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LEED, WELL… NOT an alphabet soup
Being competitive in the marketplace is fundamental, particularly for young architects. You may have considered getting yourself some credentials to make up for the limited experience. However, please look beyond the “alphabet soup” of credentials you could add after your name. Choose a program that truly suits your personal interests! Sustainability Credentials (Wattick) There are multiple scales to sustainability — at the personal level, at the building or project level, and at an organization or company level. Most sustainability credentials focus on the building or project scale. In terms of building performance, sustainability encompasses many facets — site, energy, carbon, water, indoor environmental quality, materials, etc. In the next section, we’ll address the “wellness” factor to sustainability (i.e. human physical, mental, and social well-being).
Above S’Park Railyards Neighborhood Redevelopment, Colorado. LEED ND Silver certified. BranchPattern served as MEPT Engineering consultant on this project. Rendering by SopherSparn Architects
A sustainability credential can set you apart from your peers, but which one should you choose? To help answer that question, consider how a sustainability credential can influence your professional projects, your role as a designer, and your impact on the community and the environment. Sustainability certifications challenge project design teams, contractors and owners to go beyond any code minimum requirements. A credential can help you stand out as a subjectmatter expert on your project pursuit or project team. Even when a project is not chasing a certification, professionals often refer to credits within various certification programs as a benchmark or guide. On my professional journey, I first chose to pursue a LEED Green Associate credential (cost: $200 for USGBC members, $250 for non-USGBC members). After becoming a registered architect, I was looking for a position in the sustainability field. Since LEED is often considered the “standard” for green building certifications, obtaining a LEED Green Associate is a common starting point, covering many of the areas of building performance mentioned earlier. There are many LEED AP specialties you can choose from, such as Building Design + Construction, Operations + Maintenance, or Neighborhood Development. Recently, I’ve earned my LEED AP ND (cost: $400), which aligns with both my personal interests and passions (community development, alternative transportation, smart growth, etc.) as well as supports my current projects. The intent is for the LEED AP ND credential to serve my professional growth alongside my company’s project pursuits. While LEED still acts as the common standard, there are many other green building certification programs. One
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Above Pikes Peak Summit Complex, Colorado. LEED Silver certified, pursuing Living Building Challenge certification. BranchPattern served as Net Zero, Sustainability, and Green Building Certifications consultant on this project. Rendering by RTA Architects
such program is the ILFI Living Building Challenge and Living Community Challenge. To show your expertise in the areas of development, energy, carbon, materials, water, and biophilic design, you may consider obtaining a Living Futures Accreditation (cost: $615 for foundational, $50-$100 per general course). LFA requires 20 foundational and 16 general credits within the first year of enrollment. As a fast-track alternative, you can apply your current credential (such as LEED, WELL, PHIUS) to fulfill the 16 hours of general credits. An LFA credential shows your commitment to some of the highest certification programs and to creating an equitable, sustainable future. Many credentials require continuing education in the form of coursework and/or project experience. (Every two years, LEED Green Associate requires 15 hours, LEED AP requires 30 hours, and LFA requires 16 hours). This requirement can be seen as an opportunity to build upon your chosen credential and customize it to suit your interests and needs,
