RATIO's Sustainability Action Plan by RATIO

2023 SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 04

DESIGN + APPROACH 08 2.1

INTEGRATED DESIGN PROCESS 11

2.2

PERFORMANCE + FUNCTION 12

2.3

MATERIALS + RESOURCES 12

EVALUATING + REPORTING 14 3.1

ENERGY PERFORMANCE + MODELING 17

3.2

PRE- AND POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATIONS 17

3.3

REPORTING 18

TRAINING + EDUCATION 20 4.1

KNOWLEDGE SHARING 23

4.2

RESEARCH 23

4.3

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 23

OUTREACH + ADVOCACY 26 5.1

OUTREACH 29

5.2

ADVOCACY 29

5.3

COMMUNIT Y SERVICE 31

OPERATIONS + OUTLOOK 32 6.1

RESOURCE CONSUMPTION + SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING 35

6.2

ENERGY USE 35

6.3

RESILIENCY 35

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

Our Commitment to Sustainability As problem solvers and creators who influence our built and natural environments, we continuously explore and adopt best practices to strike a balance between human activity and global ecosystems. Additionally, RATIO is committed to reducing our environmental impact through design in preparation for the 2030 carbon neutrality goal. The previous iteration (V1) of the Sustainability Action Plan emphasized our commitment to the AIA 2030 Challenge and described our firmwide sustainability framework encompassing our practice, culture, and community engagement. This updated version (V2) builds upon these principles and explores opportunities for incrementally incorporating a broader spectrum of sustainability into our design process and workflow. This expansion encompasses aspects like human well-being, the selection of healthy materials, embodied carbon considerations, and responsible supply chain management. Furthermore, this plan identifies design strategies and project performance metrics that empower our teams to effectively monitor and evaluate the impact of our decisions in both our projects and overarching business objectives. RATIO has assembled a Sustainability Research Group (SRG) composed of individuals who share a passion for this commitment. The SRG manages methods for change, houses and disseminates extensive knowledge, and implements this plan to ensure the organization’s goals are not only met but exceeded. This commitment empowers our project teams to challenge assumptions and broaden their problem-solving approach. This document serves as a means of advancing the organization toward a more sustainable future.

01 / INTRODUCTION

May 10, 2023

Ms. Lakisha Woods, CAE EVP/Chief Executive Officer The American Institute of Architects 1735 New York Ave., NW Washington, DC 20006-5292 Re:

AIA 2030 Challenge – Renewed Commitment

Dear Lakisha, Since signing the 2030 commitment in 2015, RATIO has grown to a nearly 200 person firm located in Indianapolis, Champaign, Raleigh, Chicago, Denver, and Milwaukee, and is hereby renewing our commitment to the AIA 2030 challenge. Despite some setbacks and challenges that have come from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to push ourselves toward the goal of carbon neutrality. As architects and designers, we understand the need to exercise leadership in creating the built environment. We believe we must change our practices to embrace a regenerative ideology and encourage our clients and the entire design and construction industry to join with us to change the course of our planet’s future. RATIO Architects is committed to taking the following steps to continue our firm’s path toward carbon neutrality: - Create a new, multi-year plan that outlines how we will change our practice to reach EUI reduction targets set by the 2030 challenge. - Create relationships and partnerships with firms, organizations, and clients that support the advancement of sustainability in the design and construction industry. - Find opportunities to improve our baseline standards and specifications to include sustainable design. - Refine our workflow to better manage reporting for the Design Data Exchange (DDx). - Use existing regenerative design frameworks as a guide for our design decisions to shift our thinking toward more advanced design strategies. - Seek opportunities in all projects to create sustainability success stories and share those stories within our firm and to our peers and communities. We support the critical need for more strenuous design standards that will lead our firm toward carbon neutrality by 2030. We further commit our firm’s assistance to the AIA and others in the ongoing development of regenerative design strategies to advance our industry.

Sincerely,

William A. Browne, Jr., FAIA, LEED AP Principal / CEO Principal/President and RATIO’s Sustainability Research Group

RATIO Architects, Inc. Indianapolis, IN

101 South Pennsylvania Street

Champaign, IL

Raleigh, NC

Indianapolis, Indiana

Chicago, IL

Denver, CO

46204-3684

Milwaukee, WI

317.633.4040 www.RATIOdesign.com

01 / INTRODUCTION

May 24, 2023

Ms. Lakisha Woods, CAE EVP/Chief Executive Officer The American Institute of Architects 1735 New York Ave., NW Washington, DC 20006-5292 Re:

AIA Materials Pledge

Dear Lakisha, RATIO Design, a company employing 200 individuals across 6 cities, is proud to announce its endorsement of the AIA Materials Pledge. Our firm is dedicated to promoting the well-being of the environment and the occupants of our buildings through intentional product specifications and continued collaboration. As designers, we understand that change is necessary for both our firm's growth and the transformation of the design and construction industry. We encourage our clients and peers to join us on this journey in material evolution. Implementing the AIA Materials Pledge will require a gradual, multi-year shift in our practices, along with the adoption of new policies and protocols. We pledge to promote human health by prioritizing materials and products that sustain and nurture life throughout their life cycles while striving to eliminate hazardous substances. We pledge to foster ecosystem health by favoring materials and products that support and restore natural air, water, and biological cycles through responsible supply chain management and regenerative company practices. We pledge to advance climate health by selecting materials and products that reduce carbon emissions and aim to sequester more carbon than they emit. We pledge to promote social health and equity by choosing materials and products from manufacturers that uphold human rights in their operations and supply chains, and that have positive impacts on their workers and communities. We pledge to embrace a circular economy by reusing and enhancing buildings, and by designing for resilience, adaptability, disassembly, and reuse, with the end goal of achieving zero waste in global construction activities. Adhering to these five principles of the pledge, RATIO commits to the following steps in incorporating the AIA Materials Pledge into our workflow: •

Create a comprehensive "Materials Specification Guide" that educates designers on sustainability terminology, best practices, and general information for specifying products in projects.

•

Establish a "RATIO Red-List" to progressively eliminate the most harmful chemicals found in building products and materials from our projects.

•

Develop new protocols for our material libraries that exclude products containing hazardous chemicals while promoting healthy and sustainable alternatives.

•

Enhance our specifications by incorporating language that supports the use of healthier and more sustainable materials.

We fully support the AIA's efforts in developing metrics and standards for healthier material specifications. Our commitment marks the beginning of our journey toward creating a healthier and more sustainable built environment. Sincerely,

Chris Boardman, AIA, LEED AP Principal/President RATIO Architects, Inc. Indianapolis, IN

Sim Nabors, RID, LEED AP Principal/Director of Interior Design

101 South Pennsylvania Street

Champaign, IL

Ralei gh, NC

Indianapolis, Indiana

Chicago, IL

Denver, CO

46204-3684

Milwaukee, WI

317.633.4040 www.RATIOdesign.com

Design + Approach

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

We believe that sustainable design is not a distinct element within the design process but rather an integral part of it, spanning from programming to construction administration. At RATIO, a successful project is defined not only by its timely and budget-conscious delivery but also by its ability to exemplify design excellence through performance and innovation. RATIO integrates sustainable and wellness design principals into our projects through the Performance Wellness Guide, a document that offers insights for quick integration of sustainable design principles, following tenants of the LEED, WELL, and PHIUS rating systems. As a result, every RATIO project, regardless of whether it seeks certification, is committed to upholding sustainable design best practices.

COMMITMENTS: 1. Integrated Design Process – engage in whole systems and integrated design thinking for every project. 2. Performance and Function – utilize data to predict and inform the design process and advance our expertise. 3. Materials and Resources – evolve project material and resource selections. Specify materials and resources that are inspired by and support natural systems and enhance human health and well-being.

02 / DESIGN + APPROACH

2.1

Integrated Design Process

At RATIO, we are committed to breaking down silos and fostering crossdisciplinary collaboration. Our project teams actively collaborate with members of the SRG to deliver innovative solutions encompassing aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, user experience, and social impact In addition to our internal collaboration, project teams are empowered to integrate diverse perspectives and skills from various disciplines and knowledge experts. This approach promotes a holistic and comprehensive design process that can result in more integrated, efficient, and impactful outcomes.

1. Strive for Design Excellence: Each project team develops a projectspecific framework that identifies design opportunities arising from the site’s ecological, historical, and cultural context. Address social, environmental, health, and economic hazards. Understand what sustainability means to our clients and their communities, including their risks, opportunities, and the origins of their sustainability commitments. 2.

Facilitate an Integrated Design Process: Each project team engages the client, construction manager, and full consultant team in a Sustainability Kick Off at the beginning of every project with SD, DD, CD, and CA Checkpoints. Utilize RATIO’s Performance + Wellness Guide in design discussions throughout the design process.

Expand in-house expertise and services: Offer clients and project teams additional resources through strategic hires or acquisition of identified expertise (daylighting design, energy modeling, water and energy system design, ecology and renewable energy systems, data management).

2.2

Performance + Function

Defining quantitative sustainability criteria that can be applied to every project will allow for a more streamlined sustainability reporting process. All projects will establish energy usage targets using benchmarked data. For projects not seeking third-party certification, we will utilize a baseline specification that outlines fundamental sustainable design requirements.

Benchmark and Improve: Establish Energy (EUI) and Water (WUI) baselines and targets. Use performance tracking software to calculate and measure these metrics throughout the project.

Optimize Human Health and Comfort: Establish metrics based on ASHRAE and LBC standards for the maximization of indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and acoustics in a project.

Optimize Performance: Establish and meet EUI and LPD performance goals for the AIA 2030 challenge and meet goals for water use reduction, and healthier materials, following the AIA Materials Pledge.

2.3

Materials + Resources

Our planet’s natural resources are finite, and we must design with an emphasis on products and materials that positively impact human health and the natural environment. RATIO has committed to the AIA Material Pledge and is in the process of implementing a new specification protocol for the materials on our projects. This new protocol will enhance the selection process by focusing on several sustainability criteria.

Consider Life Cycle Analysis: Reduce our carbon footprint by researching and analyzing products throughout their life cycle using EPD’s and manufacturer data.

Specify Sustainability: Enhance sustainable design specifications to include language regarding responsible sourcing, material health, waste reduction, and overall performance of products.

3. Reinforce Materials Pledge: Implement health and wellness protocol for our material and product libraries to limit the addition of products containing Red-List chemicals and promote the inclusion of products that contribute to the health and well-being of both humans and the environment. 4. Implement Material Health Protocol: Develop a guide that encourages design teams to use responsible materials, avoid red-listed materials, engage in responsible sourcing, adopt a living economy sourcing approach, and aim for net-positive waste outcomes. 12

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

Evaluation + Reporting

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

RATIO aims to promote the intense change in practice and culture needed to meet our goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 and anticipate the implementation of new initiatives to reach that goal. We previously built a portfolio database to track project performance to compare our performance internally and across the industry to identify best practices. After a few initial years of reporting project performance to the AIA, we recognized the need for improvement in both reporting rates and project performance. Our sustainability performance faced a slight setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are fully aware of this setback and are actively pursuing a forward-looking approach with sustainability reporting and performance as top priorities.

COMMITMENTS: 1. Energy Performance and Modeling – inform design decisions through knowledge sharing and early design analysis. 2. Pre and Post Occupancy Evaluations – engage clients to better understand challenges and successes. 3. Reporting – share sustainability data to inform future design decisions.

03 / EVALUATION + REPORTING

3.1

Energy Performance + Modeling

As the year 2030 approaches, it is essential that we create strategies and processes within our design workflow to focus on energy performance and metrics to report at the end of every project. RATIO is looking to BIM and other software, such as Cove.Tool, to maintain this focus on energy performance.

Integrate Performance Metrics Iteratively: Develop design options to evaluate environmental impacts and performance projections for energy, daylighting, and water. Implement the evaluation of these metrics on each project.

Integrate Performance Training: Create resources for designers to learn and utilize software that tracks sustainability performance.

Integrate Performance Reporting: Work to implement sustainability reporting protocols using BIM processes to allow designers to track sustainability metrics throughout production.

3.2

Pre- and Post-Occupancy Evaluations

PPOEs are tools meant to enhance our processes and improve performance. They help us gain a deeper understanding of how well we are aligning with our clients’ goals and expectations, as well as provide benchmarks and insights derived from our experiences. By integrating these evaluations into our design process, we aim to not only enhance our service to clients but also refine and optimize our overall design process.

Develop PPOE framework including establishing protocol for determining which projects conduct PPOEs, data templates for project teams, scheduling criteria for evaluations and milestone dates for collecting owner feedback (e.g. 6-12 months after occupancy).

Request utility bills from completed projects to calibrate energy models and compare consumption against benchmarks and predicted values.

Encourage building owners to commission HVAC systems at the end of construction phases and throughout the building life.

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

3.3

Reporting

Project evaluation and 2030 reporting is currently handled by each studio’s Sustainability Integration Leaders, with support from project teams. Projects with a value of one million dollars or more, or those involving MEP, lighting, or energy-use upgrades, will be included in the reporting data. Project Managers collect sustainability data throughout the project while the SRG consolidates and updates the AIA’s 2030 Challenge DDX Platform.

Report Consistently: Establish a database for recording project conditions, regions, and strategies, measuring performance, and informing future work.

Report Accurately: Identify SRG individuals to work with Project Directors and teams to input design assumptions and data, collect and input actual performance data, compare and analyze results, and use information to inform for future work.

Report Responsibility: Develop RATIO comprehensive research plan to determine protocols for disseminating our findings and research internally and externally in a way that promotes and protects our intellectual property.

03 / EVALUATION + REPORTING

EUI Reduction 100

100 93 84

78 72 66 60

54 48.9

48.5 43.23

43.2

35.6

34.7

29.46

0 2016

2017

2018

2019

2020 2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026 2027

2028 2029 2030

Reported Anticipated AIA 2030 Targets

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

Training + Education

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

RATIO is dedicated to the continuous development and enhancement of our knowledge and expertise in the realms of sustainability, building performance, and occupant health and wellness. We strive to provide all designers with the latest and most engaging information on sustainability, and we encourage all designers to seek additional educational opportunities, such as conferences, seminars, workshops, and accreditations.

COMMITMENTS: 1. Knowledge Sharing – foster and mentor a culture of learning. 2. Research – lead industry change through strategic and collaborative alliances. 3. Professional Development – empower individuals to grow and explore.

04 / TRAINING + EDUCATION

4.1

Knowledge Sharing

RATIO encourages and promotes internal knowledge sharing to provide information on new technologies, lessons from the field, and design inspiration. We also host quarterly firmwide meetings in which we incorporate sustainability highlights and project performance updates.

Foster Internal Education: Seek opportunities to internally share sustainable design principles and technology training or workshops. Create or publish sustainability resources for designers to utilize at any time.

Foster Data Sharing: Create a singular source for all information and resources pertaining to sustainability trends, best practices, and lessons learned.

3. Foster the Unknown: The SRG will work to establish a plan that identifies gaps in education, both internally and within the marketplace, prioritize opportunities for knowledge sharing, and support project delivery.

4.2

Research

In early 2018, RATIO established the SRG to formalize and push sustainability efforts forward, firmwide. As the group grows in number and into various design disciplines, the group aims to expand its reach into multiple research projects.

Seek Data Gathering Tools: Develop tools, resources, and frameworks for the collection of project data.

Seek Strategic Partnerships: Define and create partnerships with like-minded organizations to explore, pursue research, and advance sustainability initiatives across design disciplines.

Seek Equitable Solutions: Improve opportunities to access capital and resources in the form of local, state, and national incentives, grants, and financing options to justify long-term investments to improve performance.

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

Sustainability Group Organization SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH GROUP

SUSTAINABILITY INTEGRATION LEADERS

FIRMWIDE CHAMPION

04 / TRAINING + EDUCATION

4.3

Professional Development

It is important that every designer is equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to design with sustainability in mind. Due to the frequent circulation of new information and design ideas, designers must have access to the most current information. RATIO encourages all designers to actively seek opportunities for learning and personal growth.

Empower Staff to Share: Encourage staff to attend and present at conferences, workshops, seminars, lectures, and events.

Empower Staff to Learn: Encourage staff to pursue third-party sustainability credentials: LEED, LFA, WELL, Fitwel, etc.

Empower Staff to Lead: Identify and activate leaders across the firm to advocate for sustainable building policies, codes, and product manufacturing standards to reduce environmental degradation.

Outreach + Advocacy

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

RATIO consistently seeks opportunities to actively engage as a voice and contributor to sustainability at both the local and national levels. We are an active sponsor of the Illinois Green Alliance, and active member organization of USGBC and Building Green Sustainable Design Leaders. We encourage our staff to attend and present at sustainability-focused conferences, workshops, seminars, and lectures to emphasize the significance of environmental and social sustainability. Moving forward, we aim to grow our practice to become a sustainable design leader and share our values with our communities through design.

COMMITMENTS: 1. Outreach – through storytelling, highlighting successful endeavors, and effectively conveying our knowledge, we seek to attract like-minded individuals who are aligned with our vision. 2. Advocacy – inform leadership, policy, and advocacy through sharing our knowledge in sustainable design. We aspire to be a catalyst for progress and transformation in the A/E/C market and environment. 3. Community Service – connect and serve our local communities with a focus on increasing equity and diversity within the A/E/C industry.

05 / OUTREACH + ADVOCACY

5.1

Outreach

RATIO takes pride in building strong, enduring relationships with our clients and the communities we serve. In the diverse landscape of modern communication, it is important to identify the most effective means for sharing our stories and commemorating our achievements. Our goal is to align our social media platforms with our sustainability strategies and stories that enhance performance and occupant health in both our projects and our business.

Develop client and community partnerships to identify opportunities for workforce training during construction, expanding the A&E impact in the community.

Educate target demographics, like K12 students, about the built environment and how it impacts our lives, communities, and environment.

Celebrate sustainable design success stories both internally and externally.

5.2

Advocacy

Our firm encourages our designers to engage in professional service and civic organizations, including USGBC local chapters, and promotes the sharing of resources and information within the profession. Our objective is to serve as a persuasive force, driving advancements and inspiring change towards sustainable practices. Through the widespread sharing of our expertise, we seek to empower others and promote the adoption of sustainable design principles. By advocating for sustainability, we aim to create a positive impact on the A/E/C industry and contribute to a more environmentally conscious and responsible future.

Act on local and national policy issues focusing on energy, zoning and development, human rights, etc.

Provide guidance for policymakers and stakeholders to improve environmental legislation.

Advocate for policies and practices that impose greater transparency of, and limits on, the climate and social impacts of building products and interior materials.

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

05 / OUTREACH + ADVOCACY

5.3

Community Service

RATIO encourages staff engagement in volunteer activities outside of regular working hours. Each year, all of our studios take part in an annual day of service within our local communities. In addition to volunteerism, RATIO typically contributes at least 1% of total billable hours to pro bono work, which contributes to the economic and environmental betterment of our communities.

Develop a system to track and manage firm-wide, and individual studio’s volunteering activities and pro bono work.

Encourage more volunteering events within each studio.

Operations + Outlook

RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

We acknowledge that architects and designers serve as sustainability stewards for our projects. However, we also have a responsibility to incorporate sustainability into our firm’s operations. Our studios feature high-efficiency fixtures and employ sustainable protocols to minimize our environmental footprint. We also promote healthy lifestyles for all employees and integrate diversity as the focal point of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity.

COMMITMENTS: 1. Leadership + Accountability – adopt internal corporate benchmarking and reporting principles and protocols. Strive for carbon neutrality in business operations. 2. Reduce Consumption – reduce our operational energy and water use, waste generation, and use of hazardous materials. 3. Resiliency – provide a work place community that values creative spirit, healthy environments, and worklife balance.

06 / OPERATIONS + OUTLOOK

6.1

Leadership + Accountability

RATIO’s goal is to create a more sustainable workplace. This means adopting changes to our business operations and promoting more sustainable practices in our offices.

Create new policies for water conservation, office supplies reduction, and green cleaning.

Develop a “Green Operations Guide” that contains protocol for waste management; tracking energy management and usage; and compositing.

6.2

Reduce Consumption

To establish a more sustainable workplace, we must create opportunities to decrease resource consumption throughout our offices. This involves assessing how we can minimize our energy usage, water consumption, and waste generation in our operations. As a result, our goal is to reduce our environmental impact through improved operational protocols.

1. Coordinate and ensure the calibration of occupancy and daylight sensors to prevent energy consumption when our studios are unoccupied. 2.

Monitor and reduce office operational impact and carbon footprint through annual surveys and policies.

6.3

Resiliency

Establish recycling and composting programs in each studio.

Resiliency is a thread that weaves throughout our entire organization, shaping our approach to design and the way we conduct our business.. Guided by our interdisciplinary ethos, we aspire to create places that are not simply sustainable, but sustaining.

1. Educate our designers about resilient and regenerative design principles for integration into our projects, both nationally and internationally. 2.

Create a policy that ensures future studio offices and renovations will meet higher sustainability criteria (LEED or better).

3. Cultivate and strengthen relationships with consultants and clients who share RATIO’s sustainability goals and ambitions. 4. Continue firm-wide USGBC membership and explore the possibility of obtaining a JUST Label. RATIO SUSTAINABILIT Y ACTION PLAN

INDIANAPOLIS CHICAGO DENVER RALEIGH CHAMPAIGN, IL MILWAUKEE

RATIO ARCHITECTS, LLC AFFILIATES RATIO STATES, LLC RATIO STATES, PLLC RATIO USA, LLC RATIO USA, PLLC RATIO/smdp, LLC

RATIODESIGN.COM

RATIO's Sustainability Action Plan

Articles inside

Design + Approach

Operations + Outlook

Outreach + Advocacy

Sustainable Practice History & Projects

Introduction / Firm Commitment

Commitment Letter

Training + Education