I N T E G R AT E D D E S I G N
2019 S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y R E P O R T A N D A C T I O N P L A N
Printed on 100% recycled and FSC certified paper
CONTENTS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
INTRO
LETTER FROM CLARK NEXSEN CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
M E R G I N G O F V I S I O N W I T H I N T E G R AT E D S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N
I N T E G R AT E D S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N
LEVERAGING A TRANSDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE
2030 C O M M I T M E N T PAT H T O N E T Z E R O
PROJECTS AND RESEARCH
B U I L D I N G O N S U S TA I N A B L E E X P E R T I S E A N D P R O J E C T E X P E R I E N C E
M A R K E T A N A LY S I S
F U T U R E D E M A N D F O R S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N
ACTION PLAN
I M P R O V I N G O U R S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N P R O C E S S
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
INTRO In 2019, Clark Nexsen benefitted from an increasing number of committed professionals advancing integrated design in our practice with an emphasis on developing effective tools and training. We are building a design infrastructure that makes tangible our belief that sustainable, resilient design is a social imperative for our industry. Within our 2019 Integrated Design Report, you will find insights and initiatives intended to empower our people and clients to pursue ever greater levels of sustainability. Our key achievements from 2019 include: • • • •
Creating and rolling out tools for performance monitoring, including tracking performance goals in Vision and embedding the COTE Top 10 metrics in our Revit template, “Appendix G” Expanding our Building Science Group efforts and gathering post occupancy data Increasing our focus on carbon, both embodied and operational Facilitating training by external experts to support project managers and design leads in guiding the integrated design process
Data has become a centerpiece of our integrated design methodology. Post occupancy data is a critical component of the design feedback loop, enabling us to learn from past design decisions and informing future solutions. In addition to propelling us toward achieving the 2030 Challenge, this information is invaluable to clients as they evaluate the ROI of sustainable and resilient design. By providing energy and cost outcomes, our designers are able to present the practical case for sustainable design alongside the scientific one. Carbon has emerged in a new way in the conversation around sustainable design, with an increasing focus on embodied carbon. We are committed to being on the forefront of this discussion and mitigating the carbon impacts of our work, both embodied and operational. We believe that by viewing the building and material lifecycle holistically, we can achieve significant carbon reduction. To that end, our designers participated in the Large Firm Round Table 2030 Carbon Summit in Chicago and 2030 Carbon Net Zero conference in Los Angeles, and we held collaborative workshops with external experts to raise awareness and knowledge. As we look to 2020 and beyond, we will prioritize carbon tracking and create a system for specifying healthy, low carbon materials and structural systems. We are also committing to the 2030 Challenge for Embodied Carbon. Our design teams will take advantage of new tools including a Vision system for performance metrics and the new “Appendix G,” a Revit-based template based on the COTE Top 10 metrics. We anticipate these new tools and systems will rapidly advance our integrated design effort, enabling us to achieve greater project performance across our portfolio. We envision a world where high performing design solutions have addressed climate change, are resilient, and promote a vibrant and healthy social environment. Our plans are reflective of our belief that every market we serve and every aspect of our practice can make meaningful contributions to preserve our world for the future. We encourage you to join us in this pursuit. Sincerely,
Clymer Cease, FAIA, LEED AP Chairman of the Board
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
M E R G I N G O F V I S I O N W I T H I N T E G R AT E D S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N
“TOGETHER WE DISCOVER, INSPIRE, AND SHAPE IDEAS THAT TRANSFORM OUR WORLD” Integrated Design defines our approach to continuously elevating the performance and sustainability of our projects. As a team of 400 professionals, we have a substantial opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of our projects, support the economic viability of our clients and communities, and deliver long-term positive results for society. We see sustainability as inherent in our vision to discover and shape ideas that transform the world. By leveraging our transdisciplinary practice to capitalize on the intersections between internal disciplines, we share expertise, gain new insights, and uncover innovative solutions to meet the challenges of sustainability and resilience. Our architects, engineers, planners, interior designers, and support professionals serve a wide range of industries including federal, higher education, science and technology, K-12, industrial, healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure. Our 2019 Integrated Design Report captures key progress from the last year, including the development of additional tools, systems, and training that will further enable our people to design high performing, resilient projects. We have improved our software infrastructure to include tracking project performance goals in Deltek Vision and embedding the COTE Top 10 metrics in our Revit template, “Appendix G.” Additionally, we have expanded our Building Science Group efforts to include gathering post occupancy data and carbon tracking. Throughout this report, you will see evidence of our commitment to leveraging data to continuously improve our design methodology and project results. Better performance tracking, post occupancy data, and carbon tracking (both embodied and operational) will be central to our ability to achieve the 2030 Challenge. Of equal importance in our industry is the need to provide practical financial data to clients debating sustainable design elements; a blend of cost estimating, projections, and proven post occupancy figures enables us to demonstrate how and where both upfront and long-term cost savings exist. The achievements of 2019 serve as a springboard for what’s to come in the next decade. The infrastructure we are creating is a foundation for achieving a carbon-neutral design portfolio by 2030. We recognize there is more work to be done to accomplish this lofty goal, and our ongoing action items will guide us as we design for a better, brighter, more sustainable future.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
TRANSDISCIPLINARY Our design professionals include architects; interior designers; mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, civil, structural, and transportation engineers; and landscape architects and master planners. With 93 LEED Accredited and/or Green Globes Professionals, every discipline incorporates sustainable design expertise and works with intersecting disciplines to develop innovative strategies for more sustainable projects.
Desig n
SUSTAINABLE EXPERTISE
Mechanical
S
Sustainable D esi gn
Buildin g
Electrical
Susta inb le De sig
INTEGRATED DESIGN
Civil Infrastruct.
Enviro nme nt
ign es
inable Desig Susta n
Su sta
Bridge Eng.
D
Lab Design
Landscape
Waterfront Eng.
Idea
s
By Discipline 3/31/2020
Plumbing
Sust ain ab le
sign De e l ab in
Interiors
Structural
e Design inbl sta Su
Architecture
n Desig ble a in ta us
n
Per for ma nc e
Energy Modeling
Acredited Professionals
None, LEED Green Associate, LEED AP, LEED AP BD+C and Green Globes by Discipline
None
LEED Green Associate
LEED AP
LEED AP BD+C
Discip
Green Globes
(B
Ar
Br
Architectural
Ci
Mechanical
Fi
El
In
La
Electrical
M
O
Bridge
Pl
St
Tr
Discipline
Plumbing Transportation Interior Design Structural Civil Fire Protection Landscape 0
20
40 60 80 None, LEED Green Associate, LEED AP, LEED AP BD+C and Green Globes
100
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
120
BUILDING SCIENCE GROUP The Building Science Group serves as a companywide resource for energy modeling and analysis with core goals to improve project performance and generate long-term operating cost savings for our clients. Providing dedicated, full-time access to energy modeling from concept design to construction documents, this group is integral to informing design decisions and improving Energy Usage Intensity (EUI) outcomes. Within the greater picture of our integrated design effort, this achievement is central to reducing environmental impact and meeting the 2030 Challenge.
ENERGY MODELING Complex design solutions require robust analysis. Our energy modelers provide high level early analysis, deep dive analysis, and compliance modeling to complement and inform the design process from kick off to completion. High level analysis supports early concept design and may include massing/orientation studies, daylighting optimization, and energy analysis. Deep dive analysis assesses and answers more challenging questions that require thorough investigation – envelope constructions, building systems, moisture transmittance, and computational fluid dynamics, among others. Compliance modeling creates full scale energy models for code compliance or certifications such as LEED or Green Globes.
Option 1: Square
Option 2: Rectangle
Option 3: U Shape
Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
56
56
57
Annual Operating Cost
$253k
$259k
$261k
48 % sDA 19 %ASE (Glare)
81% sDA 33%ASE (Glare)
100 % sDA 42 %ASE (Glare)
Energy Use ProďŹ le Gas Heating Equipment Hot Water Cooling Lighting
Peak Cooling Load
Daylighting Daylight Overlit / Glare Underlit
Note: All Results based on ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Baseline
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
INTEGRATING BUILDING PERFORMANCE WITH SITE DESIGN Our goal is to integrate the unique qualities of any given site with the building and site infrastructure systems in order to maximize energy performance while protecting natural resources. Using a careful bioclimatic analysis combined with passive solar strategies and renewable energy sources, our team works to minimize energy usage while restoring the environment. Our approach is to focus on helping clients optimize their building systems to increase reliability and resilience, lower costs, and protect the environment.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
SUSTAINABLE INTERIORS Our interiors team sees their role as critical not only to creating an environmentally respectful design, but also to supporting human health and wellness in the built environment. Responsible for specifying the materials and products people interact with every day, the interior design team carefully selects materials that are environmentally friendly, regional, and made of high recycled content. In addition to ongoing education and research regarding non-toxic and sustainable materials options, this group is conducting research on the impact of sustainable interior spaces on workplace productivity.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Our Sustainable Infrastructure Envision Team guides Clark Nexsen's Infrastructure and Transportation departments to design more sustainable site/civil and landscape infrastructure. This group utilizes the Envision system to engage stakeholders, evaluate projects from multiple perspectives, and develop solutions that address life cycle costs and long-term environmental challenges.
RESILIENT DESIGN With 50 percent of the U.S. population living along the coast, our waterfront engineering team plays a high profile role in researching and developing strategies to adapt to rising sea levels. Recent research efforts include a community-driven resilient master plan developed for the Virginia Beach area, which examined current flooding and projected sea level rise as well as neighborhood layouts to reimagine the area for decades to come. Designing for resiliency in coastal settings is just one aspect of delivering sustainable solutions for our clients.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
PROJECT GOALS Essential to the success of every integrated design process is setting clear, meaningful goals for the project and communicating these goals clearly and efficiently throughout the design team. To that end, Clark Nexsen has developed a system for facilitating the establishment of goals early in the project, and documenting those goals in a way that is trackable and easy to share. Our accounting and project management software, Deltek Vision, has been customized to allow design teams to enter their project's goals into a database, incorporating the aspirational goals of the client and designers with clear, measurable sustainability goals within the categories of Habitat, Energy, Water, and Materials. This data is then linked directly with Clark Nexsen's intranet, called "the Cube," making the information easily accessible to the entire design team, ensuring everyone is working together toward the same goals.
SUSTAINABILITY TOOLS A major initiative in growing Clark Nexsen's proficiency in Integrated Design has been the establishment of a set of sustainability tools and resources available to design teams. Through our intranet site, called "the Cube," we have consolidated a number of useful documents and tools including AIA COTE documents, LEED resources, and tools for specifying green materials. In addition, Clark Nexsen has developed a number of in-house sustainability tools, including our "Appendix G." This tool serves as a summary of the AIA COTE Top Ten Toolkit, giving design teams a concise checklist of issues to consider throughout the life of a design project. Appendix G is linked into our Revit template, ensuring that each project addresses these issues and that everyone working on the design documentation has easily access to the established sustainability goals for the project.
01 Integration
02 Community
03 Ecology
04 Water
05 Economy
Owner
WHAT IS THE BIG IDEA BEHIND THIS PROJECT— AND HOW DID THE APPROACH TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY INFORM THE DESIGN CONCEPT?
HOW DOES THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A WALKABLE, HUMAN-SCALED COMMUNITY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY?
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE DESIGN RESPOND TO THE ECOLOGY OF THIS PLACE?
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CONSERVES AND IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF WATER AS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
PROVIDING ABUNDANCE WHILE LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABILITY.
Enter address here
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
Design a building to lift the spirits and delight the senses. If not, why?
Decrease the dependence on single occupancy vehicles. If not, why?
Design landscaping that's comprised of 100% native plantings, especially species that attract pollinators. Avoid all decorative turf grass. If not, why?
Identify your community and ask them what they want. If not, why?
PROJECT GOALS
Create a nighttime habitat by eliminating artificial light and sounds while no humans are present. If not, why?
Make project accessible to someone who might not have otherwise benefited from it. If not, why?
The Big Ideas
0%
METRICS
Community Engagement (1 Manipulation - 5 Citizen Control) 0
Transportation Carbon - Percent Reduction (0% baseline - 100% very high) 0%
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS:
Bike Infrastructure - Bike Racks percent provided for occupants (0% baseline - 50% very high)
Review AIA Framework for Design Excellence (in-depth description of all design categories) https://www.aia.org/resources/6077668-framework-for-design-excellence Review AIA Framework for Design Excellence Super Spreadsheet http://clarknexsen/libraries/Sustainability%20Document%20Library/COTE%20Top%20Ten%20Toolkit.xlsx Review past AIA COTE® Top Ten Award Recipients https://www.aia.org/resources/6126355-2019-cote-top-ten-awards Architecture 2030 Palette http://2030palette.org/palette/
Consider providing multi-function, outdoor, or semi-conditioned spaces. If not, why?
METRICS
Potable Water Reduction (0% baseline - 100% very high)
Building Square Feet (refer to program) 0 sq ft
Potable Water Used for Irrigation (0% baseline - 100% very high)
Project Budget (refer to contract)
0%
0%
$0
Rainwater Managed Onsite (0% baseline - 100% very high)
Project Budget Estimate (refer to latest estimate)
0%
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS:
Edit your palette: Keep the total number of materials to a minimum. If not, why?
METRICS
0%
0%
Native plantings - Percent of vegetation (0% baseline - 100% very high)
0%
CN: The Cube | Sustainability Initiative and Resources http://clarknexsen/libraries/Sustainability%20Wiki/Home.aspx CN: Integrated Design Agenda Templates I:\Depts\Orgs\Integrated Design\03 Sustainability Tools\Integrated Design Agenda Templates
Vegetated site area - Post Development (0% baseline - 100% very high)
Rightsize the program early and keep the square footage as efficient as possible while managing design for change. If not, why?
Capture and reuse rainwater onsite. (stretch goal) If not, why?
Limit disturbance to the project's natural environment as much as possible. If not, why?
Walk Score (0% baseline - 100% very high) [use https://walkscore.com/ or similar]
What is the story to tell?
Reuse an existing building if possible. If not, why?
Reduce or eliminate outdoor water use. (Irrigation Reduction / Elimination) If not, why? Manage stormwater runoff with the goals of increasing on-site infiltration and improving water quality downstream. If not, why?
Integrate bird collision deterrent design strategies. If not, why?
METRICS
Benchmark indoor water use and compare this number to anticipated use. If not, why?
PROJECT NAME
$0
Estimated Runoff Quantity (0% baseline - 100% very high)
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS:
Native Plantings https://www.wildflower.org/plants/
Bike racks and showers https://www.bikeleague.org/content/5-es
Xeriscaping Principals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeriscaping#Principles
Design Ethnography https://www.userfocus.co.uk/articles/what-is-design-ethnography.html
Dark Sky Guidelines https://www.darksky.org/our-work/lighting/lighting-for-industry/fsa/fsa-products/
Mother's Room (1 per 200 FTE) https://www.aia.org/best-practices/17116-recommendations-for-designing-lactationwelln
Bird Friendly Design https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Bird-Friendly-Building-Design_Updated-April-2019.pdf
0
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS: Financing Incentives https://www.dsireusa.org
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS:
Walk Score https://www.walkscore.com/
Indoor Water Efficiency https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watersense-products https://www.usgbc.org/RESOURCES/INDOOR-WATER-USE-CALCULATOR https://www.energystar.gov/products
CN: Contact Duke Energy Design Assistance Group (or similar) Wildan Renee Hutcheson, FAIA, LEED AP rhutcheson@willdan.com (919) 634-0749
BENCHMARK EUI
100 kBtu/sf/yr
Net Zero Water Building (NZWB) https://www.buildinggreen.com/feature/net-zero-water-and-more-moving-beyond-low-flow Irrigation Demand Estimation https://bseacd.org/uploads/BSEACD_Irr_Demand_Meth_Rprt_2014_Final_140424.pdf
ENERGY SAVINGS
06 Energy
07 Wellness
08 Resources
09 Change
10 Discovery
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CONSERVES ENERGY WHILE IMPROVING BUILDING PERFORMANCE, FUNCTION, COMFORT, AND ENJOYMENT.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN SUPPORTS COMFORT, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO INHABIT OR VISIT BUILDINGS.
INFORMED SELECTION OF MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS REDUCES PRODUCT-CYCLE IMPACTS WHILE ENHANCING BUILDING PERFORMANCE.
REUSE, ADAPTABILITY, AND RESILIENCE ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, WHICH SEEKS TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE USABILITY.
HAS THE BUILDING PERFORMED IN WAYS THAT MATCHED EXPECTATIONS DURING DESIGN?
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
HIGH IMPACT DESIGN STRATEGIES
80% BELOW BASELINE
PROJECTED EUI
20 kBtu/sf/yr
Select climate and program-appropriate passive strategies. [use Climate Consultant] If not, why?
Ensure that all occupied spaces have access to an operable window. If not, why?
Choose chemicals of concern, such as vinyl, to avoid in the project. If not, why?
Consider embodied value and history of existing building before demo. If not, why?
Ask for utility bills and calculate actual measured EUI. If not, why?
Benchmark and set an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) goal. [use ZeroTool or similar] If not, why?
Give all occupants individual control over their immediate environment. If not, why?
Specify mixes with high percentages of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) to minimize high-embodied carbon Portland Cement. If not, why?
Assess the probability and type of hazards over the service life of the building and evaluate the consequences of building at a specific site. If not, why?
Call the Owner and ask how it's going every couple of months. If not, why?
Establish design benchmarks and targets for Lighting Power Density (LPD), Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), and plug loads. If not, why?
Allow occupants to experience biophilic elements through many senses. If not, why?
Use only FSC-certified lumber. If not, why?
Ask community how project can provide support in times of crisis. If not, why?
Calculate carbon emissions of building construction. (lbs CO2/sf) [use EC3 or similar] If not, why?
Determine how can project support immediate recovery in first days of crisis and in long-term return to normalcy. If not, why?
Develop acoustical goals and a plan for achieving them. If not, why?
Model for energy performance. [Sefaira or other when project includes 80 hrs of MEP] If not, why? Understand and work with occupant behavioral patterns. If not, why? Design solar-ready buildings. If not, why? Conduct a post-occupancy evaluation and commission. If not, why?
Minimize the construction and demolition waste stream from the project. If not, why?
METRICS Quality views (0% baseline - 100% very high) 0%
Operable windows (0% baseline - 100% very high) 0%
METRICS
Benchmark EUI [ZeroTool or similar] 100
0
Daylight sensors installed? (Yes/No) Yes
Projected EUI [Sefaira or similar] 20
CO2 Reduction from Benchmark [EC3 or similar] 0
X No
Occupants per Thermostat (0% baseline - 100% very high) 0%
0
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS:
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS:
Biophilic Design Reference https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/
Climate Consultant Download from CN Software Center
LEED Acoustic Performance Calculator https://living-future.org/declare/declare-about/red-list/
Zero Tool - Baseline and Target Calculator https://zerotool.org/zerotool/
Living Future Institute Red List https://v2.wellcertified.com/
Sefaira Web App https://apps.sefaira.com/page/projects
WELL Building Standard™ http://patternguide.advancedbuildings.net/home
AIA 2030 Design Data Exchange https://2030ddx.aia.org/
Daylighting Pattern Guide https://www.usgbc.org/resources/acoustic-performance-calculator
Watttime - Regional Clean Energy Calculator https://www.watttime.org/
METRICS
TRACKED MATERIALS
Embodied energy - Total CO2 https://buildingtransparency.org/
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Life cycle analysis conducted - Y/N Yes
X No
Number of EPDs Collected 0
% of construction waste diverted
2020: 80% below baseline EUI 2025: 90% below baseline EUI 2030: Carbon Neutral
PROJECT TAKEAWAYS What were the successes/challenges?
0%
Percent of Reused Floor Area (0% baseline - 100% very high) 0%
Functionality Without Power (0-4 days) $0
Building Design Lifespan (30 yrs. baseline - 200 yrs. very high) 0 yrs.
What is the story to tell?
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS:
% of recycled content of building materials 0%
RELi Resilience Action List http://online.anyflip.com/zyqc/ojoi/mobile/index.html#p=15
% of regional materials
Lighting Power Density (LPD) Percent Reduction
AIA 2030 Challenge Targets
METRICS
0
Daylight autonomy [use Sefaira or similar] (0% baseline - 100% very high)
Share mistakes and the strategies for fixing them with... everyone. If not, why?
CN: Predictive Weather Modeling - Design for Rising Temperatures Collaborate with Brian Turner or other CN Building Science professional
0%
USEFUL LINKS AND TOOLS: The Red List The Carbon Smart Materials Palette https://living-future.org/declare/declare-about/red-list/ https://materialspalette.org/palette/ ChemSec SIN List https://sinsearch.chemsec.org/
Climate Positive Design Toolkit https://climatepositivedesign.com/resources/design-toolkit/
EC3 https://buildingtransparency.org/
ZGF Concrete LCA Tool Send request to lca-tool@zgf.com
Tally https://choosetally.com/tutorials/
Measure Product Source Distance https://www.distancefromto.net/
APP G
V 0.6
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
UPDATE
2030 C O M M I T M E N T
PAT H T O N E T Z E R O
By signing on to the AIA 2030 Commitment in 2015, Clark Nexsen has joined a growing number of firms that are measuring the energy performance of their buildings and working toward designing all new buildings and major renovations to be carbon neutral by the year 2030. The 2030 Commitment requires design teams to track the predicted Energy Use Intensity, “pEUI,� measured in kBtu/sf/yr. The 2030 Challenge has established a current goal to achieve energy performance of 70 percent better than the national average per building type, which requires design teams and building owners to work closely together and share performance priorities. Clark Nexsen is currently monitoring more than 50 projects over a cross section of building types. While the pEUI reduction is not reaching the 70 percent goal, the pEUI reductions are significantly less than the baseline across all building types.
Clark Nexsen Average pEUI for Building Types
3/30/2020
Project Type
Reporting Year
Average of Baseline EUI and Average of pEUI_All by Use Type 1 (groups)
Average of Baseline EUI
2015
Average of pEUI_All
2019
300
pEUI_All
9.00
Average of Baseline EUI and Average of pEUI_All
250
998.87
Current Project
200
Current Old
Use Type 1 (groups)
150
Bank/Financial Institution Education - General Education - Higher Education - K-12 Food Service
100
Health Care Laboratory Lodging / Residence Hall Mixed-Use Office Other
50
Public Public Safety - General Religious Worship Retail Service
0
Storage
Laboratory
Health Care
Lodging / Residence Hall
Office
Mixed-Use
Public
Other
Education - K-12
Storage
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Education - College/University (camp Residential
2030 C O M M I T M E N T PAT H T O N E T Z E R O
By analyzing the data we collect for the 2030 Commitment, Clark Nexsen has generated a number of useful insights about our progress towards carbon neutraility. By tracking our data by office, project type, project size, and even by project manager and partner-in-charge, we have better identified our strengths and weaknesses, Projects Modeled and developed targeted strategies for improving our performance. In particular, the two graphs below show how we are doing in terms of pEUI reduction and energy modelling. The graph average pEUI Reportingon Yearthe left shows our reduction by year, which is on par with our peers. While we are not yet meeting the target of 70% reduction, our 2015 2019 70 performance is steadily increasing over time. The graph on the right shows the ratio of our projects that have or will be modeled vs the projects that will not. By modeling 62% of our projects, Clark Nexsen has outpaced the AIA national average for 2019 of 43%. In 2020, Clark Nexsen will strive to improve on that number with the goal of significantly reducing our average pEUI. Average of Percent_PEUI Reduction by Reporting Year
60
Current Project
Current Old
40
3/30/2020
Count of Status of Energy Model by Reporting Year and Status of Energy Model
Total Area by Status of Energy Model
Status o…
30
HAS BEEN Modeled
Will NOT be Modeled
HAS BEEN Modeled 100
Count of Status of Energy Model
Average of Percent_PEUI Reduction
50
20
10
0
2015
2016
2017 Reporting Year
2018
2019
CN Avera
50
Will be Modeled 0
2015
2020
Average of Percent_PEUI Reduction and Total Area by Use Type 1 (groups)
Reporting Year
Average of Percent_PEUI Reduction 45 40
AIA Avera 2019 43% area has e model
Total Area
1/1
pEUI
OFFICE ENERGY TRACKING
4/2/2020
Duplicate of Projects
Reporting Year
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All by Project Name
Baseline EUI
2015
pEUI_All
2019
200 180
pEUI_All
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All
160
9.00
140
998.87
120 100
Current …
80
Current Old
60
0.00
100.0
40
Use Type 1 (groups)
20
Education - General Education - Higher Education - K-12
0 NC Production Office/Lab Building
Year of Occupancy
2020
Percen
ACC Biotech Center of Excellence
FEI HQ3
NH-12 and Mecklenb… RM17-1337 Durham City Hall 13 Replace Library Convert and Annex HVAC Support X132 for HVAC Service MSC Consolida… Naval Station Norfolk,
CUS ISR Facility Expansion
Johns MEB Office Hopkins Addition Building 33 Biosciences
Union Tech Center P-495 County One - VT Chambers Firearms Corp Field Training Research Magazine Operations Center & Range, NC VT Outreach and Internal Affairs, Ne…
Food Service
P999 JSOF SCOT Ops CENTER Training RELOCATI… Addition WAREHO…
Health Care Laboratory Lodging / Residence Hall Mixed-Use Office Other Public Public Safety - General Service
2021
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
pEUI
HIGHER EDUCATION ENERGY TRACKING
3/30/2020
Duplicate of Projects
Reporting Year
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All by Project Name
Baseline EUI
2015
pEUI_All
20
300
pEUI_All
250
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All
9.00
9
200
Curren… 150
Current Old
100
Use Type 1 (groups)
Bank/Financial Institutio Education - General
50
Education - Higher Education - K-12 Food Service Health Care Laboratory
0 BRCC Interior Wake Tech Bldg. Duke Hall Renovations and M Wake Tech M Duke Hall Isothermal Comm. New Construction
ECU Building 43 Renovations
Georgetown
ECU Innovation
Owen Hall
Equine Facility at Greorgetown Isothermal University Carn NC State EB Oval WTCC Bldg Community Barn E College
Wake Technical Wake Tech Bldg. E Community College Building F - Northern Wake Campus
Owen Hall and Carmichael Hall Renovation
Lodging / Residence Ha Mixed-Use Office Other Public Public Safety - General Religious Worship Retail Service Storage
pEUI
RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ENERGY TRACKING
4/2/2020
Duplicate of Projects
Reporting Year
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All by Project Name
Baseline EUI
2015
pEUI_All
2019
180 160
pEUI_All
9.00
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All
140
998.87
120
Current …
100
Current Old
80
0.0
10
60
Use Type 1 (groups) Education - General Education - Higher
40
Education - K-12 Food Service Health Care
20
Laboratory Lodging / Residence Hall Mixed-Use
0 UVA McCormick UVA McCormick UVA McCormick VA Tech Criteria Road Houses Road Houses Road Houses for Slusher Hall Renovation Renovation Renovation Building E Building F Building D
Harbor's Edge
University of Oklahoma Cross Village Housing
UNCW Bldg 1 Student Housing
UNCW Bldg 2 Student Housing
UNCW Bldg 3 Student Housing
UNCW Bldg 4 Student Housing
NC A&T State Univsersity Bluford St Housing
Year of Occupancy
2020
Perce
2021
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Office Other Public Public Safety - General Service
pEUI
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENERGY TRACKING
3/30/2020
Projects
Reporting Year
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All by Project Name
Baseline EUI
2015
pEUI_All
2019
400
350
pEUI_All
9.00
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All
300
998
250
Curren…
Current
200
Old
150
Use Type 1 (groups) Bank/Financial Institution
100
Education - General Education - Higher Education - K-12
50
Food Service Health Care Laboratory Lodging / Residence Hall
0 Reno Bldg 390 Energetics Lab
RTF Onco Trap Fitup
Syngenta T&E Experience Center
FDBU Technical Services Building
ARE 9 Laboratory Drive Building
RTI Herbert Building AMSI Lab Renovation
Five Laboratory Drive
Medicago Fit-up
NC State Tethis fit-up Engineering Building Oval
UNCC New Small Science Appliance Building Performance Testing Lab
Germanna Phase III
Bluebird Bio Manufactu… Fitup
Mixed-Use Office Other Public Public Safety - General Religious Worship Retail Service Storage
pEUI 3/30/2020
K12 ENERGY TRACKING
Duplicate of Projects
Reporting Year
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All by Project Name
Baseline EUI
2015
pEUI_All
2019
80
70
pEUI_All
9.00
Baseline EUI and pEUI_All
60
998.
50
Curren…
Current
40
Old
30
Use Type 1 (groups) Bank/Financial Institution
20
Education - General Education - Higher Education - K-12
10
Food Service Health Care Laboratory Lodging / Residence Hall
0 Brevard HS
Asheville Middle School
Conn Elementary School
Hendersonville High School
Innovative High School
Lake Norman Charter School New Elementary School
WCPSS Apex High School Renovations
Edneyville Elementary School
Davidson Day School
Sharon Road Elementary
Rosman MS/HS
Mixed-Use Office Other Public Public Safety - General Religious Worship Retail Service Storage
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
PROJECTS AND RESEARCH
B U I L D I N G O N S U S TA I N A B L E E X P E R T I S E A N D P R O J E C T E X P E R I E N C E
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
GEORGETOWN CAR BARN ADAPTIVE REUSE Georgetown University, Washington, DC An ever-growing institution, Georgetown University saw an opportunity to repurpose an 1800s mechanical car building by transforming the first floor spaces to house the University Press and Master of Arts in Government program. Known as the Car Barn, this historic building is situated along M Street at the end of the Key Bridge and was originally used to house and maintain the city’s streetcars. The adaptive reuse was completed with sustainability in mind. Care was taken to maintain the historic integrity of the building’s character, with the existing structure being reused and repurposed. This effort minimized embodied carbon by giving new life to the existing facility with no new construction. The large arched doorways, previously used for the streetcars, were re-opened and infilled with a glass-fin curtainwall system to promote transparency and create a dramatic lobby and student lounge area. The bright, modern interior benefits from
70% target 70%
73% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
added daylight as windows were restored and the barn doors opened up. Occupancy and daylight sensors control the interior lighting, ensuring adequate light while minimizing the use of electricity. Occupant comfort in the new classrooms, offices, and conference rooms is assured with an energy efficient HVAC system that employs demand control ventilation with an air-side economizer and water-source heat pumps. The system utilizes variable speed technology on hydronic pumps and airhandling unit motors to properly match the building energy use to the building load. The thermal envelope was improved to maximize energy efficiency, adding an air barrier and thermal insulation to the existing, uninsulated exterior walls. New wood windows, matching the originals but with increased efficiency, were incorporated into the facade, bringing natural light into the space and offering views to the famous “Exorcist Steps,” which were preserved along the building’s exterior.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
FERGUSON HEADQUARTERS Newport News, Virginia Facing a need to expand their headquarters in Newport News, Ferguson partnered with Clark Nexsen to create an amenity-rich, energy efficient, collaborative space for their associates. At the core of its design is a shift towards transparency, openness, and connectivity, and sustainability both within the company and the community at large. The design solution kept a fairly narrow footprint in the optimum building orientation to maximize both daylighting and views, benefitting occupant well-being and reducing the need for artificial lighting. The open office concept reduces material use, and interior rooms such as flexible offices and meeting spaces feature glass wall systems to allow daylight through to the building core. The low solar heat gain coefficient of the glass has a significant impact on the building’s energy efficiency, and shading devices on the east, south, and west facades further control glare and heat gain without interrupting views. Both inside and outside, the design prioritizes creating opportunities to promote interaction and community. A
70% target 70%
70% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
multilevel glass atrium, open lobby space, and monumental staircase connect multiple levels and encourage people to use the stairs rather than elevators. Ferguson associates have access to a variety of outdoor training and dining spaces and a rooftop terrace. Additionally, prior to the construction of HQ3, the site served as a ‘city center’ for residents to gather, and the design preserves community access. Rather than walling this site off from the city, a pathway leads under the building and into the plaza allowing the public to enjoy this outdoor plaza. The HVAC system has a number of features that contribute to the significant reduction in pEUI. An energy recovery ventilator transfers heat between the exhaust and outdoor air streams using a total enthalpy recovery wheel. A thermal storage system is used to shift electrical demand for cooling from peak daytime hours to off-peak nighttime hours by enabling the chillers to produce ice at night, which is then melted during the day while the chillers remain off. Both the cooling and heating systems also feature a high degree of controllability, allowing them to meet demand with very little waste.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
INNOVATIVE HIGH SCHOOL Flat Rock, North Carolina As public school systems across the nation strive to improve retention, graduation rates, and student success long term, Henderson County’s Innovative High School represents a shared vision to provide greater opportunities to their students. This groundbreaking new facility is located on the Blue Ridge Community College campus and houses two innovative schools, Early College High School and the Career Academy. Recognizing that the built environment plays an important role in the student experience, the facility’s design and finishes were selected to support academic success and well-being. More than 95% of interior spaces have views to the outdoors, and 90% of spaces receive abundant natural light – both of which have a positive impact on occupants.
70% target 70%
51% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
With two programmatic bars that meet to form an “L” shape, the building is aligned on an east/west axis with good solar orientation. Throughout the building, energy efficiency is supported with exterior sun shading and different glazing types. For example, a two-story, south-facing glass curtainwall in the commons space was optimized toward prominent views. An external sun shade and ceramic fritted glazing minimizes solar heat gain and reduces glare into this space while allowing for balanced daylighting. An on-site bio-retention pond handles 100% of the stormwater. In addition to sustainable design features of the building itself, its location on the community college campus reduces individual driving trips and vehicle emissions as students can readily access all needed courses by walking.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
CAROLINA DAY LOWER SCHOOL Asheville, North Carolina The Lower School at Carolina Day serves first through fifth graders in an inquirybased learning environment, focused on supporting student growth and providing problem solving opportunities. Our designers worked with school representatives to create a solution that responded to their needs, enhanced indooroutdoor connectivity, and positioned the school to meet changing trends in K-12 education. The resulting renovation and addition has formed a facility that instructs by design and provides light-filled, engaging spaces for students, teachers, and staff. More than 80% of the project is adaptive reuse, with 100% of the existing structure and roof decking reused. Additionally, the use of wood as the primary building material for the addition reduces the project’s embodied carbon. The building serves as a teacher, with windows into interior walls to reveal the MEP systems and a butterfly roof that directs rainwater into a bio-retention pond. Outside, the courtyard is more than a
70% target 70%
42% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
place to gather, learn, and play; it handles 100% of stormwater (roof and site) via the retention pond and features native, educational landscaping as well as earthen berms for free play. The school is surrounded by Asheville’s outdoor beauty and care was taken in the renovation design to reinforce this indooroutdoor connection. Generous natural light abounds, with 95% of occupied spaces having direct exterior views and receiving natural daylight. In particular, all classrooms have direct views to the outside while clerestory windows serve to balance daylighting. In the gymnasium, the conversion of existing ventilation panels to clerestory windows allows the gym to be used with no artificial lighting at most times. A new HVAC system improved both climate control and energy efficiency. The renovated school now uses 42% less energy than the baseline. Additionally, the R-23 walls exceed the North Carolina energy code by 53%. By integrating sustainable design elements along with K-12 design best practices, the school reflects its region’s commitment to protecting the environment while enabling children to learn and explore.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
BUILDING F - LEARNING COMMONS Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, North Carolina The Learning Commons & Classroom Building (Building F) serves as the heart of Wake Tech’s rapidly expanding Northern Wake campus. Geographically, the centrallylocated building links together the various parts of campus with pathways, bridges, and outdoor gathering spaces, while programmatically the high-tech facility provides much-needed spaces for study, student support, and social interaction. The focal point of Building F is the new learning commons, replacing the library currently located in Building B. The variety of spaces created within the learning commons help each student maximize their learning experience by catering to their individual needs: from lively group discussions in a social atmosphere to quiet, focused individual study. The main reading room on the lowest level of the learning commons is considered the living room for the campus. Comfortable lounge seating with integrated technology, extensive views out to the natural landscape of the Neuse Rive buffer, and ample daylight provided by three “light cannons” in the roof above
70% target 70%
48% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
all promote lively student interaction and collaboration. At 89,000 square feet, this academic building houses classrooms and faculty offices in addition to the learning commons. The ‘L’ shaped plan configured enables the two wings to operate independently and provides controlled access and egress to the learning commons from a single location. A coffee shop with outdoor terrace seating provides another opportunity for study and interaction. A separate, three story wing houses classrooms and academic offices, connected to the learning commons by a glass enclosed lobby/lounge space. The second and third levels of this wing are interconnected at the lobby/lounge space, creating a double-height entrance area. The facility is LEED Silver certified, reflecting Wake Tech’s commitment to sustainability. WTCC’s Northern Wake Campus is the first all-LEED multi-building community college campus in the nation.
39% reduction of potable water use 31% recycled content materials 39% regional materials 95% occupied spaces with views LEED Silver
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
M�CORMICK ROAD HOUSES RENOVATIONS University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia As the primary freshmen housing complex at UVA, the McCormick Road Houses play a pivotal role in the student life experience. This substantial complex includes 10 individually branded “houses” accommodating nearly 1,400 students. Prior to their renovation, the buildings lacked many of the amenities found in newer residence halls on UVA’s campus. The university partnered with Clark Nexsen to create a reimagined housing environment that helps to attract great students and promotes an engaging freshman experience. Throughout the houses, new interior finishes create a contemporary aesthetic. The introduction of a new HVAC system, fire protection, elevators, and upgraded electrical and telecom systems ensure a safe, comfortable, and functional environment. The design team also seized opportunities to go above and beyond a basic systems renovation and transform key social experiences for first year students. Openness and transparency are driving themes in shared spaces. The commons spaces now feature floor-to-ceiling glass
70% target 70%
46% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
storefront and modern furnishings, offering students variety of areas for socialization or study. The stairs have been reimagined to support students’ sense of community, with large landings and open sight lines from one side of each house to the other. The transformation of “The Castle,” a dining and social space, represents a small but very significant component of this project. By opening the exterior walls and introducing a lantern-like addition on the corner, The Castle and its surrounding outdoor plaza have become a vibrant hub of activity. Key sustainability features include the incorporation of total energy recovery wheels into the Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) to recover energy from the tempered exhaust air and transfer it to the untempered incoming outdoor air. This, coupled with the addition of new insulation at the roof and new energy efficient windows, has help to significantly drive down the energy consumption of the project. In addition, by reusing 97% of the existing structure and envelope, UVA has ensured that these facilities will last for many decades to come.
44% reduction of potable water use 97% reuse of existing structure and envelope 94% occupied spaces with views LEED Gold
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
ABBOTTS CREEK COMMUNITY CENTER Raleigh, North Carolina Located on a former landfill site and beside an elementary school, Abbotts Creek Recreation Center transforms an abandoned piece of land into a thriving community park for healthy living and learning. The center’s composition interlocks with the school and creates a series of indoor and outdoor gathering spaces that transform the forgotten site. The center’s upper volume slides past the base providing a welcoming public entry as it connects visitors to the school and landscape. A delicate screen encompasses the upper volume and creates a veil that illuminates the public spaces and defines the entrance to the new community campus. When the landfill was set to close, local citizens formed a committee to determine the best use for the site. Through a thoughtful approach to land utilization and a collaborative effort between citizens and public employees, the Abbotts Creek Park design process focused on creating a healthy environment for living and learning. Now, situated in the middle of a
70% target 70%
34% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
growing community with many residential neighborhoods and schools, Abbotts Creek Park provides an epicenter for the community to promote healthy living and learning in close proximity to citizens of all ages. The community center provides a variety of facilities open to public use including a gymnasium, fitness center, numerous classroom and multipurpose spaces both inside and outside. To maximize the value of the facility for its long-term operation, the design incorporates cost effective passive solar design strategies in its orientation, daylighting strategies, operable windows, and sun shading devices. In addition, it uses high-performance building materials for glazing and rainscreen cladding systems, active solar systems for hot water heating, as well as recycled content and regional materials.
35% reduction of potable water use 20% regional materials 20% recycled content materials LEED Silver (anticipated)
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
HEALTH & HUMAN SCIENCES BUILDING Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina The Health and Human Sciences Building was the first facility constructed for Western Carolina University’s Millennial Campus, establishing an approach to development that emphasizes sustainability in conjunction with cutting-edge research facilities. The 160,000 square foot building provides state-of-the-art learning environments for the five departments and nine disciplines within the health sciences college. Nested into the mountainside, the design is a direct response to the site topography and solar orientation. Mapping slopes less than 30 percent defined buildable area limits, informed the project location, and delineated its northernmost extents. To optimize the solar orientation and minimize the impact of the building, the southern boundary was defined by a natural basin in the site. Stepping the design with topography, the facility rests between the defining elements, conforming to the site. This design strategy minimized the scale, promoted interior/exterior relationships, and was the genesis for a large roof garden. As an extension of the site, the roof garden
70% target 70%
38% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
replicates the form of the basin to restore the natural environment. The garden is home to native medicinal plants indigenous to the Appalachian and Cherokee people and provides a tranquil setting rich in colors, textures, aromas, and sounds to promote renewal and inner well-being. Such siteinfluenced responses generated smaller floor plates, enhancing opportunities for natural daylighting and resulted in a contextually appropriate solution with a human scale. Natural light is shared throughout the building, introduced through an expansive, south-facing atrium curtain wall and distributed to inner offices, corridors, and small gathering areas through interior glazing. Sunscreens provide thermal comfort by limiting direct solar exposure to 3 percent annually, while providing ambient natural daylighting sufficient for 75 percent of lighting needs each year. Teaching spaces, including specialized labs and simulation environments, are organized along the northern edge with diffused daylight and clerestory views to the ascending elevations and natural setting.
41% reduction of potable water use 39% recycled content materials 40% regional materials 90% stormwater treated on site LEED Gold
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
UNC COASTAL STUDIES INSTITUTE Wanchese, North Carolina Located on the banks of Roanoke Island, the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) is surrounded by vast expanses of wetlands and sweeping views of the Croatan Sound. Its simple bent form aligns with an existing canal, capturing views of the water and sky. The building is elevated on piloti touching the ground lightly and interacts with the landscape through its site walls, natural lawns, and covered outdoor spaces. The mission of CSI is to be a model of sustainability through its architecture, building systems, and the research it conducts. It provides a venue for interinstitutional collaboration and offers a new national resource for coastal education. The building was designed to minimize its impact on the land while anchoring itself to the place – an existing landscape of fragile wetlands and waterways. The building’s form is a simple bent bar elevated above the land, and derived from the site by orienting the long face of the bar to the south and bending it to align with and
70% target 70%
38% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
capture a view down the canal. It hovers over a concrete plinth which raises the ground floor above the 100-year flood plain. The bent bar form acts as a medium for viewing and experiencing the expansive landscape through its use of indoor-outdoor spaces. Gathering spaces for collaboration reside at the ends of the bar where there are expansive views across the wetlands. The building systems and landscape design showcase innovative features in regard to water management, on-site waste treatment systems, stormwater treatment, rainwater collection, and renewable energy. All of the roof rainwater is captured and used for non-potable water uses and as a possible source of future drinking water. The building’s HVAC system is a unique geothermal heat pump system that utilizes an existing public raw well water line as the source of renewable energy. By not drilling wells, the system reduced construction costs by 50 percent and protected the local aquifers and wetlands.
45% reduction of potable water use 90% occupied spaces with daylight 95% occupied spaces with views 100% stormwater managed on site 100% wastewater managed on site LEED Gold
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
GORGES STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER Sapphire, North Carolina To create a visitor center that introduces patrons to the beauty of Gorges State Park and offers sustainability insights, the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation partnered with Clark Nexsen to design a new facility featuring museumquality exhibit and gallery spaces, a teaching auditorium, classroom for films and presentations, retail space, and administrative offices. Gorges State Park is located on the Blue Ridge escarpment, rising 2,000 feet in four miles and forming the divide between the Tennessee Valley and Atlantic drainages. Warm, moist air from the south flows over the escarpment and dumps approximately 90 inches of rain annually on the park, making it one of the wettest places in North America. The park showcases numerous waterfalls, flora, fauna, and spectacular views, which are highlighted in the Visitor Center to encourage further exploration.
70% target 70%
52% 0% 100% pEUI Reduction
In keeping with the stunning natural landscape, the Visitor Center is LEED Gold certified and the building is used as a sustainability teaching tool for visitors. LEED information is identified for visitors throughout the Visitor Center and adjacent grounds. The Visitor Center uses water very efficiently, and rainwater is collected from the building roofs in an underground storage tank to provide water suitable for flushing toilets and to supply the building waterfall feature. The Visitor Center harvests site energy including the use of free resources like daylighting, solar waterheating, and geothermal energy systems. Under the parking lot, 27 wells use the earth as a heat source in the winter and as a heat sink in the summer.
44% reduction of potable water use 97% occupied spaces with daylight 95% occupied spaces with views 100% stormwater managed on site 100% wastewater managed on site LEED Gold
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
PERPETUUM - METLIFE COMPETITION New York City, New York The international MetLife competition provided a platform to research sustainable and energy efficient strategies for both new and renovated high-rise buildings. Clark Nexsen’s submittal, PERPETUUM, takes a holistic approach to the design challenge of renovating an existing high-rise building and implements strategies beyond merely the introduction of a new exterior skin. The design examines opportunities to not only enhance the aesthetic of an architectural icon, but also to address social, economic, and environmental issues in the design solution. Modern workplaces rely on collaboration and informal gathering, often fostered by daylighting for a bright, open environment. PERPETUUM proposes to programmatically add atrium amenity spaces for both the public and building users to enjoy, located at the street level and the upper floors. On the upper floors, these public spaces are shared between four floors and stacked on top of each other to activate the southern side, providing increased opportunities to harvest daylight and views. The cladding system is a double glass wall envelope used to enhance the passive solar capability of the tall structure. The double skin is designed to be a unitized system, which will reduce on site construction and limit interruptions at street level caused by construction operations. On cold days,
the double skin is enclosed and provides additional insulation through the deeper air cavity, while on warm days, the double skin is opened to the outside to provide fresh air intake and improved indoor air quality. The design team also considered solutions for the demolition and disposal of the existing cladding materials. PERPETUUM proposes to donate the precast concrete panels to local municipalities for reuse in flood protection measures along Manhattan’s river fronts, a solution that aligns with ongoing efforts by the city to mitigate future damage caused by catastrophic flooding as seen in Hurricane Sandy. Demolition of the existing skin would also entail harvesting the glass and curtainwall framing to be recycled, thus bypassing the waste stream. PERPETUUM proposes a mechanical system involving the installation of a new mechanical shaft to create additional natural ventilation opportunities through the height of the building. The shaft creates a stack effect, which has air intakes and pressure reliefs strategically located throughout the building. PERPETUUM endeavors to improve the vitality of the MetLife building by honoring its history and iconography through sustainable strategies and improved spatial quality and variety indicative of a contemporary work place.
South facing heat sink to increase stack effect in re-purposed elevator shafts Greenroof to reduce heat island effect Amenity space Deep mechanized double glass wall envelope Shallow ventilated double glass wall envelope Elevators modernized to reduce lift requirements freeing shaft space for ventilation. 60 existing elevators. 6-8 removed for shaft space Air pressure relief outlets from re-purposed technology floor Amenity floor slabs act as thermal masses and shade and mitigate glare on floors below
Tower
Deciduous vegetation to protect thermal mass in summer and improve indoor air quality Fresh air intake at curtainwall, typical at each floor Rainwater irrigation collected from roof terraces on the tower and the podium
Air pressure relief outlets from re-purposed technology floor
Pod iu m
Prime air intake for stack effect Green walkable roof terrace for amenity space and reduction of heat island Rain water storage reflecting pool for irrigation
St reet
Faceted glass and stainless steel boxes Adjacent existing Grand Central Terminal Butt glazed glass system
C o ld D ay • Exterior and interior windows closed • Double skin heats up like a warm blanket • Sun warms slabs acting as solar mass reducing corrective cooling requirements • Thermal chimney is used to passively exhaust air from the building
H o t D ay • Exterior mechanized panels open and interior windows closed • Excess heat from inside double skin is exhausted to exterior • Thermal chimney is used to passively exhaust air from building
Pa s s ive D ay • Exterior mechanized panels open and interior windows closed • Excess heat from inside double skin is exhausted to exterior • Thermal chimney is used to passively exhaust air from the building
2016 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
M A R K E T A N A LY S I S
D E M A N D F O R S U S TA I N A B L E A N D R E S I L I E N T D E S I G N
Demand for energy efficiency well established The vast majority of projects today incorporate some degree of energy efficient design. Owners and operators, looking through a purely financial lens, want to reduce the cost of utilities such as water, gas or oil, and electricity. Equally significant, the upfront cost of many of the more efficient systems and materials is now aligned with traditional options, making the more efficient choice the obvious one. At the beginning of any significant project, building and infrastructure owners are balancing multiple variables and priorities ranging from initial design and construction costs, to long-term operational costs, to local, state, and federal regulations or potential tax breaks. Increasingly, the pEUI of a facility comes into play in these conversations as it correlates to both reduced operational costs and lowered CO2 emissions. While reduced operational costs have arguably become the most significant driver of business investment in green construction, the reduction of CO2 emissions can also be tied to business reputation objectives and regulatory mandates. There is substantial market opportunity for design firms focusing on high performing, sustainable design, as the perception of sustainability has shifted from purely reputational to meaningful in terms of economy and practicality.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Increasing demand for a holistic approach to design Approached holistically, sustainable design positively impacts every aspect of our built and natural environment. More recent certifications such as WELL Building are clear validation that occupant well-being and the overall health of people is as significant in design today as traditional “sustainability.� Green schools present new opportunities for hands-on learning; sustainable office environments promote healthy, productive occupants; and environmentally-friendly infrastructure protects our valuable water, energy, and material resources. The business case for green building encompasses human capital as well as operational costs. The USGBC cites research indicating that employers with more rigorous environmental standards are finding as much as 16 percent increases in labor productivity, and those with better daylighting note a 27 percent reduction in the incidence of headaches. As a transdisciplinary design firm of architects, engineers, planners, and interior designers, we are uniquely positioned to meet market demand for a holistic approach to sustainable design. Our design process crosses disciplines to gain unique insights that maximize sustainable opportunities, with more than 40 percent of our design professionals LEED and/or Green Globes accredited. Our method leads to the development of buildings and infrastructure that protect our clients’ bottom line, brand reputation, and the environment.
Increasing demand for resilient design Aligned with sustainability, resilient design incorporates principles that better prepare our buildings and infrastructure to withstand current and future climate change. With 50 percent of the U.S. population living on or near the coast, we must develop solutions that are resilient to coastal issues such as sea level rise. The implementation of resilient design principles protects owner and insurer investments, both coastal and interior, by reducing disaster-related costs, strengthening insurability, and mitigating the risk of credit downgrades. The business case for resilient design as a component of sustainability is easily evident, and we strive to integrate these principles into every project. Additionally, as a design firm that frequently works with various departments of the DoD, Homeland Security, and other government installations, we understand resilient design principles as they correspond to manmade events as well as natural disasters. To develop critical communication centers, hospitals, and various federal facilities that can remain operational in any event, the integration of resilient design is a necessity. Just as we view good design as inherently sustainable, we view good design as inherently resilient.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
ACTION PLAN
I M P R O V I N G O U R S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N P R O C E S S
Goals Achieved from 2019 Elevating EUI and Project Performance • A digital system in Vision was developed and implemented for tracking project sustainability/design goals for energy, water, materials, and habitat. It helps elevate EUI and other integrated design metrics to the level of scope schedule and budget. • The Building Science group began to develop and create a database of postoccupancy data on actual EUI of past projects.
Improving Knowledge • Integrated design leaders shared knowledge through blogs and posts on the company-wide intranet information about projects, sustainable design processes, and useful sustainability resources. • Clark Nexsen had representatives attend the Carbon Positive Summit in Chicago as well as the Carbon Positive Conference in Los Angeles hosted by Architecture 2030. Clark Nexsen also had representatives attend Greenbuild and speak at numerous conferences including the I2SL Conference in Denver, the AIA Triangle Sustainable and Resilient Design conference in Raleigh, and Arch Ex in Richmond.
Project Delivery • A revit-based project performance template, called “Appendix G,” was developed. It is based on the complete system of COTE Top 10 metrics and will be used for helping design teams track performance goals throughout the project. • An all-day internal workshop on high-performance buildings was held in Raleigh for the Integrated Design Leaders, PM’s and Design Leaders from all offices to share project experience and improve the knowledge of the integrated design process across the firm. An outside sustainability expert was invited to speak and share valuable insight and constructive criticism on how to improve our integrated design process. 2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
ACTION PLAN
I M P R O V I N G O U R S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N P R O C E S S
Goals Achieved from 2019 (cont.) • A task force was developed to explore the best process and procedure for researching sustainable materials and to create a database and specification system for healthy sustainable materials. • The sustainability library on the company intranet was developed and maintained in order to share sustainable tools and resources across the firm.
Sustainable Operations • Company offices formed internal sustainability committees dedicated to improving workplace practices for materials and waste management, health and wellness, mobility, energy and water.
2020 Action Plan Elevating Embodied Carbon • Clark Nexsen will commit to the 2030 Challenge for Embodied Carbon • Clark Nexsen will commit to the Structural Engineering 2050 Challenge • Create a company system for specifying healthy LOW CARBON materials and structural systems including CLT and heavy timber. The system will look to partner with companies that are committed to 2030 and 2050. It will also develop a list of materials to avoid in order to protect the health of building occupants.
Elevating EUI and Project Performance • Design teams will begin to track performance goals using the newly developed Vision system which includes the integrated design performance metrics (energy, water, materials and habitat) from the COTE Top 10 Tool kit
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
ACTION PLAN
I M P R O V I N G O U R S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N P R O C E S S
2020 Action Plan (cont.) • The Building Science group will begin to take a more comprehensive approach to tracking Post-Occupancy energy data from past projects to better understand pEUI vs actual EUI. • We will enhance our annual performance review format for employees to include language regarding demonstrated efforts to pursue building performance metrics including embodied carbon.
Improving Knowledge • The Sustainability Network will roll out and provide training sessions for the new sustainable tools and resources for the firm including Appendix G and establishing project goals and tracking in Vision. • Employees will be encouraged to attend webinars, seminars and conferences on low carbon materials and structures in addition to developing the knowledge and skills for leading effective Integrated Design charettes. • We will continue to encourage and pay for all members of the Sustainability Network to get registered in additional sustainable and resilient building and infrastructure design rating systems including LEED, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge and the Well standard.
Project Delivery • Design teams will begin to use the new “Appendix G,” a revit-based project performance template, which is based on the complete system of COTE Top 10 metrics. • We will continue to develop the internal standards/best green practices narrative and include embodied carbon for each building type.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
ACTION PLAN
I M P R O V I N G O U R S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N P R O C E S S
2020 Action Plan (cont.) • The Building Science Group will continue to develop the policies regarding energy modeling and carbon tracking on projects in conjunction with the mechanical department and integrated design group.
Sustainable Operations • Each office will have a Sustainable Office operations committee dedicated to finding opportunities to reduce energy and carbon footprint. The committees will use the MIT Sustainable Office System as a guide to develop new ideas and benchmark their office against other offices. • We will institute companywide transportation policies to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging the use of fuel-efficient cars, hybrid vehicles, and electric cars. The company will look into the next fleet of leased cars to be fully electric. • We will continue to develop the policies to reduce waste by encouraging the use of electronic documents and forms, setting copy machines to double sided, encouraging recycling, packaging policies for lunch and learns, starting composting systems in offices, and reducing the number and size of hard copies for project submittals to reduce waste.
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
T H I R D PA R T Y R E C O G N I T I O N Sustainability Firm Awards Top 50 ARCHITECT Magazine Sustainability Category #52 ENR National Top Green Design Firm Top 50 BD+C Top Green Building Architecture Firm 103 Total LEED certified projects 5 Platinum 24 Gold 52 Silver 22 Certified Design Awards 102 AIA Awards including 2016 AIA NC COTE Award 2015 Rethinking the Future International Sustainability Award 2016 AIA North Carolina COTE Award
ABOUT US
Founded in 1920, Clark Nexsen is a fully integrated architecture and engineering firm providing innovative design solutions to U.S. and global clients. With 10 offices, we serve more than a dozen markets including science + technology, higher education and K-12, commercial, and infrastructure and transportation. Leveraging the strength of multiple disciplines, we actively collaborate across intersecting areas of expertise to gain new perspectives, inspire innovation, and deliver high-performing, sustainable projects.
Vienna, VA Richmond, VA Roanoke, VA Virginia Beach, VA Raleigh, NC Asheville, NC Charlotte, NC Macon, GA Brunswick, GA Austin, TX
2019 CLARK NEXSEN SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
www.clarknexsen.com