March 2023
By Christian Garcia, LEED AP BD+C, Homes, WELL AP
Sustainability is meant to tackle global socio-environmental issues and applies to every part of our lives, from our daily routine to community developments and more. This is not an exception in the construction sector; still one of the largest contributors to our worldwide environmental deterioration. The next few paragraphs are meant to explain the importance of each discipline involved in the construction industry for achieving a successful and sustainable project.
When talking about buildings, our mind goes to architecture as a discipline, and its professionals. This thought may vary depending on the country, codes, type of buildings, scale, budget, etc. Overall, the Architect is not the only one behind a project and it is certainly not the only one responsible for taking a sustainable approach when developing a project.
Nowadays we have different rating systems and third-party reviewers for the sustainability principles applied to a project. In any of these programs, the scope involves diverse aspects of the project and therefore, different disciplines - from Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape, Urban Planning, Construction Administration, Structural, Civil, Mechanical. Electric and Plumbing Engineering, to name a few.
Depending on the project and firm there is usually a certification team and a certification lead. They take the role of identifying the items that will be integrated on their sustainability approach during the design and construction. While this is helpful and efficient - to keep track of the status of the project regarding a certification or to keep the documentation in one place - the responsibility must not land only on these team members for the success of the project in terms of sustainability. The commitment and responsibility need to be embraced by all professionals working in the project.
Designers need to encompass sustainability and apply the approach to their design through passive strategies, biomimicry and biophilia, conscious decisions for wellness and healthy spaces. Immersing into the space - virtual at this point - and becoming one of the occupants and all of the occupants at the same time. Architects and Interior Designers need to define the space beyond its practical function and aesthetics. Selecting materials because they look good is no longer acceptable - research beyond durability, cost and appearance is not enough for the success of the project in terms of sustainability and wellness.
Similarly, Landscape Architects and Urban Planners need to keep in mind who is going to experience those spaces and how they are supposed to experience them. Their decisions are affecting present users and future generations plus natural resources around them and beyond.
More objective disciplines like MEP, Structural and Civil, have the same level of responsibility in their own scopes. Preliminary calculations and selecting systems need to consider the goals established by the whole team at the beginning of the project. While not all the architectural measures can be evaluated and compared against base-line designs, Engineers could prove numerically how their decisions will align to the established sustainability intent. It becomes an extra step on the process and likely additional manpower time but, the benefits in economical savings, comfort and occupant safety are worth it. Savings could also be calculated in advance to prove the design goals will be achieved economically during operation.
During construction the plan becomes reality and words don’t mean anything without actions. Selecting the right materials or system is not enough if they are installed with high VOC content glue, for example. Its installation needs to comply with the established goals. Contractors and designers (from all disciplines) need to excel in their communication and be as strict with sustainability-related items as with anything else on site.
Most rating systems require a charrette at the beginning of the project to establish what the goals are and the approaches to take to fulfill the intent. Communication among all the team members is important throughout the phases of the project. If new members come onboard, they need to know what those goals are and what has been put in place to achieve them.
Being environmentally and socially responsible is not an option in this time and age. Ideally, construction professionals could practice their profession with this approach in mind from conceptual design - always trying to achieve the best results while taking in account the client’s budget. The broad scopes of projects need support from all disciplines for true and long-term success. Sustainability involves interdisciplinary knowledge (1) and team commitment.
(1) Liu, Junguo. “Interdisciplinary Knowledge and Institutions for Addressing Sustainability Challenges.” Springer Nature, Sustainability Community, 11 Feb. 2019, https://sustainabilitycommunity.springernature.com/posts/43907-interdisciplinary-knowledge-and-institutions-for-addressing-sustainability-challenges.
Comments