it turned into the wild west with these affordable, walkable projects,” Zbikowski says. “Developers are building crazy density right now.”

In January 2023 California eliminated parking minimums within a half-mile of transit stops. That law complements a 2014 LA transit oriented development (TOD) ordinance that allows greater density the closer a development is to transit. This, along with increased affordability bonuses and reductions in red tape, has led to a boom in walkable, affordable development.

“Last year we had 600 units under contract. This year that’s up to 4,000 affordable housing units under contract,” Zbikowski says, despite rising interest rates. “The vision for the future is to continue on this trajectory, bringing identity to each project, being respectful of local contexts, and promoting walkability.”

Other benefits of walkable design include reduced CO2 emissions from fewer car trips and health benefits from residents walking and biking more frequently, like from these Cherokee Avenue Apartments. Rendering courtesy of JZA Architecture

JZA’s Cherokee Ave. Apartments in Hollywood is one such development that benefited from these zoning changes. One of Zbikowski’s first projects when he founded the firm back in 2017, Cherokee Ave. is emblematic of the many roadblocks that slowed dense, walkable projects under the former development regime.

Initially planned as a 12-unit apartment building, Zbikowski was then tasked with redesigning the project into 18 units before opposition to the increased density sent the unit count back down to 12, and then from an apartment building to a small-lot subdivision. With the changes in state law, Zbikowski and the developer were able to bypass the traditional review process and were approved for a 53-unit, five-story affordable development.

“We were able to convince city planners that we’re on a busy street and should be able to build higher density, taller, and still create something that’s tasteful,” Zbikowski says. “Now you have affordable housing, density, and it’s in an area where you can walk to retail and grocery stores.”

Though taller and denser than its immediate neighbors, city officials agreed the Spanish Revival design with a modern twist fit well into the neighborhood context. Construction is expected to start in late 2023.

And while affordability is top of mind for many, it’s hardly the only advantage of designing walkable communities. Additional benefits range from fostering social interactions among neighbors and enhancing a sense of place within communities to the climate benefits of fewer cars on the roads and the health benefits of walking and biking.

That’s one of the key approaches Zbikowski takes to designing walkable projects. “We typically like to oversize our bicycle parking while reducing car parking,” he says, and adding space for larger, rentable cargo bikes gives residents another way to get to the grocery store without a car.

JZA Architecture says dense, walkable projects like the Beta Apartments aim to ease the affordability crunch in cities across the US. Rendering courtesy of JZA Architecture

At the under-construction Beta Apartments near the University of Southern California campus, JZA planned a large space for bicycles given the area’s walkability and the transportation needs of students—who tend to get around without a car. “Designing walkable projects is very site-specific,” Zbikowski says. “You can’t just place a 100-unit building with no parking anywhere.”

Though LA has long been infamous for its car-centric design and urban sprawl, the city may look quite different a decade from now as these types of dense, walkable, and affordable projects continue to proliferate. “Creating these smaller community-centric developments will be a catalyst to create more walkability in these neighborhoods,” Zbikowski says. “The demand is certainly there.”

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The post Designing for More Walkable Communities appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• The Solutions Studio team at Arktura is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in architecture.
• A design professional shares his experience and journey to joining the Arktura team.
• Solutions Studio is a team within Arktura that specializes in creating custom solutions for clients.

Architecture is an ever-evolving field that requires constant innovation and creativity. In this industry it’s never enough to simply keep up with trends and innovation; you must be ahead of the curve in all aspects of engagement. Solutions Studio from Arktura is a team of architects, designers, engineers, and more creating groundbreaking designs that push the boundaries of what is possible in architecture.

The team at Solutions Studio creates customized systems for the built environment from a passion for developing beautiful, functional, and sustainable structures that stand the test of time. The mission of Solutions Studio is to elevate space from all angles—whether it’s tailored metal panel systems or acoustical installations or even inventive solutions like the custom exterior facade above featuring custom designed Vapor panels with Arktura backlighting.

To offer a better sense of the innovative nature of Solutions Studio, its products, and its team, allow me to take a step back and provide some additional context into how I stumbled upon this one-of-a-kind company.

My Journey to Arktura

Solutions Studio, along with the team at Arktura (including members of the design and production team), collaborate to create custom-designed solutions. Photo courtesy of Arktura

I’ve always been fascinated by the inner workings of things. The process of assembling components in a particular order excites me, and I enjoy building something new out of these pieces. Even when studying architecture and developing my own design style, creating something in two dimensions was not enough. I was always curious about how it would be constructed.

When I graduated from the University of Southern California I found a job in the architectural lighting industry designing custom light fixtures integrated into facades featuring high-resolution media screens. I enjoyed this work more than traditional architecture because it allowed us to engineer and fabricate custom products for each project. More than simply designing complex solutions, I also wanted to get my hands on the production and manufacturing side of projects on this scale. One project opportunity that came to our desks required a custom perforated light column, and my coworker knew of a company in South LA that could assist—Arktura.

Soon after we toured Arktura’s facilities and I discovered a team who shared my passion and interests. Their Solutions Studio caught my immediate attention for the members’ creativity, design, and fabrication skills. After seeing their remarkable work and meeting the enthusiastic team, I knew joining the company was the right decision for my career. It was clear to me that this specialized team was the design-build synergy that I’d been searching for.

In 2018 I became part of the Arktura team as a project manager. I eventually moved into a new position as a sales manager with Solutions Studio where I could further design and create for the built environment. Working with Solutions Studio I was able to contribute to the future of commercial design and develop my skills.

The Architect’s Architect

Custom solutions can be developed for any size space. This custom acoustic wall is based on a preconfigured system, then adapted to this specific project’s parameters at Geodis, designed by Gresham Smith and Partners in Brentwood, Tennessee. Photo by Robbins Photography

In the simplest terms, Solutions Studio is a team within Arktura that specializes in creating custom solutions for clients. They offer a range of standard and preconfigured systems that can be adapted to suit individual projects. Solutions Studio collaborates with clients with our design assist to fulfill their design vision on any scale.

Challenging demands require an experienced team of designers, engineers, machinists, and critical thinkers to fully realize these projects. Solving these unique design and manufacturing challenges is the type of work that attracted me to Arktura. Creating possibilities and designing solutions is the type of work I’ve been fascinated with since I was young.

Arktura’s Core Values

Arktura sets out to embody its core values of accuracy, resourcefulness, and technology in everything they do. Photo courtesy of Arktura

Resourcefulness. Solutions Studio still requires and embodies all those things, but as our company grows and times change, we are uniquely positioned to adapt. Doing this requires balance. On the one hand we embody a white glove, concierge, and high-end luxury vehicle service that helps our client’s unique visions become reality. On the other our process needs to be sustainable, forward-thinking, and resourceful.

Metal fabrication shops are plentiful in our industry and are becoming more saturated with acoustic material manufacturers. But while most places can cut perforations into a metal panel, few have the same level of design comprehension, customer service, quality standards, and outlook toward efficiency as Arktura’s Solutions Studio.

Accuracy. Accuracy and efficiency are not just how one cuts or bends something correctly. Efficiency also means ensuring the maximum amount of material is sustainably utilized. Generating scripts can save time on thousands of cut files while designing a fixture can make a repetitive task easier for the assembly team. The order in which a system is installed and accessed in the future should also be considered, as well as ensuring something will remain timeless for years to come for everyone interacting with it.

Technology. If we can’t find the perfect solution we’ll create it. If we cannot find the right software or development tool, we will develop it ourselves. Our team explores ways to integrate design with the latest technology and techniques, giving our clients access to the most advanced methods for custom manufacturing. Solutions Studio exemplifies how we are a technology company at heart and committed to using computation and machinery in innovative but practical ways. We see every bit of technology as a chance to improve our clients’ outcomes, and that holistic approach means we stay ahead of the competition.

The Solutions Studio Process

Custom solutions come to life thanks to the dedicated team of designers, engineers, fabricators, and more at Solutions Studio. Photo courtesy of Arktura

What sets Solutions Studio apart from other metal and acoustic manufacturers isn’t just our process but the people behind it. It’s the dedicated designers exploring the unknown in developing innovative new systems and solutions. Our engineers closely examine and test these new systems, ensuring they meet our stringent standards. Our fabricators create and assemble these systems to bring a new wave of design to the built environment. Without these hard-working teams our systems are nothing more than an idea.

If the client doesn’t have a specific vision for their project our design assist team is here to help with a fundamental approach to collaborative design. Solutions Studio’s team can assist in design development, from the earliest stages of an idea to fully finished concepts. This partnership extends from the initial consultation call until the project is installed on-site.

The Art and Emotions Behind Architecture

More than a focal point, custom projects can be tied into the client’s branding, as seen with this gene sequence displayed into perforated Soft Sound for Amicus Therapeutics in Philadelphia, designed by CRB. Photo by Connie Zhou

A building or system’s appearance and functionality are less important than the emotions they evoke. I learned in school and continue to learn daily that a space or object can unexpectedly provoke genuine feelings within you, which is the most fascinating aspect of the experience.

I could look at renderings, fly around a 3D model, or understand how certain materials and finishes react based on their physical properties but still never fully grasp how something will look once it’s made. The excitement when you meet with a designer and see their initial renderings and sketches is due to knowing there will be infinitely more ways to experience what will be constructed.

When looking at a design concept through multiple lenses—the lens of an architect, engineer, or machinist—one does so with a deeper understanding of what’s involved and what limitations exist. This understanding comes from experience and acquired knowledge, which ultimately helps guide a project to success.

One critical lens that continues to gain traction is sustainability. More than ever it’s vital that we design and construct with sustainable intentions as architects and developers of the built environment. This intentionality can come in the form of using recycled materials and how we utilize materials to their maximum potential and the tools required to fabricate them.

Our Vision—Today and Beyond

With close collaboration, cutting-edge technology, and Arktura’s resourceful team, Solutions Studio was able to bring innovative solutions to the built environment for this Tesla project, designed by Michael W. Folonis Architects in Santa Monica. Photo by Art Gray

Solutions Studio wants to continue being the one-stop shop for ideas—striking the right balance between white glove service and resourceful business innovation.

Through constantly exploring new materials, processes, and innovative technologies we can push the boundaries of what is possible in architecture and design. We want to be the experts who make dreams reality and achieve that in even more conscious and inventive ways. It’s not about saying no to things based on limitations but saying yes with a thoughtful and intelligent lens.

The post Solutions Studio Pushes Boundaries in Architecture and Art appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• The circular economy model aims to eliminate waste and resource over-extraction by keeping materials in circulation for as long as possible via recycling, reusing, refurbishing, leasing, and repairing products.
• Architects, engineers, designers, and product manufacturers can promote the circular economy by reusing materials wherever possible, ethically and sustainably sourcing raw materials, incorporating green energy, and more.

Current data estimates that the built environment is responsible for approximately 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, while the construction and demolition (C&D) industry as a whole produces over 33% of the world’s waste and accounts for nearly half of all resource extraction.

“Excessive waste is the unfortunate byproduct of a consumer culture that grew during a time when the world did not understand the perils of overconsumption,” Richard Skorpenske, head of sustainability and public affairs at Covestro, previously wrote for gb&dPRO. “Through a combination of market forces, design trends, and consumer demand, an ‘extract, use, discard’ cycle became the dominant mode of manufacturing and consumption.”

Historically our economic method of production and consumption has been incredibly linear, following the “take, make, waste” philosophy—resources are extracted and products are manufactured before being sold, used or consumed, and finally disposed of once they are perceived to have outlived their usefulness. This model uplifts convenience and profit at the expense of conservation and sustainability.

This does not, however, have to be the case, as there are other economic models which seek to eliminate waste production altogether and facilitate a regenerative approach to resource use: enter the circular economy.

What is the Circular Economy?

Amsterdam is on track to becoming one of the world’s first cities to adopt the circular economy model. Photo by Alan Jensen

While the concept itself is a bit more complex than can be conveyed in a single article, the fundamental idea behind the circular economy is that of creating a system of production and consumption which emphasizes reusing, refurbishing, repairing, leasing, and recycling existing materials and products for as long as is feasible.

Ultimately the circular economy’s goal is to reduce pollution and waste production as much as possible by extending the life cycle of each and every product or material in circulation. In this way the environment as a whole is less impacted by human activity and is actively encouraged to regenerate what has been lost to over-extraction.

Achieving a circular economy varies depending on the sector, industry, or other socio-economic entity in question; the individual consumer, for instance, plays a different role in reducing waste production than, say, a grocery store or energy provider, though there is some overlap.

10 Ways to Promote a Circular Economy

Here are a few ways in which architects, engineers, and designers can promote the circular economy in their work and projects.

1. Prioritize Renewable Energy

Initiated and developed by the residents themselves, Schoonschip Amsterdam includes 46 self-sustaining floating homes powered by solar energy. Photo by Isabel Nabuurs

Prioritizing the adoption of renewable energy sources over the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels is fundamental to promoting a circular economy. Hundreds of millions of tons of fossil fuel combustion waste—that is, the slag, ash, and other particulates created by the burning of oil, coal, and natural gas—is produced each year, most of which contains toxic heavy metals or other harmful compounds.

These waste byproducts, of course, are in addition to the greenhouse gasses (GHGs) produced by fossil fuels as they are burned—the very same GHGs fueling advanced anthropogenic climate change. Incorporating renewable energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal or hydropower helps remove these waste and pollution streams, while also helping to lower a structure’s operating costs. Excess energy can even be shared with others via an energy cooperative or using block chain technology, as practiced by the Schoonschip Amsterdam integrated community in the Netherlands.

It’s important that the transition to renewable energy sources does not inadvertently come at the cost of producing new forms of waste. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, and other high-value materials, for example, are often crucial to the production of renewable energy technology—but the mining of these materials often generates harmful waste that pollutes local soil and waterways.

Fortunately there is already a large amount of these materials in circulation via discarded phones, laptops, and batteries, of which may be collected and repurposed for use in green energy technologies.

2. Use Renewable & Sustainable Materials

Photo courtesy of StructureCraft

Similarly the widespread use of renewable, sustainable building materials—like timber, stone, bamboo, cork, and the like—helps eliminate construction waste in that they may easily be recycled, reused, or left to decompose once they have reached the end of their operational lifespan.

For help in finding sustainable products and considering the environmental impact of building materials, architects and engineers can look to Cradle to Cradle, a platform that certifies products based on their ability to contribute to the circular economy. This makes it easier to design buildings whose materials may be collected and repurposed at the point of demolition, similar to how one draws money from a bank to spend it elsewhere.

“In the future, we will create buildings that are essentially material banks whereby the materials a building contains are selected based upon principles of circular design, material health, and design for disassembly and recovery,” Stacy Glass, vice president at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, previously wrote for gb&d. “In turn, this approach will help owners realize greater economic value, occupants will have improved health, and the environment will bear less of the burden of growth and consumption.”

3. Harvest Natural Materials Sustainably

The Green School in Bali is built almost entirely out of ethically-sourced bamboo, a highly-regenerative plant that may be harvested multiple time throughout its life. Photo by Tommaso Riva

Whether you’re sourcing raw materials directly or purchasing them through a manufacturer, care should be taken to ensure that those raw materials were harvested in a sustainable, regenerative manner—that is, they are replenished at a faster rate than they are extracted.

Construction-grade timber and wood products, for example, should only ever be sourced from manufacturers or material providers that utilize timber from FSC or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified forests. These forests are managed to strict social, economic, and environmental standards to ensure that biodiversity is preserved and that local peoples’ benefit from the activity.

4. Prioritize Material Reuse

Waste—including fishing nets, industrial plastic, and carpets—is collected to be regenerated into ECONYL nylon. Photo courtesy of ECONYL by Aquafil

The reuse of existing materials—even high-carbon materials like concrete and plastic—should be made priority whenever possible, as reusing these assets ultimately eliminates more waste and reduces the overall demand for new materials.

Reclaimed wood, for one, can be used in a multitude of ways, from flooring and siding to furniture and even as accent features. Steel—one of most prolific building materials out there—also has near infinite recyclability and can be continually re-melted, molded, and shaped without losing its desirable qualities.

Out of all existing materials, plastic is the most widely available and one of the most uniquely suited to reuse in product manufacturing. Aquafil—one of the leading manufacturers of synthetic fibers for the textile industry—for example, has recognized the role of plastics in the circular economy, as evidenced by their ECONYL® fiber.

Made from nylon waste sourced from recycled carpets and fishing nets, ECONYL® helps breathe new life into a material often discarded with wanton abandon. “We are trying to create a new world for plastics and fibers that can be regenerated to open the doors to solutions,” Giulio Bonazzi, chairman and CEO of Aquafil, told gb&d in a previous interview. “Making raw materials from renewable sources, recycling them at the highest possible level without the necessity of taking new resources from the planet—this is our vision.”

5. Avoid Toxic Chemicals

Valspar’s Signature paint is one of this brand’s low/no VOC offerings. Photo courtesy of Valspar

While a circular economy primarily seeks to eliminate waste, there is also a focus on reducing pollution and the use of harmful chemicals and compounds in materials and products; we want these resources to be kept in circulation for as long as possible without compromising human and environmental health in the process.

When it comes to the built environment these toxic compounds are most present as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or gasses that are gradually emitted throughout a product’s life cycle. Long-term exposure to VOCs can exacerbate existing respiratory diseases, lead to the development of respiratory diseases, and even cause certain cancers. Paint thinners, sealants, coatings, adhesives, and solvents are the most notorious VOC producers.

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When choosing materials or products for a project, verify whether they bear an LBC Red List Free label. Compiled by the International Living Future Initiative, the Red List is a comprehensive guide to the “worst in class” chemicals, materials, and elements that are known to cause serious harm to human and ecosystem health. Red List Free products fully disclose 100% of their ingredients at or above 100 ppm in the final product and do not contain any chemicals on the Red List.

Most Red List Free products and materials are, by definition, also low- or zero-VOC as well.

6. Implement Regenerative Design Principles

Construction for the MAC Lodge minimized the impact on the neighboring trees. Photo by Chad Holder

From an ecological perspective, “regenerative” refers to the ability of an ecosystem—that is, the land itself and all of its living and non-living inhabitants—to recover and replenish from ecological harm.

Regenerative design in architecture describes a specific methodology or philosophy that views the built environment as an extension of the natural environment and seeks to construct buildings with a positive impact on their respective ecological communities. Rather than simply reduce their consumption of energy or resources, regenerative buildings actively give back more than they take by mimicking the circular biological systems found in nature.

In practice, regenerative architecture makes use of a variety of design principles, including: landscape integration, whole systems thinking, resource replenishment, collaboration, and more.

7. Involve the Community & Design for Multi-Use

Wheeler Kearns Architects designed The Night Ministry in Chicago, renovating three floors of a former manufacturing facility in the Bucktown neighborhood. Photo by Kendall McCaugherty, Hall + Merrick Photographers

Another way to promote equitable adoption of the circular economy is by involving the community early on in the design process for all planned development projects. In conversing with long-term residents, architects and their clients can better understand the needs of the community and the different ways they might use a space over time.

For this reason new building projects should be designed to be flexible (e.g. an open floor-plan that may be easily rearranged) and multipurpose or multifunctional, so that a structure may change and adapt to the community’s needs without necessitating additional resource extraction or the demolition and the construction of an entirely new building.

This concept applies to existing buildings as well—before deciding to build from the ground up, verify whether there isn’t an existing building that has since outlived its original purpose that could be adapted to the community’s or client’s present needs. Similar to reusing materials, reusing an entire structure (or its envelope and framework, at the very least) will always be better than constructing a new one, as it prevents a significant amount of waste from entering landfills and reduces demand for new material.

8. Take Full Advantage of Building Construction Technology & Software

3D BIM software can help architects prevent construction-site waste before it happens. Photo courtesy of Enscape

It’s one thing to talk about reducing waste on the job site, but it’s another thing entirely to actually achieve it. Fortunately, advancements in building construction technologies and software—specifically those relating to 3D printing, building information modeling (BIM), real time visualization, building performance simulations, and construction site monitoring—have made it easier for architects to minimize on-site waste production at the outset.

“These technologies deliver a new level of precision to the building process and can significantly reduce waste and rework,” Dustin Stephens, vice president of Sage’s construction and real estate practice, previously wrote for gb&dPRO.

This same line of thinking also applies to preconstruction and prefabrication technology, which offer increased levels of control and quality-assurance that ultimately reduce waste produced by the manufacturer as well as waste produced on the construction site.

9. Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment

DIRTT was the first interior construction provider to complete an LCA for one of their products. Photo courtesy of DIRTT

Another way architects, designers, and even product manufacturers can promote the circular economy is by conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This particular tool utilizes scientific principles and methods to evaluate a product or built structure’s environmental impact over the course of its entire life-cycle.

LCAs can help identify potential weaknesses when it comes to a product or building’s waste and carbon production—but they can also help assess potential solutions or other options that may resolve those weak spots. Changing the input parameters of a project’s LCA can also provide insight into how certain factors may influence the performance and impact of the building or product over time.

DIRTT, for example, is a company that provides fully customizable interior environments for a variety of facilities—what makes them special, however, is that they were the first interior construction provider to complete LCAs for their products as a testament to their efforts at attaining circularity. “As a custom manufacturer we recognize that we will always have some waste. However, we work diligently to reduce waste production and responsibly manage what we do generate,” DIRTT previously told gb&dPRO.

When combined with circularity indicators—such as the Circular Transition Indicators developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development or the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Material Circularity Indicator (MCI)—an LCA can even more effectively measure the circularity of resources and material flows.

Keep in mind that LCAs are most useful and most reliable later in the design process, after there is a better understanding of how certain resources and materials will be implemented within the project.

10. Practice Efficient Communication & Encourage Shared Responsibility

Effective communication on (and off) the construction site can help prevent wasteful errors. Photo courtesy of Sage

Even when practicing the other nine strategies outlined above, construction-site waste can still come about through human error and miscommunication. This can be avoided in part by creating and utilizing effective communication networks that allow all involved parties—architects, developers, contractors, clients, etc.—to stay up-to-date on delays, project setbacks, design changes, and the like.

Cloud-based construction management systems, for example, can drastically improve communication by providing an easily-accessible, collaborative hub where all involved parties can access and relay information in real-time.

Another way to foster effective communication and collaboration is by using the Integrated Project Insurance (IPI) system, a contract between all key parties with conditions that incentivize shared responsibility by eliminating conflicting insurance concerns.

Under an IPI contract, architects can work more closely with material and product suppliers, engineers, and construction professionals to design out waste from the outset or make minor design adjustments as needed to reduce energy, material, time, and money wastage.

The post 10 Ways to Promote a Circular Economy appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Gensler worked with Wampold Companies to convert an older office asset, the Rivermark Centre South tower in Baton Rouge, into rental apartments.
• Several factors determine how well a building will convert—including site context, building form, floorplate, and building envelope.
• The design team set out to include a variety of high-end luxury amenities as well as replace an aging pedestrian passage from towers to parking.

The Residences at Rivermark is a transformative office to residential conversion. Built in 1968, the office tower owned by Wampold Companies is in a multiple building development on a full city block in Baton Rouge.

Gensler’s history with Wampold Companies dates to 2015. During this time we collaborated on the conversion of the historic Louisiana Trust and Savings Bank building to the Watermark Baton Rouge Hotel—part of the Autograph Collection. The partnership revealed that our client valued enhancing the metropolitan center with hospitality and residential projects that are in alignment with the city’s goal of establishing a better economic, commercial, cultural, and civic hub. As such, The Residences at Rivermark set out to revitalize the downtown district.

Unlike many cities, historically Baton Rouge’s downtown housing has not included many high-rise rentals. Furthermore, during the boom in high-rise construction in the last 20 years, no such properties were constructed. This presented an opportunity for Wampold Companies to convert an older office asset, the Rivermark Centre South tower, into rental apartments. The North tower remained an office building with an existing parking garage at the base.

The Plans

Photo by Ryan Gobuty

The initial plan for the project was driven by the building’s two elevator banks and involved converting the top elevator bank—12 of the tower’s 21 floors. The lower floors remained as office, with Chase Bank as the primary tenant. During the project Chase Bank proposed two additional floors, levels 8 and 9, which were added to the project for a total of 168 residential units.

The Gensler team was also responsible for infusing the building with a variety of high-end luxury amenities, replacing an aging pedestrian passage connecting the North and South towers to the parking garage, and relocating an existing basement-level Chase Bank branch to a street-facing retail pavilion at the ground level.

When looking at potential office to residential conversion projects, several factors determine how well a building will convert based on efficiencies—including site context, building form, floorplate, building envelope, and servicing. Gensler’s scorecard tool and an added financial component revealed that The Residences at Rivermark scored highly in all categories.

How We Did It

Located at 451 Florida Street in Baton Rouge, The Residences at Rivermark offers convenient access to the nearby Red Stick Farmer’s Market, YMCA, and the Shaw Center for the Arts. Photo by Ryan Gobuty

Beyond the scorecard analysis, many other determining factors make a project possible. In the case of The Residences at Rivermark, the original design of the Brutalist towers allowed the team to carefully coordinate the preservation of the facade with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation. This resulted in the approval of the project for historic tax credits and incentivized an adaptive reuse design strategy for the building facade and lobby.

The existing building utilizes a “tube” style concrete and pan-joist structural frame in which the building floors are supported entirely from the core elements and an external facade of tightly spaced structural columns. Building glazing is installed as infill between the columns. To add open balconies to the facade, the team conducted studies on removing some of the exterior tube columns. Our structural engineer determined the columns could be removed without impacting the structural integrity of the building. A special concrete saw was utilized to remove the columns, and concrete from the cuts was reused as benches in the plaza on the ground level.

Rather than covering the existing rough-Brutalist interior ribbed concrete walls, we exposed them and layered new finishes, highlighting the concrete walls with indirect lighting as a nod to the building’s history. The existing ribbed concrete walls served as inspiration for the integration of several new design elements, including fluted paneling throughout corridors and entries.

The apartment unit mechanical system utilizes a chilled water and fan-coil HVAC strategy. As a result our team was able to save costs by keeping the existing mechanical systems—including cooling towers, boilers, and equipment from the upper levels. Ultimately this benefitted the building’s office tenants because the systems remained functional during construction.

The Result

Photo by Ryan Gobuty

As office users and residential tenants share the first-floor lobby of the building, it was important to allow for the coexistence of office and residential uses in the same elevator bank. This was done by incorporating a destination dispatch-type system, which was implemented without changing the physical elevator structures. This system also serves as a security amenity for residents.

To create the finished apartment units and expose the pan-joist concrete slabs in the ceilings, a topping slab was poured over the existing concrete pan-joist slab for upgraded acoustical requirements between floors. This strategy specified vertical surfaces at the perimeter of the balconies to terminate the waterproofing system and to provide for drainage on the balconies, which were previously interior spaces. The topping slab was feathered at the corridors to accommodate the existing stair landings and elevator stops.

The one-, two- and three-bedroom units incorporate natural wood finishes, wall paneling, chair railings, and Shaker-style cabinetry. The column-free floorplate allows for open floorplans with features like quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, gas ranges, washer and dryer, double bathroom vanities, standalone glass showers and private balconies.

Solving Challenges

The Gensler design team made the most of a challenge, by putting luxury amenities like pools, hot tubs, fire pits, and grill areas on the roof—with views of the Mississippi River. Photo by Ryan Gobuty

A challenge of office-to-residential conversions is locating outdoor amenities like pools, hot tubs, fire pits, and grill areas. In this project we placed these luxuries on the roof—a setting that offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River. Other communal tenant amenities include a clubhouse, onsite parking garage, fitness center, and pet amenities.

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Located at 451 Florida Street, The Residences at Rivermark also offers convenient access to the nearby Red Stick Farmer’s Market, YMCA, and the Shaw Center for the Arts. In developing the project, Wampold Companies aimed to create a modern urban high-rise community anchored by walkability to nearby dining, nightlife, arts, and parks.

Adaptive Reuse Worth Celebrating

Overall successful adaptive reuse strategies increase the building value and provide an evolved authenticity that celebrates the intent of the original architecture.

Additionally, embodied carbon savings can be substantial. On average we have found that retaining an existing structure can prevent 349 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents from being released into the atmosphere per square meter. For a 14-story conversion like The Residences at Rivermark, this is the equivalent to 1.75 million kilograms of carbon dioxide—or flying across the world more than 100 times.

Project Details

Project: The Residences at Rivermark
Location: Baton Rouge
Architect: Gensler
Owner & Developer: Wampold Companies
Interior Design: Gensler
Brand & Environmental Graphics: Gensler
General Contractor: Lemoine Companies
Civil Engineer: Stantec
Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore
Mechanical Engineer: AST Engineers
Lighting: Lang Lighting Design
Acoustical: SLR International Corporation
Landscape Architect: TBG Partners
Wind Engineering: Cermak Peterka Petersen

The post Adaptive Reuse on Display in Baton Rouge Office to Residential Conversion appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Signal Architecture + Design celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024.
• Founder Mark Johnson focuses his philosophy on people-centric design principles.
• Historic rehabs like the Wenatchee Museum and Fort Worden offer opportunities for sustainable design.

Once completed, a piece of architecture becomes a semi-permanent fixture of the place it’s built in, woven into the community fabric in a way that impacts everyone—not simply those who commissioned it. Thus, unlike the practitioners of other forms of art, architects and designers must consider the needs and desires of the broader community in their work. Many architects consider this to be a key challenge. But for Mark Johnson, founder and principal of Signal Architecture + Research, the community engagement process is an opportunity to continually improve his work.

“I like to think of design like tailoring. Say we’re going to make a suit. Let’s pick out the fabric first,” he says. “What season is this going to be used for? How many times are you going to wear it a year? These are the questions that need to be asked of everyone involved. Starting at the beginning of the beginning and walking that path of understanding the need clearly, then you start to figure out the fit.”

The Seattle-based firm, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, has a diverse client roster and an ethos centered around a human-centered, site-specific design approach. The details of this process can be seen through the lens of two ongoing projects: the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, as well as Fort Worden on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula—both of which include the adaptive reuse of historic structures and require substantial input from the local communities.

“Time has flown by, and we continue to refine our approach to designing with deep curiosity for people first—creating places of meaning beyond the object of architecture,” Johnson says. Johnson recently sat down with gb&d to discuss how these design principles guide his firm’s work, the centrality of sustainability in his design philosophy, and what’s next for Signal.

How would you describe a people-centric design process?

The old way of doing things was, “We’ve designed something already and then we’re going to ask people to come and give us feedback.” But in many cases the developer hasn’t had the chance to ask the community what it wants there, and they haven’t been given the tools to realize that vision. Then expectations aren’t met, and this results in a lot of mistrust.

Getting the community involved in the conversation as early as possible is key. Part of a successful process is to ask: What are the services needed in this neighborhood, and what is missing? If the answer is a grocery store, then the rallying cry is: We’re finally getting a grocery store. Now all of a sudden this whole development has an identity.

These are things the community can help inform. The goal is to find out what the forces are, what context we’re designing within. But the old way has been the curse with community engagement where so many architects are beaten down because they were tasked with designing first in a vacuum.

I think city agencies and tons of architects are clamoring for this type of relationship with the public because you could do so much more.

How does this process work in practice with your recent work?

Plans for the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center include a large green space. Rendering courtesy of Signal Architecture

The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center in Washington is a great example. We’re beginning the schematic design phase for this project in April 2023 and will proceed toward construction in 2025. Our first brief for this historic rehabilitation was to do a feasibility study and physical assessment of the buildings, looking at how they perform today, evaluating the physical aspects and how the systems operate, and asking folks, “What’s the building doing for you?”

With that great foundation we were able to convene neighbors, museum members, visitors, local businesses, and city agencies to understand the individual, cultural, and community importance that this place holds in the city.

Our initial meetings focused on asking for insights about the social, physical, and functional aspects of the museum. Rather than asking the community to pick one option, we asked what characteristics, features, or services would inspire them or would expand on the museum’s current offerings.

In this way we were establishing a framework that we would design to, with, and for—beginning with community voice rather than compromising when we designed what we thought was right from a distance.

What were the results of this process?

The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center historic rehabilitation project began in April 2023. Rendering courtesy of Signal Architecture

It was like a giant lightbulb went off for the staff—no one had asked them that before. Their challenge was, from a curatorial standpoint, that all of their work was in the basements, which weren’t connected—so they had to walk up the stairs, cross the bridge connecting the two buildings, and then back down.

Then we heard from the community about what the experience was like, and their experience was that it was hard to find their way around the museum. People couldn’t see out, and there was no daylight. We brought about the simple solution of opening up the buildings and connecting them at the ground plane.

From a community standpoint, another challenge was that the door to the museum was on a busy street. We zoomed out and saw there’s a park on the other side of the museum that had been underutilized for about a decade.

I had been working on the Seattle Design Commission overseeing park expansions, so this made me think of how we can make the park the front door of the museum if we flip the entryway and bring people in that way. The historic downtown is right there, and so the city council and the mayor said, “If you can do that then that’ll put all these other things in motion.”

This gave the museum director all this force to raise money around a museum improvement that wasn’t just about upgrading the exhibits, but about upgrading the center of downtown. It’s a magnet; now people are coming because it’s a place to be. The process is like those Russian dolls where you take things out and keep finding new things, and it’s really revealing.

What does sustainability mean to you and the firm?

The Cottonwood Canyon Experience Center was completed in October 2018. Photo by Gabe Border

Sustainability has been part of my practice since before I had a practice. Looking at building systems from a mission-driven side was always something that meant a lot to me. My generation knew we had screwed things up for a long time, so we needed to do something different.

A sustainable building has optimized its systems—is it the right size? Is it the right orientation? Is the sun going to blast it? You figure those things out first, then you have less to deal with.

I love to think about sustainability as low-tech or no-tech. Can we use no-tech solutions that are available that cut energy use, like passive ventilation? Air barriers, if you treat them as “let’s minimize the air leaks and take steps to seal the building’s envelope;” it’s a really simple move, but the amount of energy it saves over the long term is huge.

It’s also about doing better, and about doing less bad. Making sure that it’s resilient over time so that all of the forces of the future are also applied. Thinking, “How can the building change and how can it adapt? How can it become something in the future that we can’t imagine today?”

How are sustainability and adaptive reuse interconnected for you?

As an adaptive reuse project Fort Worden generates less carbon through its new use since it utilizes existing foundations and most of the walls, roofs, windows, and systems that enclose the building.

The project—located in a state park that was once a turn-of-the-century Army base—started out as a vision for a lifelong learning campus. The idea is you can take your whole family to Fort Worden and you can stay there, you can play there, learn there, and keep coming back.

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The priority and need was for art-focused classrooms, studios, and work spaces that could be shared between multiple groups. The recently completed first phase of work was rehabilitating Building 5, known as the Quartermaster’s Warehouse, along with buildings 308 and 324, celebrating the markings of time and work in an interior character that inspires the future artists and makers who will occupy the spaces.

There was a real balance there to do just enough that would keep the vintage and authentic character while making them operate almost like modern buildings. We removed fossil fuels from the energy system and added insulation, dramatically reducing lost energy and carbon emissions.

Taking inspiration from history and borrowing from the traditional steam-heat radiators in the building, we replaced them with a hot water loop and radiators rather than a ducted system. This not only preserved precious program space that would otherwise be occupied by ducts, but it also inspired a ground-source ready energy district on the campus.

What does the future hold for Signal?

Part of not naming the firm after myself is that it keeps on going, and that it continues to act as this translator. The name Signal comes from this idea that there are signals out there; every project has a message, and it has a message because it has a client who has a need. We’re the translators who translate that into something that doesn’t exist yet. I’d like to see us moving more toward design solutions that can meet those needs. It’s a matter of can we serve and continue serving groups in this way, that are meaningful to them and really creating facilities, buildings, and places that do something more than what they are.

The post Signal Architecture and the People-Centric Design of the Future appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• One architect explores the need to consider how much waste is generated during a typical project.
• One of the biggest factors in a product’s sustainability story is its life cycle.
• The Turett Collaborative shares tips to guide AEC professionals to reduce waste.

When driving past active work areas or even working on a construction site, it’s not often top of mind to think about all of the dumpsters collecting debris and the amount of waste generated. The exciting part of any project, most of us can agree, is the new material, design, and construction of the space itself. Little attention, then, is paid to the materials being removed, placed in a dumpster, and carted away. Even less consideration goes to the landfills or recycling plants in which these items often land.

As building professionals we are always looking for innovations in sustainability. When considering sustainable design we tend to think in terms of a single material itself—its makeup and/or whether it off-gasses. However, one of the biggest factors in a product’s sustainability story is its life cycle. Once we are finished with the product or the product is no longer desired for use, can it be disposed of in a way that does not negatively affect the environment?

Wayne Turett is the founder and principal of The Turett Collaborative, an NYC-based architecture firm. Photo by Liz Glasgow

As I designed and built my own Long Island home, which was designed to passive house standards, these questions became more and more pertinent. I had specified passive-approved, sustainably made materials for the home and carefully selected as much recycled and reused material as possible. However, as the project began to wrap up, the materials in the dumpster consisted of unused insulation, fairly large pieces of scrap wood, and partially used taping compound containers. This project was new construction; I could not begin to imagine how much waste, both leftover new material and deconstructed remnants, would have resulted if this were a renovation of similar scale.

As I reached out to contractors and friends in the area through my own network (“Does anyone need any plywood? Anyone looking for insulation? Pick up in my garage.”), I realized there had to be a better way to reduce construction waste. Over my three decades as an architect the majority of my projects have been urban residential; in these cases asking a client to store 40 feet of plywood and leftover insulation in their new garage, if they have one, is out of the question. While sending a dumpster of the leftover and old materials to a landfill or recycling plant is an option, does it make sense to spend energy recycling materials that could be easily used by someone else? My team and I began to look into ways architects around the world have found solutions to their projects’ waste and leftover materials. While there is not one magical solution, I hope the below ideas may guide fellow professionals in their own quests for waste reduction.

Designated Dumpsters for Recyclable and Non-Recyclable Materials

One of the less-involved steps to take toward reducing construction waste is to opt for two dumpsters outside of your site—one for landfill and one for recycling. It may require some research to help your demolition team determine which materials belong where, but arranging for one of your dumpsters to be sent to a recycling center is a big improvement over sending everything, recyclable and non-recyclable, to a landfill. Unfortunately the latter is most common.

Deconstruction Services

In the Netherlands, often a leading location for environmental awareness and innovation, half of the country’s waste comes from job sites. In an effort to find new uses for leftover material, known as the cradle-to-cradle approach or circularity, forward-thinking professionals offer “deconstruction services,” essentially demolition services with a much more careful eye.

Why the Circular Economy is a Must for Manufacturers

Designing for Deconstruction with Sustainable Interiors

These services are carried out by those who know what to look for, i.e. what materials can be reused or recycled and which can be donated for future use or even used by the deconstruction company if their work includes new construction. Deconstruction, while labor-intensive, has been proven effective. This process helps to conserve landfill space and reduces the negative impact of creating more of these materials for someone else’s use. For client benefit, deconstruction often offers tax breaks, which can help offset the costs of architectural services and other expenses.

Some organizations, like Habitat for Humanity local branches or, in the New York area, Big Reuse in Gowanus, provide opportunities for pickup and dropoff donations of household appliances and building materials. Big Reuse, for example, is perhaps a more worthwhile destination for a pr-owned washing machine from your renovation project than a landfill.

Database for Community Material Sharing

The final idea I am sharing is not far in concept from my outreach to local contractors and job sites or gathering leftover materials from projects and reaching out to local contacts. The idea that sharing of leftover or preused materials can be done on a smaller, community scale is less daunting and perhaps more efficient than some of the other options. Is driving across town to pick up leftover wood not more efficient than transporting the wood to a job site hundreds of miles away?

A database, or even social media group, of local builders could allow for notices of leftover materials and pickup spots to be disseminated more widely. On a larger, more established scale in a residential area with numerous contractors, construction companies, and simultaneous projects, this method could result not only in less waste, but in the connection of like-minded locals with similar professions.

I do not expect readers to begin establishing waste reduction methods on their current projects, or even their next slate of projects. In all transparency, these ideas vary in applicability and can result in a significantly heavier workload for already difficult projects. Taking a bit of time to weigh these solutions each time construction is gearing up on a new project is a first step. Eventually, committing a project or part of a project to adaptive reuse, donating leftovers and waste, or using deconstruction services becomes less overwhelming. Even familiarizing yourself with local deconstruction services, Habitat for Humanity or similar organizations, and recycling plants in your area is a significant step in the right direction.

Photo by Liz Glasgow

Photo by Liz Glasgow

Photo by Liz Glasgow

The post How Architects Can Reduce Construction Waste on Their Next Projects appeared first on gb&d magazine.