REGENERATIVE DESIGN FRAMEWORK AND PROCESS
OUR COMMITMENT TO A REGENERATIVE FUTURE As climate change nears an irreversible tipping point, high performance design measures only result in net negative impacts and should only be considered first steps toward something bigger. We need to think about our developments not in the context of doing less harm, but actually doing good. In other words, our projects need to actively regenerate or contribute positive impacts to the people who use them and the local ecology that surrounds them. The term “regenerative” describes a process that mimics nature itself by restoring or renewing its own sources of energy and materials. At HDR, our practice views regenerative design as design that reconnects humans and nature through the continuous renewal of evolving socio-ecological systems. Regenerative design moves beyond basic high performance design towards renewal-focused impacts and metric-driven targets for carbon, water, nutrients, air, biodiversity, community and health categories. Our regenerative design framework provides a holistic view of performance metrics that should be at the center of design. Bringing these focus areas forward as key design goals allows us to explore “net positive” impacts for carbon, water, nutrients, air, biodiversity, social, and health; set achievable goals against existing benchmarks; and consider the project in its broader context.
In 2020, HDR’s Regenerative Design framework was recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award
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SIX THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT REGENERATIVE DESIGN
The process aims to achieve net-positive impacts for ecology, human health and society.
Regenerative Design is universal, scalable, and flexible for all project types and sizes.
The goals are metric-based and driven by unique site data obtained from detailed ethnography.
The goals and outcomes should continuously evolve and renew much like natural systems.
The framework and goals incorporate and build upon existing paradigms such as Resiliency and Net Zero.
Regenerative design continuously engages and involves the community.
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UNIVERSAL, FLEXIBLE, SCALABLE, DATA-DRIVEN KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS)
METRICS AND DATA SETS
Thirty (30) KPIs in (7) different categories have been established to ensure a holistic approach for any given project. These focus areas go beyond typical Net Zero endeavors for energy, water, and waste by including unique ecological, social, and health elements that should drive bilateral design decisions.
Project goals and metrics are set utilizing forty-seven (47) online databases that have been incorporated into a geographical information service (GIS) format for every unique project. These data sets include, but are not limited to:
Mental health, social justice and biodiversity should have an important role in the decision making process and should be considered while assessing the impacts of typical KPIs such as carbon, water and waste. No one KPI stands alone. They are all uniquely connected and have compounding impacts on one another.
+ United States Department of Energy Electricity grid and power plant carbon intensity + Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ecoregions + National Center for Atmospheric Research Climate Change scenarios + Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Risks + EPA Air Quality Monitoring Stations + US Department of Agriculture Waterhed and Impaired Waters + NOAA Precipitation Frequency + 2020 County Health Rankings + Center for Disease Control Social Vunerabiliy rankings + Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey - 2020
(30) Key Performance Indicators (KPI) in (7) Categories for a holistic approach
Flexible and unique indicator selection for a specific project engagement
Each KPI radial is allows for tracking compliance with regenerative metrics
A project compliance snapshot
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THE REGENERATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
Establish Site Parameters
Establish Ecological Baseline
Review Site Indicators
+ Select a project site in the GIS map
+ Utilize the GIS overlay map of the project climate zone and eco-region IV to select an “Ecological Baseline” site
+ Review project ethnography in the reports automatically generated from 47 data sets within the framework
+ This site should be within the same climate zone and Ecoregion as the project site.
+ Utilize this information to set unique goals and priorities for the regenerative design KPIs and metrics
+ Enter project information such as type, size, scope, etc. that will inform regenerative goals and metrics
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Stakeholder and Community Engagement
Set Regenerative Goals and Metrics
Analytics, Measurement, and Reporting
+ Further review the culture of the place through stakeholder and community work sessions
+ The tool will set the majority of metrics based upon data sets and established industry practice
+ Use design tools to analyze metrics
+ Understand social and health indicators that are having an impact in the community
+ Work with the project team to define unique metrics based upon the site indicators and community engagement
+ Stay engaged in the entire lifecycle of the project and compile measured / actual values + Report data to better the community and design industry
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City of Hamilton HAMILTON, WASHINGTON
Regenerative Carbon, Water, Biodiversity, Health, and Nutrients
PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS The project seeks low-cost solutions to achieve net zero energy, carbon, waste and water through integrated ecological solutions. + Extensive solar panels and whole house batteries to achieve net zero energy in each building and minimize impact to utilities. + Collection of rainwater at each roof with attic storage for flushing and avoiding well water source demand + Low-slope stormwater management with vegetated treatment and ground water injection + Use of wastewater treatment technology to intensively treat sewage to high quality water for site infiltration or reuse + Integration of wetland buffer mitigation plantings to enable 25% buffer depth reduction
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Vanderbilt University Blue Sky Energy Plan NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Regenerative Carbon and Health Category
PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS + Existing building energy audits + 50+ energy conservation measures (ECMs) created and evaluated + Detailed energy modeling extrapolated to 400 Buildings + Simple payback and detailed life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for ECMs and ECM bundles for each building type + Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions + Transit planning for Scope 3 emissions + Perform sustainable return on investment (SROI) calculations + Improve health and wellness
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from 2016 baseline GHG Emissions Reduction: 28%
GHG Emissions Reduction: 61%
GHG Emissions Reduction: 100%
2025
2035
2050
186 buildings, 5 building typologies with 4 energy bundles each
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The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies & Renewable Energy Conservation at Okanagan College PENTICTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
LEED Platinum Certified, Net Zero Energy Ready and Living Building Challenge (Pending)
Okanagan College’s Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation is a shining example of what integrated design and sustainable innovation can be. A LEED Platinum building and one of the largest ever to pursue the Living Building Challenge in challenging British Columbia climate conditions. To achieve net-zero energy and water consumption, a three-pronged approach to energy and water use was adopted: conserve, capture and create. Passive strategies that aid in optimizing Active and Renewable strategies were prioritized and “bundled” together to ensure synergistic efficiencies. Described as “one of the most innovative and sustainable post-secondary facilities in the world,” the building supports a syllabus focused on the design, installation, and support of sustainable building and alternative/renewable energy technologies and processes. Live building data is available on a web-based interface. The accessible rooftop allows for study of experimental technologies: solar chimneys, solar tubes, wind turbines and photovoltaics. In its Okanagan Research Innovation Centre, start-up companies prototype new green technologies in a synergistic environment. 12
Since opening, campus enrollment has increased over 7% and 85% of building occupants indicate they feel comfortable in the space. “This is a building that students love to learn in, that staff enjoy working in, that the community loves to use, a building that continues to impress visitors,” says Donna Lomas, Regional Dean.
Net Zero Energy + The building’s energy consumption will be 65 kWh/m2/year, which is less than half the energy consumption for typical LEED Gold building (which is 150 kWh/m2/year). + Photovoltaic array supplies energy to the building. + Vacuum tube solar panels supply the building’s hot water needs. + Energy use savings of 85%. Water & Site + Accessible green roof planted with local flora attracts local species. + Stormwater retained on site will be 100 percent, and sanitary water treated and returned to site for re-use will be 100 percent. + The design takes advantage of the energy, light, and ventilation that the natural environment has to offer. + Water use savings of 82%. Building Materials + Innovative and efficient composite wood and concrete panels contain the mechanical and electrical infrastructure required to integrate the gymnasium with the building’s systems. + Nearly 100 percent BC wood; includes local pine beetle-kill and FSC timber.
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Creighton University Campus Decarbonization OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Regenerative Carbon and Health Category
Phase 1 of the Creighton University Campus Decarbonization project consisted primarily of a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory assessment of the campus’s current carbon expenditures. We used an HDR-developed analysis tool to calculate analytical projections of the campus’s future carbon intensities based on campus facility renovation, demolition and new building construction master planning forecasts. Indirect factors, including third-party provided district heating/cooling and electric utility company decarbonization efforts, were factored into the analysis in combination with direct on-site and off-site renewable energy system generation. This resulted in a variety of pathways for the University to achieve their carbon neutrality goals more quickly than their current timeline identified in the Creighton University Climate Action Plan. Ongoing phases will provide more granular implementation of carbon reduction measure analytics to validate the carbon neutrality targets and provide the University with Sustainable Return on Investment modeling.
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HDR Project Name: Creighton University HDR Project #: Prepared By: Greenfield Revision Date: 9.02.2019
nsportation and distribution (T&D) losses associated with purchased electricity.
Form Revision Level: 08/04/2019 © HDR
Path to Carbon Neutrality :: Scope 1 & Scope 2 Emissions Disaggregation 55,000,000.00 50,000,000.00
kg CO2e
45,000,000.00 40,000,000.00
Measure #1: Utility Emission Factor Improvement
35,000,000.00
Measure #2: Demolition/New Construction Measure #3: Major Renovation
30,000,000.00
Measure #4: Campus Retro-Commissioning
25,000,000.00
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Measure #5: User Engagement/Behavior
20,000,000.00
Measure #6: Steam Trap Management/Repair Plan Implementation
15,000,000.00
Measure #7: Remote Solar Farm
10,000,000.00
Annual Net CO2e Emissions
5,000,000.00
2050
4.1
2050
2049
2048
2047
2046
2045
2044
2043
2042
2041
2040
2039
2038
2037
2036
2035
2034
2033
2032
2031
2030
2029
2028
2027
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
0.00
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
26,712,116.4
26,090,214.8
25,490,737.1
24,889,252.9
24,309,512.9
23,750,459.5
23,189,835.9
22,649,310.8
22,127,929.9
21,605,394.3
21,101,457.4
20,615,247.3
20,128,244.6
19,658,453.7
19,205,077.1
18,751,218.9
18,313,289.6
17,890,560.0
91,167.6
89,045.1
86,999.1
84,946.2
82,967.6
81,059.6
79,146.2
77,301.4
75,521.9
73,738.5
72,018.6
70,359.2
68,697.1
67,093.7
65,546.3
63,997.3
62,502.7
61,059.9
258,533.1
253,962.6
249,521.4
245,044.5
240,694.5
236,465.9
232,208.3
228,070.0
224,046.1
219,999.4
216,065.0
212,238.4
208,394.4
204,656.0
201,019.3
197,369.7
193,819.6
190,365.1
25,853.3
25,396.3
24,952.1
24,504.5
24,069.5
23,646.6
23,220.8
22,807.0
22,404.6
21,999.9
21,606.5
21,223.8
20,839.4
20,465.6
20,101.9
19,737.0
19,382.0
19,036.5
61,786.1
59,758.9
57,807.9
55,917.2
54,097.1
52,344.7
50,645.7
49,009.8
47,434.2
45,906.1
44,434.2
43,016.3
41,640.7
40,315.3
39,038.2
37,798.7
36,604.3
35,453.0
115,019.2
111,511.8
108,135.1
104,841.4
101,670.0
98,615.6
95,634.8
92,763.9
89,998.0
87,297.9
84,696.5
82,189.6
79,741.5
77,382.3
75,108.2
72,886.6
70,745.2
68,680.5
293,826.2
285,712.1
277,894.2
270,209.3
262,804.1
255,666.4
248,647.6
241,882.0
235,358.7
228,942.4
222,755.8
216,789.0
210,918.7
205,256.9
199,794.6
194,419.7
189,234.1
184,229.9
3,175,269
3,151,455
3,127,819
3,104,360
3,081,077
3,057,969
3,035,034
3,012,272
2,989,680
2,967,257
2,945,003
2,922,915
2,900,993
2,879,236
2,857,642
2,836,209
2,814,938
2,793,826
25.84
25.24
24.66
24.08
23.52
22.97
22.43
21.91
21.41
20.90
20.41
19.94
19.47
19.02
18.58
18.14
17.72
17.31
7.33
7.20
7.07
6.95
6.82
6.70
6.58
6.46
6.35
6.24
6.12
6.02
5.91
5.80
5.70
5.59
5.49
5.40
17.51
16.94
16.38
15.85
15.33
14.84
14.35
13.89
13.44
13.01
12.59
12.19
11.80
11.43
11.06
10.71
10.37
10.05
32.60
31.61
30.65
29.72
28.82
27.95
27.11
26.29
25.51
24.74
24.01
23.30
22.60
21.93
21.29
20.66
20.05
19.47
83.28
80.98
78.76
76.59
74.49
72.46
70.47
68.56
66.71
64.89
63.14
61.44
59.78
58.18
56.63
55.10
53.63
52.22
0.930 0.061 $ 1.217 0.690 $ 0.930 20.994 $ 1.217
0.930 0.061 $ 1.224 0.697 $ 0.930 20.979 $ 1.224
0.927 0.061 $ 1.230 0.701 $ 0.927 20.994 $ 1.230
0.922 0.061 $ 1.238 0.704 $ 0.922 20.918 $ 1.238
0.921 0.061 $ 1.245 0.709 $ 0.921 20.812 $ 1.245
0.918 0.061 $ 1.248 0.713 $ 0.918 20.789 $ 1.248
0.913 0.061 $ 1.251 0.714 $ 0.913 20.721 $ 1.251
0.906 0.060 $ 1.255 0.716 $ 0.906 20.606 $ 1.255
0.904 0.060 $ 1.260 0.719 $ 0.904 20.439 $ 1.260
0.901 0.060 $ 1.265 0.721 $ 0.901 20.401 $ 1.265
0.896 0.059 $ 1.273 0.725 $ 0.896 20.325 $ 1.273
0.892 0.059 $ 1.282 0.729 $ 0.892 20.226 $ 1.282
0.891 0.059 $ 1.290 0.734 $ 0.891 20.142 $ 1.290
0.889 0.059 $ 1.301 0.739 $ 0.889 20.104 $ 1.301
0.887 0.059 $ 1.311 0.745 $ 0.887 20.066 $ 1.311
0.886 0.059 $ 1.323 0.751 $ 0.886 20.021 $ 1.323
0.884 0.059 $ 1.337 0.757 $ 0.884 19.998 $ 1.337
0.884 0.058 $
1.337
0.766 $
0.058
150.766
0.884 19.952 $ 1.337
19.952
NEW YORK, NEW YORK Regenerative Carbon Category
PROJECT REGENERATIVE SCOPE + Operational carbon emissions from Scope 1,2, and 3 categories + Facilitated collaboration with over 40 city organizations and a 50 person technical advisory group to execute the project + Existing building energy audits + 90+ energy conservation measures (ECMs) created and evaluated
New York City’s Roadmap to 80 x 50
City of New York Decarbonization Plan
New York City’s
Roadmap to
+ Detailed energy modeling extrapolated to 1 Million buildings + Incremental code update analytics every 5 years with payback + Simple payback and detailed life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for ECMs and ECM bundles for each building type + Cost neutral implementation plans by 2030
The City of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio 16
Anthony Shorris First Deputy Mayor
City of New York Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Wedge
1 Million buildings, 15 building typologies with 4 energy bundles each
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Orange County Sanitation District, Administrative Facilities ORANGE, CALIFORNIA Net Zero Energy Goal The Administrative Facilities Implementation Plan project defined the project scope for the new Water Quality Laboratory and Administration building and associated site developments on the Orange County Sanitation District’s Plant 1 campus in Fountain Valley. The purpose of the study was to establish the goals, parameters and constraints of the project in sufficient detail to provide conceptual guidance for the subsequent design phases of the project and to confirm the estimated construction cost. The project established specific space requirements, determined internal and external functional relationships, defined site design goals and developed laboratory and building technical design criteria. The proposed space program resulted in 166,000 GSF of new buildings. The new buildings will provide modern state-of-the-art space which consolidates the business operations on campus, providing a collaborative, sustainable, flexible work environment that improves the efficiency and adaptability within the laboratory environment. During the programming process it was critical to define the requirements for the building in adequate detail to develop an estimate of probable cost based on the detailed building components and configurations rather than based on general building use. 18
Orange County Sanitation District
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Mass-timber structure reduces embodied energy and provides carbon sequestration within the building. The Mass-timber will be sourced from within California to encourage sustainable forest management practices and support the local economy.
2
Narrow floor plates combined with optimum building orientation help provide effective daylight for 66+% of the occupied space. While effective, exterior passive shading keeps glare at 9%.
3
Capture of the bio-gas produced by the Sewage Plant combined with on-site photovoltaics achieve a Net Zero Energy project.
4
Whole building water use is reduced by over 60 percent. Future reclaimed water supplies will increase reduction to over 90 percent.
5
All materials are selected to eliminate harmful chemicals and minimize adverse impacts to human health.
P1-128A Headquarters Complex Fountain Valley, CA | New Construction | 108,000 SF Completion: est. 11/2023 | Cost: approx. $965/SF
KEY SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES
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Chilled beams and radiant flooring reduce ventilation rates and improve human comfort
7
Site furnishings constructed using reclaimed wood saved from the demolition of the the existing buildings on-site
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Site design manages 68,000 gallons of rainwater (85th percentile event) and the 25 year, 24 hour peak underground system flows
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The exposed mass-timber structure, natural lighting design, and views to nature for all occupied spaces support biophilic design and human well-being
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Sustainable design combined with high-performance, sustainable operations of the Sewage Plant will be featured in exhibits and tours open to the public.
3 1 2
6
4
9
5
10
NORTH
Concrete
45%
104
Steel
88
photovoltaic energy
KBTU / SF / YR
Carbon Emitting Carbon Sequestering
37 125
-57
182
Kg CO2 per m2
CBECS Average EUI
29.7
Mass 182 Timber
ASE - 9.01% for all occupied spaces KBTU / SF / YR
Design EUI
-1.5 -1.5 KBTU KBTU/ /SF SF/ /YR YR
Design Net EUI
60%
sDA - 66.33% of occupied spaces
Bio-gas from sewage treatment = unique renewable energy source
Winner of the CA Mass Timber Building Competition. Recognized as a demonstration project and awarded a grant to source mass-timber wood products from within CA. Volume of wood products used:
Avioded GHG emissions:
480 m3 (16,836 ft3)
770 metric tons of carbon dioxide
U.S. and Canadian forests grow this
Total potential carbon benefit:
much wood in: 1 minute
1140 metric tons of carbon dioxide
Carbon stored in the wood: 360 metric tons of CO2
Offset: 217 vehicles
Zero Net Energy
Offset: 97 homes
Carbon Balanced Building
1,788 1000 GALLONS / YR
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The 428 MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
A City first for WELL Building Standard™ Core & Shell Certification For nearly 30 years, the 1950’s-era F.W. Woolworth Co. Building sat derelict in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. But the recently renovated, former fiveand-dime store reopened its doors in September 2018 as a strikingly contemporary office building. What makes the 65,000-square-foot building especially progressive was the fact that The 428 was the first in the city of St. Paul to pursue WELL Building Standard™ Core & Shell Certification. This new performance-based system has been embraced for its comprehensive strategies for advancing human health and well-being through building design and operations. Early on, the ownership and design team chose to pursue LEED certification, which required the curtain wall systems to meet a high standard of performance in addition to the mechanical systems, which make use of St. Paul’s district energy system. All lighting is LED, including the crown of the glass cube, to meet energy use requirements. A large portion of the material removed from the building was able to be recycled, including the light fixtures found in the women’s breakroom on the third floor. These were removed, reconditioned, and installed in the vestibule of the 7th Place entry.
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Additionally, conversations with the general contractor highlighted the possibility of pursuing the WELL Building Standard. The team embraced the new challenge and worked to update the design to attain the certification. One key element, encouraging physical activity of the tenants, drove the location of the south stair from behind a closed door to front and center, encouraging tenants to take the stairs over the elevators. The stair enclosure was designed to extend to the exterior of the building, creating the lobby for the building. Earth-themed graphic elements and art work, along with colored precast concrete treads, further encourage the use of the stairs. Additionally, a contemporary interpretation of the mid-century modern handrail found at the customer stair between the existing first and second floor was installed into the stair railings from the basement to the second floor. Among other WELL-inspired features are refiltered city water (to remove chemicals such as fluoride), heat-reflecting glass, indoor lighting that adjusts to natural light and sophisticated air filtering.
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East Vancouver Integrated Health and Social Housing VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Towards a New ‘Mixed Urbanism’: Affordable Urban Housing Prototype for At-Risk Populations In unprecedented fashion, three organizations — BC Housing, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), and the City of Vancouver, British Columbia — have partnered to develop a synergistic, forward-thinking vision to help solve their city’s most pressing social and urban challenges. Working with designers from HDR, a bold, new model of development has been conceived that will serve as a progressive example for other communities facing similar crises—and demonstrates how architecture can resume its role as a steward for neighborhood sustainability. By rethinking traditional building types and taking an holistic approach to urban design and wellness, a new mixed-use development is moving forward to address both urgent housing needs and health services required to combat the opioid epidemic. The Integrated Health and Social Housing at 1636 Clark Drive project combines affordable rental homes, short-term transitional housing, and an evidence-based withdrawal management center with inpatient and outpatient care to simultaneously address multiple social issues with a comprehensive approach backed by the community.
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The new center will include 90 affordable rental units and 20 short-term transitional housing spaces for people who have completed detox but are transitioning into longer-term housing with continued access to substance abuse care. Serving low- to moderate-income individuals, the development includes social enterprise space for local residents that focuses on Indigenous healing and wellness through employment. Owned by the city, it will work with partners to explore opportunities for the space. The new withdrawal management center will replace VCH’s current withdrawal management facility, hosting 51 in-patient beds, out-patient withdrawal management, sobering, and at-home withdrawal management — helping those with substance addiction along all stages of the pathway to recovery. Transitional housing is critical to eliminate some of the current challenges recovering addicts face when trying to navigate through services spread out among various locations, thus interrupting their continuum of care and likelihood of success.
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Colin Rohlfing 314.223.7591 Colin.Rohlfing@hdrinc.com hdrinc.com
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