The 2024 class of new Oatey Ambassadors includes Tucker Baney, Nick Hotujec, David Williams, Rob Lupton, Schuyler Mooney, and Grant Blundell, collectively representing a diverse range of plumbing and building expertise from across North America. The new Ambassadors join returning Oatey Ambassadors Evan Berns,Colin Luttrell, Nick Parlet, Jeff Keller, Nick Meritt, Justin Noftle, and Jesharelah (Shay) Lorette.

Oatey Ambassadors champion Oatey and its family of brands through unique, authentic multimedia content and advocacy across social media and beyond. As an extension of the Oatey team, Ambassadors partner with the company on social media events, giveaways, trade shows, podcasts and more to bring the story of Oatey brands and products to life.

Ambassadors also have the opportunity to travel to Oatey’s industry-leading training facility, Oatey University, for an annual two-day Ambassador Fest event that immerses them in the culture of Oatey and builds lasting connections to the brand, company and associates. During Ambassador Fest, Ambassadors participate in hands-on training, tour Oatey’s manufacturing facility and visit Oatey’s world headquarters for a meet-and-greet with associates. Through the many touchpoints of the program, Ambassadors benefit from expanded visibility and reach for their personal brand across the digital landscape.

Oatey’s newly designated All-Star Ambassadors include Danielle Browne, Thomas Young, Robert Broccolo, and Germaine Nelson. Each of these Ambassadors has been part of the Oatey Ambassador Program for several years, displaying an impressive passion for Oatey, as well as a commitment to the Ambassador Program and the plumbing community at large. As All-Star Ambassadors, the influencers can remain in the Ambassador Program beyond its standard two-year duration, continuing to enjoy program perks in addition to enhanced partnership opportunities with Oatey.

“It is a great privilege for Oatey to partner with so many talented plumbing influencers through our Ambassador Program,” says Katherine Lehtinen, senior vice president of marketing at Oatey. “As this program continues to grow, we remain incredibly grateful for our Ambassadors’ partnership and support.

“We are committed to amplifying their talents and love for all things Oatey while supporting their career growth in the markets they serve and the platforms on which they publish,” Lehtinen says. “We are especially pleased to welcome six new Ambassadors this year, as well as to recognize our All-Star Ambassadors, whose passion and support have been unparalleled over the past several years.”­­

Individuals interested in becoming a future Oatey Ambassador can submit their information on the Oatey website for consideration.

The post Oatey Unveils Newest Participants in its Award-Winning Social Media Ambassador Program, Introduces All-Star Ambassador Program Tier appeared first on gb&d magazine.

“We look forward to meeting with our customers and other attendees at this year’s Canadian Concrete Expo, and presenting our proven concrete solutions that are addressing some of the challenges facing the Canadian concrete market,” said CHRYSO & GCP’s Okun Duyar, district sales manager of Ontario. “We are focused on transforming the Canadian construction industry by delivering innovative solutions that allow our customers to reduce their carbon footprint. Our North American team works closely with each customer throughout the cement and concrete lifecycle enabling them to achieve their technical, business, and sustainable objectives. We are excited to share our expertise with the Canadian market.”

Together CHRYSO & GCP provide a vast portfolio of concrete admixtures and cement additives designed to help customers achieve carbon reduction through the efficient and cost-effective use of materials.

CHRYSO & GCP Solutions at Canadian Concrete Expo 2024 Deliver:

• Cement Reduction (Portland limestone cement and new types of blended cement)
• Cement Replacement with Locally Sourced SCMs
• Use of Locally Sourced Aggregates
• Synthetic Fiber Conversion from Steel
• Recycled and Returned Concrete
• Reduced Clinker and Energy Consumption
• Operational Efficiencies

“Sustainability in construction is about making informed choices,” said Isabelle Lord, CHRYSO & GCP’s district Manager of Canada East. “We invite you to stop by our booth to share your concrete challenges, learn about our solutions, and enable us to work together in pursuit of customer-driven innovation.”

Explore how CHRYSO & GCP’s inventive solutions reduce the CO2 footprint of cement and concrete, enhance durability, and contribute to the circular economy.

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS

Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals offers cement additives, concrete admixtures, and the VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system through the combined solutions of CHRYSO and GCP. The integration of the two companies creates a vast depth of R&D expertise and technical know-how, alongside recent technologies for sustainable construction that help reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete, and foster the circular economy. Leveraging its global manufacturing presence, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals serves its customers through local sites in more than 40 countries, employing more than 2,700 people.

The post CHRYSO & GCP Present Low Carbon Concrete Innovations at Canadian Concrete Expo appeared first on gb&d magazine.

The trusted, original self-adhered roofing underlayment will join CertainTeed’s VYCOR® portfolio of self-adhered weather barriers. Both the GRACE ICE & WATER SHIELD and VYCOR weather barrier product lines integrated into CertainTeed in 2022 with the Saint-Gobain North America acquisition of GCP. The new name will deliver an innovative packaging design providing tools for distributors, contractors and installers.

“GRACE ICE & WATER SHIELD roof underlayment’s superior waterproofing performance will remain the same. We are simply giving it a new look,” said CertainTeed Senior Residential Product Manager Brian Chang. “I have had the privilege of overseeing the GRACE and VYCOR product lines for years, and I am proud to carry over that legacy at CertainTeed. Merging the high-performance self-adhered weather barriers into one weather protection system simplifies benefits for our customers. We look forward to introducing the new GRACE VYCOR name and packaging design to enhance the user experience, and leave the roofing underlyment’s 46 year-old proven formula untouched.”

New GRACE VYCOR Packaging Features:

• QR codes to access product guides and videos
• Simplified zones of information
• Maximized prominence of brand and product name to easily identify in a warehouse or on the job site

The soon-to-be rebranded GRACE VYCOR ICE & WATER SHIELD roofing underlayments are the same product you know and trust, with more assurance and support from an iconic industry leader. Backed by CertainTeed’s SureStart warranty, customers can further protect their homes and roofing products during the vital early years following installation and for up to 50 years with SureStart Plus. From the roof to the walls, the VYCOR portfolio of self-adhered weather barriers delivers unparalleled whole house weather protection.

About CertainTeed

Through innovative and sustainable building solutions made possible through its comprehensive offering of interior and exterior products, CertainTeed, founded in 1904 and headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, is at the forefront of industry advancements that are making the world a better home. With building science as its foundation, CertainTeed is transforming how the industry builds – making it easier than ever to create high-performance, energy-efficient solutions for where we live, work and play.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest and oldest building products companies, CertainTeed has more than 6,900 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The group had total sales of approximately $5.6 billion in 2021.

The post Iconic Roofing Underlayment Gets New Look appeared first on gb&d magazine.

At The Precast Show CHRYSO & GCP will showcase their enhanced and combined portfolio of precast and MCP solutions, which deliver high-performance, desired aesthetics, sustainability, and durability with cost efficiency top of mind.

“We remain focused on innovation and sustainability goals for the precast industry,” said Brian Miller, PE, CHRYSO & GCP North America Director of Precast, Manufactured and Decorative Concrete. “From our new strength enhancer, to helping precasters advance to the next stage of our industry, such as using UHPC, we look forward to presenting our expanded portfolio to attendees. Our precast and MCP specialist team will be available to address your precast and MCP challenges, such as lowering CO2, improving concrete consistency, quality, and efficiency and more.”

CHRYSO & GCP will present the following solutions at The Precast Show 2024:

• ENVIROMIX® SE: Increases early age strengths with the potential for carbon reduction
• UHPC: A complete offering of solutions and services; we help precasters develop mixes and execute their projects
• PIERI® Decorative Portfolio: In-form surface retarders, release agents and finish protectors
• PIERI® AQUAROL® TT-31 Release Agent: Delivers high quality finish and color transfer
• OPTEC®: Provides primary and secondary efflorescence control and improved color vibrancy
• Interstar: Through our exclusive partnership, we offer a complete coated, granular color solution for precast and MCP
• Other Admixtures & Innovative Technologies:
  • ADVA® Cast High Range Water Reducers: Enhances strength development and air control with superior finish
  • CONCERA®: Enhances movement and finish from drycast to SCC mixes
  • Fibers: Mitigates cracking, replaces reinforcement, and saves time and labor

Visit booth #2125 to explore CHRYSO & GCP’s solutions to overcome your precast challenges.

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS

Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals offers cement additives, concrete admixtures, and the VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system through the combined solutions of CHRYSO and GCP. The integration of the two companies creates a vast depth of R&D expertise and technical know-how, alongside recent technologies for sustainable construction that help reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete and foster the circular economy. Leveraging its global manufacturing presence, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals serves its customers through local sites in over 40 countries, employing more than 2,700 people.

The post CHRYSO & GCP Present CO2 Reducing High-Performance Solutions at The Precast Show 2024 appeared first on gb&d magazine.

“As World of Concrete celebrates 50 years, we are proud to present our 100 years of proven concrete solutions,” said CHRYSO & GCP Sustainability Program Manager Lisa Barnard. “We have developed an interactive booth to immerse attendees in our sustainability journey of
high-performance solutions. Experience our admixture solutions alongside our soil conditioning, waterproofing, leak sealing, and engineered slab systems, all in one exhibit. We invite visitors to stop by to sip an espresso, and share their current concrete challenges with us, so that we can partner together to deliver the ideal solutions, to achieve both business and sustainable objectives.”

All proudly part of the SAINT-GOBAIN family, CHRYSO & GCP, (SAINT-GOBAIN Construction Chemicals) and GCP Specialty Building Materials, provide customers with compatible, comprehensive one-stop system solutions for the bottom to the top of a structure. CHRYSO & GCP provide a vast depth of technical knowledge, decades of R&D expertise, alongside a portfolio of concrete admixtures and cement additives designed to help customers achieve carbon reduction through the efficient and cost-effective use of materials. GCP has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. They have been known for creating product categories and award-winning solutions, including proven waterproofing and fireproofing systems for concrete. Together they are combining performance and CO2 reduction to revolutionize the way the construction industry builds.

Solutions Showcased at World of Concrete 2024:

● Clinker reduction for cement production
● Cement reduction and replacement in concrete production
● Solutions to optimize local resources, reduce supply costs, and decrease carbon footprint, fostering a circular economy
● Solutions for enhanced concrete durability: mitigate cracking, soil stabilization, waterproofing, and engineered slab systems
● In-transit concrete management system
● Proprietary mobile phone app specifically used by CHRYSO & GCP team members, allowing them to pre-quantify the CO2 impact of various customer mix designs

Visit booth #S11827 to explore the latest advancements in sustainable concrete solutions. The industry leaders invite you to kick back in their hospitality lounge, while witnessing how their inventive solutions reduce the CO2 footprint of cement and concrete, enhance durability, and contribute to the circular economy. Follow the CHRYSO and GCP LinkedIn channels for daily schedules of demonstrations.

About Saint-Gobain Businesses

Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals offers cement additives, concrete admixtures and the VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system through the combined solutions of CHRYSO and GCP. The integration of the two companies creates a vast depth of R&D expertise and technical know-how, alongside recent technologies for sustainable construction that help reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete and foster the circular economy. Leveraging its global manufacturing presence, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals serves its customers through local sites in over 40 countries, employing more than 2,700 people.

GCP Specialty Building Materials is a leading global provider of high-performance specialty building materials. The company’s product portfolio includes proven waterproofing systems, fireproofing, air and vapor barriers and more to strengthen and protect buildings long-term. GCP partners with contractors, architects, and engineers to achieve performance and sustainability goals. The company has a legacy of first to market and award-winning solutions that have been used to build some of the world’s most renowned structures. GCP is focused on continuous improvement for its customers, end-users, and the environment.

The post Curbing CO2 at the Source: CHRYSO & GCP Demo Live at World of Concrete 2024 appeared first on gb&d magazine.

The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a pair of twin suspension bridges that span the Delaware River, connecting Delaware and New Jersey. Opened in 1951 and 1968, these massive toll bridges, each two miles in length, are vital transportation links for the Northeastern region.

After more than 60 years of service, it was determined that a major deck rehabilitation was needed on the northbound bridge to prolong the service life of the existing deck. The two-year, three phase rehabilitation project kicked off in September 2022, after a successful pilot installation was performed in 2020.

Challenges

As a vital toll bridge with more than 80,000 vehicles crossing it daily, there were immense challenges to executing a major rehabilitation. Most notably, was the disruption to traffic and the impact it would have on the travelers and the toll collections. The construction work could only be performed during specific timeframes when traffic volumes were relatively lower. Within these tight time windows, a new durable, high performing deck needed to be installed, without adding more weight to the structure.

Solution

The Delaware River & Bay Authority considered several options to repair or replace the existing bridge deck. After a life cycle cost analysis the owner determined that the use of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) was the preferred repair solution for the project. UHPC is an exceptionally strong and durable concrete material which often includes a large amount of fiber reinforcement and super-plasticizing agents. The UHPC would be installed as a new overlay system along the length of the bridge to both protect and structurally strengthen the existing bridge deck. Additionally, this solution could be installed in much less time and at a significantly reduced cost compared to more significant repair techniques (e.g., full-depth deck replacement). Compared to a more traditional concrete overlay, a thinner layer of UHPC is needed, minimizing any additional weight to the structure, and provides better long-term durability lasting 50 years or more.

In September 2023 the third and final phase of the rehabilitation project began, which consisted of removing two to three inches of deteriorated concrete from the existing deck surface of the Northbound two right lanes on the New Jersey side, and then replacing it with an equivalent thickness of UHPC. To conquer the time constraints and make sure the new bridge deck will withstand the test of time, Ductal®’s fiber-reinforced UHPC and CHRYSO & GCP’s admixture technologies were selected as the solution providers.

In partnership with UHPC Solutions (the General Contractor) and Ductal (the UHPC material supplier), the CHRYSO & GCP technical team helped identify the best admixtures for the intended application. The inclusion of the CHRYSO & GCP admixtures, such as high-range water reducers, allows for less batch water to be used in the UHPC mixture, producing a concrete that achieves >18,000 psi compressive strength, more than 3x stronger than traditional bridge deck

concrete. Additionally, the admixtures facilitated a concrete consistency that the contractor could pave in a downhill direction, which is not typically done in concrete paving. This allowed the contractor to condense their construction schedule, saving them both time and money.

More than 5,000 cubic yards of UHPC was installed on this project, which was placed using a specialty paver designed by the contractor and later diamond ground and grooved to ensure a smooth riding surface.

Results

The combination of Ductal’s concrete formulation expertise with CHRYSO & GCP’s admixture technologies, as well as the contractor’s optimized processes and equipment, overcame all challenges. The CHRYSO & GCP admixtures met all concrete rheology, strengths, finishability, and durability needs. The UHPC overlay was installed extremely quickly, shaving two weeks from the 11-week Phase 3 construction window. In addition, the enhanced performance of the new UHPC equates to less overall concrete used, which further reduces the project’s CO2 impact. Thanks to the innovations, expertise and collaboration, the bridge deck is now more durable and resilient with a low financial impact.

“The future of UHPC in construction is bright,” said Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals North America President Steve Williams. “The greater strength with less material needed and longer service life of more than 50 years, makes UHPC a key component in the sustainability goals of the construction industry. The use of UHPC on the Delaware Memorial Bridge deck rehabilitation project was the perfect fit, offering speed and light-weight durability. We were pleased to apply our admixture technologies to customize the UHPC, so that it met all performance needs and ensure that it will stand the test of time.”

“Holcim US and Ductal are very excited to bring our innovative UHPC solution to this signature bridge project,” said Greg Nault, technical manager for Ductal US. “CHRYSO & GCP’s specialty admixtures continue to work exceptionally well in our Ductal products and allow us to cultivate new innovations for the construction industry. We look forward to more opportunities like this in the near future!”

UHPC North America Director Gil Brindley said, “This project is the first of its kind in the United States. It is the first suspension bridge to have a UHPC overlay, the largest UHPC project in the US and broke records for UHPC placed in a single day. The success of the project is due to the partnership of all those involved. From the owner and designer, material suppliers and subcontractors, to the workforce that performed the work, everyone played an important role and worked collaboratively to make this project a reality.”

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS

Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals offers cement additives, concrete admixtures and specialty building materials, through the combined activities of Chryso and GCP. Its recent technologies for sustainable construction help reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete, and foster the circular economy. Leveraging its global manufacturing presence, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals serves its customers through local sites in over 40 countries, employing more than 2,700 people.

The post CHRYSO & GCP Admixtures Expedite Delaware Memorial Bridge Project appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• The Chicago Athenaeum’s 2023 Laureate of The American Prize for Architecture Awards took place on Dec. 13, 2023.
• Chad Oppenheim founded Oppenheim Architecture in 1999 to design a new kind of sensory, site-specific architecture.

In December 2023 in the The Arts Club of Chicago’s chilly, artwork-filled event space, Miami-based architect and urban planner Chad Oppenheim received the Chicago Athenaeum’s 2023 Laureate of The American Prize for Architecture. Wearing a laurel crown, he thanked his team, clients, and collaborators—particularly Beat Huesler, who leads the international branch of Oppenheim Architecture based in Basel, Switzerland—for bringing to life incredible work around the world.

All of Oppenheim’s structures include green roofs, providing thermal insulation, rainwater retention, and habitats for flora, fauna, and humans.

“Subtle, powerful, elegant, and deeply romantic, he is a prolific American architect who is radical in his restraint, demonstrating his reverence for history and culture as well as time and space while honoring the preexisting built and natural environment, as he reimagines a more beautiful and poetic world with modern, meaningful buildings that relate to their context and reinvigorates the landscape and places in which his designs exist,” Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, architecture critic and museum president and CEO of The Chicago Athenaeum, told the crowd.

The Ayla Golf Clubhouse in Jordan was designed by Oppenheim Architecture using shotcrete and soil from the site. Openings are sized to capture coastal breezes, and sunlight is filtered through perforated corten steel screens. Photo courtesy of Oppenheim Architecture

The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies grant the annual award to architects whose body of work pushes the typologies and expectations for architecture to new heights with consistent vision and humanist ideals.

The prize is widely regarded as the highest honor for architecture in the US, and Christian emphasized it is also the only public award in the nation, as he placed a literal crown of laurels upon Oppenheim’s head.

Chad Oppenheim was awarded the prestigious Chicago Athenaeum 2023 Laureate of The American Prize for Architecture.

Accepting the award, the architect also expressed gratitude for science fiction films like Star Wars, Blade Runner, and James Bond that he said pushed his understanding of what architecture can be. His work over the last two decades includes cultural and hospitality buildings, residences, and urban master planning across continents. Many bear resemblance to the films that inspire him, while all offer sensory architectural experiences that respond to their context, guided by the philosophy that design follows life and form follows feeling.

Previous Laureates include Sir Norman Foster, Michael Graves, and last year, SHoP Architects.

The Muttenz Water Purification Plant was designed by Oppenheim Architecture. Photo by Börje Müller

The design of the Muttenz Water Purification Plant takes an industrial building and makes it a beautiful site in a protected ecosystem. The shotcrete rock face is colored with local minerals and this porous geological surface welcomes moss and elemental markings over time, with no required maintenance. Photo by Aaron Kohler

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The post Oppenheim Architecture is Recognized for Sustainable, Humanist Works appeared first on gb&d magazine.

CHRYSO®Quad combines water reducing admixtures with a set of services and tools provided through the Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals local technical services team and network of regional application labs. These services evaluate the quality of natural and manufactured sands looking at sand gradation, shapes, and swelling clay pollution. This unique combination of solutions optimizes production costs, while improving the quality and performance of concrete using challenging sands.

“Depleting resources has made sourcing good quality sand difficult. As the quality of sand significantly impacts concrete performance, it has become a major challenge for the concrete industry,” said Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals North America President Steve Williams.

“In response to the challenges of the circular economy, we are pleased to deliver the expanded CHRYSO®Quad portfolio, combined with our local technical expertise, to our North American customer base. The innovative product offerings enable the use of lower quality, locally sourced or manufactured sands without compromising concrete quality, while improving the concrete CO2 footprint. CHRYSO®Quad is another solution from our diverse product portfolios to assist the industry in achieving technical, business, and sustainable objectives.”

Tailored Regional Approach

The Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals North American team works with each customer to identify the best admixture for their local sand source. It starts with the analysis of sands using the patented CHRYSO®CLEAR Test method, which diagnoses the presence and portion of swelling clay. Then, sand gradation is measured and integrated as a factor of the concrete mix design optimization. CHRYSO®Quad admixtures significantly compensate for the loss of rheology, flowability and finishability of fresh concrete, providing ease of application, replacing up to 100% of natural sands by manufactured sands.

This allows clients to gain flexibility by integrating new sands into their concrete mix and overcome shortages or tensions in material supplies. The use of local resources also contributes to reducing supply costs and decreasing the carbon footprint associated with the transportation of raw materials.

An additional benefit of combining the CHRYSO & GCP product portfolios is that CLARENA® MC 2000, another clay mitigation technology, reinforces the offering, providing concrete producers with the largest solution offering for challenging aggregates in North America.

Proven Track-Record

For example, to support a customer that wanted to optimize their mix to reduce embodied carbon by using locally available manufactured sand, an evaluation of reference concrete mix design and the manufactured sand was performed. CHRYSO®Quad 855 EMx was then proposed as the solution to optimize the mix design. As a result, the customer solved the material availability issues, reduced costs and reduced their concrete embodied carbon by 5%, by replacing 50% of their natural sand with locally available manufactured sand, avoiding long distance transportation.

Global Network with a Local Approach

Leveraging its international network of application laboratories and local expertise, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals provides answers to the aggregate sourcing challenges faced by industry stakeholders, supporting the circular economy. The company continues to focus on solving today’s concrete challenges through sustainable solutions. In the coming months, CHRYSO®Quad will be launched in Canada, continuing the availability of the benefits in North America.

About Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals

Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals offers cement additives, concrete admixtures and the VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system through the combined solutions of CHRYSO and GCP. The integration of the two companies creates a vast depth of R&D expertise and technical know-how, alongside recent technologies for sustainable construction that help reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete and foster the circular economy. Leveraging its global manufacturing presence, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals serves its customers through local sites in over 40 countries, employing over 2,700 people.

The post CHRYSO & GCP Expand CHRYSO Quad in North America appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Phius recently announced the winners of the ninth annual Passive Projects Design Competition.
• Passive buildings must have proper solar orientation, optimal insulation, high-performance windows and doors, an airtight enclosure, and balanced ventilation.

Each year the Passive House Institute US, more commonly known as Phius, celebrates outstanding designs that meet passive house standards. Phius-certified projects are the most energy-efficient and comfortable buildings in the world. Passive buildings are defined by these five passive design principles:

Using continuous insulation throughout the building envelope to minimize or eliminate thermal bridging

Building a well-detailed and extremely airtight building envelope, preventing infiltration of outside air and loss of conditioned air while increasing envelope durability and longevity

Employing high-performance windows (double or triple-paned) and doors. Solar gain is managed to exploit the sun’s energy for heating purposes in the heating season and to minimize overheating during the cooling season.

Using some form of balanced heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation to significantly enhance indoor air quality

Minimizing the space conditioning system because of lower space conditioning loads

The winners of the 2023 Phius Design Competition are:

Best Overall Project & Low-Rise Multifamily Winner: Vital Brooklyn

Vital Brooklyn was designed as part of an effort to improve Central Brooklyn’s low-income residents’ access to health, wellness, and housing. Photo courtesy of Phius

This multifamily, 160-unit new construction is the first project in New York State’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative—a program designed to improve Central Brooklyn’s low-income residents’ access to health, wellness, and housing, according to Dattner Architects.

The two-building Passive House development in the Brownsville neighborhood is located near the Brookdale Hospital aims to set a new benchmark for high-quality, sustainable, affordable housing. Solar panels, green roofs and plantings, high-performance mechanical systems, LED lighting, and many other energy efficient measures help to make this project a sustainable success.

Vital Brooklyn was also awarded Recognition of Excellence in Multi-Use.

Project: Vital Brooklyn
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Architect: Dattner Architects
CPHC: Carmel Pratt – Bright Power Inc.
Builder: Monadnock Construction
QA/QC: Elise Fabbri – Bright Power Inc.
Owner/Developer: MDG Design and Construction

Single-Family Winner: Iowa City Nest

The Iowa City Nest residence is an all-electric, low-carbon passive house. Photo by Carl Sterner

This all-electric, low-carbon passive house sits on a tight lot with existing trees the homeowners wanted to preserve. Materials throughout the home were carefully selected to reduce embodied carbon, promote excellent indoor air quality, and minimize ongoing maintenance. Cellulose insulation in walls and roof, engineered wood siding, metal roofing, and low-emitting wood floors were among the standout choices at the Iowa City Nest residence.

Project: Iowa City Nest
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Architect: Sol design + consulting
CPHC: Sanyog Rathod & Carl Sterner
Builder: Oak Tree Homes
QA/QC: Chris Dwyer

Source Zero Winner: Shawme Lake Passive House

This Shawme Lake project was the last in its neighborhood to be developed. It sits on a tight site flanked closely by neighbors, with public conservation land to the west, the road to the south, and a wooded lake to the east. Photo by Olivia Bogert

The exterior of this home is clad in FSC-certified larch and durable, zero-maintenance cementitious panels designed to endure for more than a century. PHIUS+ 2018 and Source Zero–certified, the project also stands to provide lasting comfort for occupants at a minimal cost and without the use of fossil fuels, according to the architects.

The firm says the building reimagines Cape Cod style and adds airtight construction, double-thick walls packed with 12 inches of dense cellulose, and a heat-recovering fresh air ventilation system.

Project: Shawme Lake Passive House
Location: Sandwich, MA
Architect: Kaplan Thompson Architects
CPHC: Kai Fast
Builder: The Valle Group
QA/QC: Home Energy Raters
Owner: Diane and Denis Boucher

High-Rise Multifamily Winner & Recognition for Excellence in Multi-Use: Chestnut Commons

The 14-story Chestnut Commons building is designed to Passive House standards and in compliance with NYC Active Design Guidelines to promote healthy living for residents. Photo courtesy of Phius

This Brooklyn project offers affordable housing and community for formerly homeless and low-income households, with 275 affordable housing apartments, communal spaces, and a landscaped roof terrace.

The community-centric design integrates a satellite community college campus, a food manufacturing incubator that provides job training, and a credit union. This project was also awarded Best Project by a Young Professional.

Project: Chestnut Commons
Location: Brooklyn
Architect: Dattner Architects
CPHC: Bright Power
Builder: Lettire Construction
QA/QC: Bright Power
Owner/Developer: Cypress Hills Local Development Corp, Urban Builders Collective, and MHANY Management

Affordable Housing Winner: Verdant

Verdant is a highly sustainable, five-story, wood-framed affordable housing development near the Mississippi River. Photo courtesy of Phius

This five-story, wood-framed affordable housing project near the Mississippi River emphasizes modern multi-family architecture, including a concrete and masonry underground parking garage on the lowest level with 72 covered parking stalls.

A double wall insulated with mineral wool helped this project meet the high R-values required for Phius certification as well as the non-combustibility requirements of the building code.

Project: Verdant
Location: St. Paul, MN
Architect: Kaas Wilson Architects
CPHC: Precipitate
Builder: Frana Companies
QA/QC: Center for Energy and Environment
Owner/Developer: Sherman Associates

Retrofit Winner: Ames Residence

The Ames residence in Chicago was a passive house retrofit. Photo by Breanne Trammell

This 3,400-square-foot home was a retrofit project that achieved final Phius certification in 2022. Chicago-based architect Farr Associates is known for their sustainable designs, with an expert team that includes passive house consultants. They work to consistently utilize local standards for high-efficiency and low-energy building practices.

Project: Ames Residence
Location: Chicago
Architect: Farr Associates Architecture & Urban Design
CPHC: Gabe Wilcox
Builder: Zoetic Building Consultants
QA/QC: EcoAchievers

Community Development Winner: 2nd and Delaware Apartments

Overlooking the Missouri River, the concrete-based 2nd and Delaware Apartment building was the largest Passive House structure in the world at the time of construction, according to Jeffery White Architect. The project uses approximately 90% less energy than an average building of similar size.

Project: 2nd and Delaware Apartments
Location: Kansas City, MO
Architect: Jeffery White Architect
CPHC: Prudence Ferreira
Builder: Crossland Construction
QA/QC: Erik Henson
Owner/Developer: Arnold Development & Yarco

More information, including honorable mentions, can be found at phius.org.

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The post Meet the 2023 Phius Design Competition Winners appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Sustainability today often refers to environmental sustainability and includes things like water conservation, biodiversity, and waterway cleanups.
• Social sustainability includes areas like disaster risk management programs and equal access to affordable health care.

As an increasingly used buzzword, “sustainability” today can be a bit tricky to pin down and, as a result, even more challenging to achieve. While some may throw the term around, there are plenty of inspiring examples of sustainability in action, from water and soil conservation efforts to the construction of green buildings and urban agricultural projects.

Here are 25 examples of environmental, social, economic, and cultural sustainability across a range of sectors.

What is Sustainability?

As an urban ecosystem embedded within the city, Schoonschip Amsterdam provides a new model for sustainable living. Photo by Alan Jensen

In the literal sense sustainability simply refers to maintaining something—be it a forest, a business model, or an entire economic system—at a certain rate or level. In the modern age sustainability is often conceptualized as being able to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their own needs.

This conceptualization is in accordance with the United Nations’ definition of sustainability and informs the basis behind the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2012 at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro.

Types of Sustainability

There are four main categories of sustainability that most countries, cities, businesses, and organizations strive for: environmental, social, cultural, and economic.

• Environmental. As the most sought-after form of sustainability, environmental sustainability seeks to avoid depleting the world’s natural resources (renewable or nonrenewable) in an attempt to maintain balance within the ecological community.
• Social. Refers to the processes, systems, institutions, and relationships that actively support the capacity of both current and future generations to create and maintain healthy, livable communities.
• Cultural. The process of maintaining and protecting the world’s cultural heritage, traditions and practices so that they may be learned, experienced, and taught by current and future generations; also known as cultural preservation.
• Economic. Encourages practices that will support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting a community’s environmental, social, and cultural aspects.

Sustainability Examples

As our understanding of humanity’s impact on the natural world evolves and technology advances, the collective idea of sustainability becomes more nuanced.

1. Waste Reduction & The Circular Economy

The Enercare Centre implemented CleanRiver’s Excel Slant recycling unit to help achieve an 85% waste diversion rate. Photo courtesy of CleanRiver

Each year the world generates approximately 2.01 billion tons of waste, most of which is not recycled and finds its way into a landfill, is illegally dumped in the ocean, or is left to pollute some other vulnerable ecosystem. This is largely a result of living in societies whose economic systems are based around the “take, make, throw away” philosophy of production and consumption. In recent years, however, some countries, cities, and even companies have begun experimenting with a new system: the circular economy.

The fundamental idea behind the circular economy is that of creating a closed-loop system of production and consumption that emphasizes reusing, refurbishing, repairing, leasing, and recycling existing materials and products for as long as is feasible. By extending the life cycle of every product or material in circulation the circular economy works to reduce pollution and waste production as much as possible.

When implemented at scale, the circular economy reduces the environmental impact of human activities and actively encourages damaged ecosystems to regenerate what has been lost to over-extraction.

2. Carbon Capture & Storage

As the primary factor driving advanced anthropogenic climate change, carbon emissions are the fulcrum upon which the climate crisis rests. Atmospheric carbon must be greatly reduced the world over—and carbon capture technology may play a key role.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) describes when carbon dioxide emissions are captured as they are produced—typically as the byproduct of certain industrial processes—after which point the carbon is transported to a storage location to be stored deep underground.

Carbon capture technology is capable of capturing and storing over 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions from any given power plant or industrial facility. The first large-scale carbon capture plant is currently being built by Heidelberg Materials in Brevik, Norway and aims to be operational before 2025; once completed, the plant will have the capacity to absorb approximately 400,000 tons of CO2 per year.

3. Decarbonization & Deep Energy Retrofits

Prefabricated architectural panels are an excellent cladding material for deep energy retrofit projects. Photo courtesy of Tremco CPG Inc.

Even better than capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions, however, is removing said emissions from the equation entirely, a process known as decarbonization. The strategies used in decarbonization vary depending on what is being decarbonized. In this example we’ll cover how decarbonization is being implemented with regard to the built environment.

Decarbonizing the built environment is typically achieved through the transition to renewable energy sources, the use of energy-saving features and appliances, or a combination of the two. New construction projects are increasingly likely to incorporate these decarbonization strategies from the outset, but there are also plenty of existing buildings that can—and should—be retrofitted to improve their overall energy efficiency.

These deep energy retrofits aim to reduce a building’s on-site energy usage by at least 40% and focus primarily on improving thermal efficiency by upgrading the insulation, installing energy-efficient windows and appliances, sealing air leaks, and replacing existing HVAC systems with low-emission alternatives. The building envelope also plays a crucial role, and prefabricated architectural panels are a tremendous help. Tremco’s prefabricated architectural panels were designed as a cost-effective solution to the envelope-first approach required of deep energy retrofits while eliminating the need to displace tenants in the process.

“The majority of all deep energy retrofit projects are generally tenant-in-place,” David Hutchinson, deep energy retrofit development specialist, told gb&d. “If you’re in construction, you know the labor force, you know the timetables. You can’t be working on apartments, for example, for months and months and months.” He said as retrofit projects have very tight windows to get completed, the only way to do an envelope with tight timeframes and a labor shortage is through prefabrication.

“Decarbonizing the built environment presents a tremendous opportunity and priority due to its significant impacts on climate change, human health, social equity, and economic vitality,” Jenna Cramer, president and CEO of Pittsburgh-based Green Building Alliance, previously told gb&d.

4. Renewable Energy

Covestro says clean energy must power the circular economy. Image courtesy of Covestro

As the leading factor contributing to accelerated anthropogenic climate change, fossil fuel and GHG emissions must be curbed as soon as possible to prevent total climate catastrophe. Experts agree that transitioning to clean, renewable energy is part of the solution, especially within the built environment, which is responsible for nearly 42% of all carbon emissions.

Solar panels, for example, are becoming increasingly common on both residential and commercial buildings, with many local and federal governments providing economic assistance or tax credits for solar installation projects. Small- and large-scale wind turbine projects are also major contributors to renewable energy production; wind is the largest source of renewable energy in the US.

Depending on geographic location and geologic qualities, geothermal power can also be an incredibly efficient and high-producing alternative energy source, as can hydropower. In fact, Reykjavik, one of the most sustainable cities in the world, is powered entirely by renewable energy and relies primarily on geothermal plants and hydroelectric facilities for its electricity.

5. Green Building Practices

Green buildings like this apartment complex are integral to reducing the built environment’s impact on the natural world. Photo by John Bartlestone Photography

The built environment is responsible for producing approximately 42% of the world’s annual carbon emissions, but it also accounts for approximately 36% of all global energy usage, while the construction and demolition industry as a whole generates 30% of all solid waste and extracts 32% of Earth’s natural resources.

This has led to a growing interest in sustainable architecture—or the design of buildings that seeks to minimize any negative impact on the environment through the use of green building practices like energy-efficiency measures, renewable energy, and using low-carbon materials.

6. Regenerative Architecture

Construction for the MAC Lodge minimized the impact on the neighboring trees. Photo by Chad Holder

Green building can be taken a step further by adopting principles of regenerative architecture. From an ecological perspective “regenerative” refers to the ability of an ecosystem—that is, the land itself and all of its living and non-living inhabitants—to recover and replenish from ecological harm.

Regenerative architecture, on the other hand, refers to a specific methodology or philosophy that views the built environment as an extension of the natural environment and seeks to construct buildings with a positive impact on their respective ecological communities. Rather than simply reduce their consumption of energy or resources, regenerative buildings actively give back more than they take by mimicking the restorative biological systems found in nature.

7. Passive Design

Designed by Jeremy Levine, the Cowboy Modern Desert Eco-Retreat uses passive solar design and wind-driven ventilation to reduce energy needs. Photo courtesy of Lance Gerber

In architecture passive design refers to those design strategies that allow buildings to make the most efficient use of natural environmental factors—e.g. wind, buoyancy, and sunlight—to reduce energy consumption. Rather than rely on mechanical systems for heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation, passive design enables a building to depend solely on the laws of nature to fulfill these crucial functions.

Three of the most common passive design strategies are passive solar, passive ventilation, and passive lighting:

• Passive Solar Design. Design in which a building’s walls, floors, and windows are made to reject solar heat during the summer and collect, store, reflect, and redistribute solar heat during the winter; informs everything from building orientation and window placement to the materials used in construction.
• Passive Ventilation. Refers to the process of supplying air to and removing air from an indoor space via the pressure/density differences arising from either wind or buoyancy; informs window placement and building layout.
• Passive Lighting. Refers to the use of windows, skylights, and other daylighting elements to illuminate a building’s interior without having to rely on artificial lighting.

8. Water Conservation

Low-flow appliances like this Niagara toilet can drastically reduce water use. Photo courtesy of Niagara

Fresh water is, without a doubt, the most important natural resource on the planet—one all living beings require for survival. As it stands, a large percentage of freshwater ecosystems are threatened as a result of human activities.

“More than one-third of available and renewable freshwater on Earth is consumed for agriculture, industrial, and domestic uses, often leading to water source contamination and endangering public health,” Anna Zakrisson, cofounder and chief science officer of iimpcoll, previously wrote for gb&dPRO.

Water conservation strategies include installing low-flow taps and water-efficient or waterless appliances, greywater recycling, required water-use reporting, the construction of desalination plants, and more.

9. Waterway & Beach Cleanups

Regular waterway and beach cleanups help keep aquatic animals safe. Photo by Chris Howe

Waterway and beach cleanups are crucial in preventing waste—especially plastic waste—from polluting our streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. Defined as the process of removing microplastics, debris, waste, and pollutants from bodies of water, waterway cleanups may be conducted at both the micro and macro level.

Small-scale waterway cleanups typically entail wading through or walking alongside bodies of water and manually removing large debris as they are encountered, whereas large-scale waterway cleanups often involve the use of specialized commercial equipment to skim and collect waste actively floating at sea.

When conducted regularly and effectively, waterway cleanups help protect aquatic life by preventing toxic algal blooms and deoxygenation; support fishing and other seafood industries by improving water quality and restoring fish populations; and ultimately reduce the risks of contaminated drinking water.

10. Rainwater Harvesting

The Rain Harvest Home project is made up of three buildings that each collect rainwater to integrate with an above- and below-ground reservoir system. Photo by Jaime Navarro

Harvesting rainwater, or collecting precipitation to store for later use, is another way to conserve water. Rainwater harvesting has become increasingly popular in recent years because of its role in boosting a building or community’s water security.

There are both simple and complex rainwater harvesting systems. Depending on the rainwater’s intended use the collected water may be used as is—typically the case if it’s for landscape irrigation—or it may go through a treatment/purification process so it may be used for plumbing or as an alternative source of potable water.

Not only does rainwater harvesting increase a building’s overall water security, it also helps control and reduce stormwater runoff, which in turn decreases the chances of sewer system overflow and urban flooding. During times of drought stored rainwater can help reduce strain on underground aquifers and the municipal water supply while also minimizing the need for imported water.

11. Sustainable Forest Management

“There is no better, more natural choice than wood when sourced from regions of the world like British Columbia, who ensure those forests will continue to grow in perpetuity,” says Shannon Janzen, vice president partnerships, sustainability and chief forester at Western Forest Products. Photo courtesy of Western Forest Products

Each year approximately 10 million hectares or 15 billion trees are cut down each year as lumber or to make room for development projects. This rate of deforestation is, to put it simply, not sustainable for the long term and contributes significantly to the decline of biodiversity and the traditional cultural practices of many Indigenous peoples.

Many governments and forest managers have adopted sustainable forestry practices that aim to manage and improve the overall diversity, resilience, and productivity of forest ecosystems.

Common sustainable forest management practices include:

• Protecting ecologically important forest areas.
• Prohibiting logging companies from cutting down old growth trees.
• Disallowing the approval of forest conversion projects.
• Prohibiting the use of chemical pesticides and planting of genetically modified trees.
• Replanting native tree species after harvesting.
• Practicing selective logging and thinning rather than clearcutting.
• Ensuring free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples.

12. Soil Conservation

This waterfront restoration project headed by Surfacedesign required the reintroduction of crucial, nutrient-rich soil profiles local to the Puget Sound. Photo by Marion Brenner

Soil conservation and management is also integral to ensuring present and future generations are capable of meeting their needs. As a living ecosystem and the basis for which all food production is quite literally rooted in, soil is as critical a resource as freshwater but is rarely treated as such.

Soil conservation efforts have ramped up in recent years, focused on preventing the loss of crucial topsoil and staving off or reversing soil infertility caused by overuse, salinization, acidification, or other contamination.

Some of the most common soil conservation techniques include planting cover crops, rotating crops after each harvest, practicing conservation tillage, use of planted windbreaks, and reintroduction of organic matter/microorganisms.

13. Drought-Tolerant Landscaping

The 6.8-acre campus is designed around the landscape, and the drought tolerant native plants help to restore the natural habitat. Photo by Ric Berryman

In the US an average of 9 billion gallons of water is used per day for residential landscape irrigation. Most of that water goes towards watering lawns, many of which serve a purely aesthetic purpose and are actively harmful to existing biodiversity. A significant amount of water can be saved, however, through the implementation of drought tolerant landscaping or the practice of landscaping with native plant species that possess a high tolerance to drought and drought-like conditions.

Once established drought tolerant landscapes are capable of reducing outdoor water use by as much as 75%, which in turn translates to lower water bills and reduced strain on municipal water systems.

Sustainable, water-wise landscaping initiatives also go hand in hand with promoting and maintaining soil health, as drought-tolerant plants form long, complex root systems that improve the surrounding soil’s resistance to erosion caused by wind and water, preventing the loss of crucial topsoil.

14. Reintroduction of Biodiversity

Green roofs seeded with native plant species can help reintroduce biodiversity in urban areas. Photo courtesy of Architek / Brett Ryan Studios

Experts estimate that the accelerated species loss we are currently experiencing is happening at a rate between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate. This rapid loss of biodiversity is largely the result of human actions—namely deforestation, overdevelopment, and pollution.

Many groups, organizations, and programs are working to reintroduce biodiversity to damaged environments using the following common methodologies:

• Planting trees and seeding meadows. Reintroducing native tree species and seeding meadows with indigenous grasses, flowers, and other plants can help attract and provide habitats for a variety of mammals, birds, and insects; this can even be accomplished in suburban and urban areas by way of green roofs and living walls.
• Building wildlife corridors. The proliferation of cultivated land, roadways, and large urban centers has drastically reduced the ability of many species to migrate safely; constructing wildlife corridors—or strips of natural habitats connecting ecosystems otherwise separated by human development—over and under roads can help reconnect habitats and encourage species migration.
• Reconstructing coral reefs. Coral reefs are some of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, with estimates suggesting that half of all reefs have already been destroyed or severely damaged; coral reef reconstruction efforts entail growing, gardening, and out-planting coral species as well as the direct transplanting of coral fragments.

15. Sustainable Agriculture

Photo courtesy of Il Borro

While large-scale agriculture is generally considered necessary to produce the food required to feed Earth’s growing population, most experts agree that the current practices—monocultures, slash-and-burn, use of chemical pesticides, etc.—behind modern industrial farming aren’t sustainable for the long term.

This has prompted the creation of—and return to—sustainable agriculture strategies designed to preserve soil health, reduce pollution, and conserve water, amongst other things. Some of the most common sustainable agriculture practices include:

• Crop rotation. Instead of growing the same crop in the same field for years on end, farmers rotate their crops between different fields after each growing season; this helps reintroduce nutrients into the soil that may have been depleted after the last crop and reduces the chances of developing resistant weeds and pests.
• Organic farming. Sometimes referred to as biological farming, organic farming refers to the practice of using fertilizers and pest control measures of organic rather than synthetic origin.
• Agroforestry. Refers to the practice of growing trees and shrubs alongside or amongst crops and pastureland; agroforestry can help reduce erosion, improve water retention, increase biodiversity, and provide protection from wind.
• Permaculture. Describes an approach to land management and food production that aims to mimic the arrangement of plants observed in natural environments to ensure harmonious, mutually-beneficial cross-species interaction; emphasizes ethical production and consumption that benefits the earth, people, and local communities.

16. Urban Agriculture

Photo by Monica Løvdahl

Rural farms are integral to sustainable food production but the long-distance transportation of produce and animal products to cities and urban centers can contribute significantly to atmospheric air pollution. Urban agriculture projects can help cut down on transportation-related emissions by allowing produce to be grown locally while also serving to increase food security, foster community building, provide learning opportunities, improve air quality, and mitigate stormwater runoff.

Losæter is an urban farm, park, and museum in Oslo that is an example of urban agriculture in action. Originally established as an art project, Losæter is now home to fields seeded with rescued ancient grains, vegetable garden plots, a public baking house, and common area that doubles as a knowledge-sharing space for everything baking and farming related

“This place makes it possible for a lot of people to be creative,” Anne Beate Hovind, a previous project manager for Losæter, previously told gb&d. “It started out one way, and today we have a city farmer here, we have a public bakehouse, we have a baker who wants to do workshops. A lot of people are involved now.”

17. Food-Waste Reduction

Approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted each year, amounting to roughly 1.3 billion tons annually according to data collected by the World Food Programme. In the US food waste accounts for 24.1% of all municipal waste sent to landfills.

At the agricultural level a large portion of edible food is thrown out due to overproduction or failure to meet cosmetic standards; a significant amount of produce is never even harvested but left to rot in the field simply because it does not meet market size, shape, color, or maturity standards. It’s estimated that roughly 20% of produce harvested is wasted as a result of improper storage, packaging, or transportation.

Allowing individuals and organizations to collect and redistribute produce that does not meet cosmetic quality standards can help reduce food waste at harvest, though it would be even more beneficial to relax cosmetic standards altogether.

Many grocery stores, bakeries, and restaurants also contribute to food waste by overproducing or overstocking and then throwing away, despite food still being edible. Some businesses do donate unsold food to food banks—an action that, if practiced nationwide, could drastically reduce food waste.

18. Eco-Tourism

The Blue Lagoon is an otherworldly spa heated by a geothermal energy plant, and it’s many tourists’ first stop in Iceland. Basalt Architects, a leader in green building in Iceland, completed The Retreat at Blue Lagoon in 2018. Photo by Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson

Approximately 11% of the world’s GHG emissions and 4 to 8% of all global waste is produced by the tourist industry, according to estimates by the World Travel & Tourism Council—and that’s to say nothing of the cultural harm tourism has historically perpetuated against certain communities and identity groups around the world.

Eco-tourism seeks to end and even reverse the harm caused by the mass tourism industry by amplifying conservation efforts and encouraging ethical cultural interaction. Marketed as tourism that prioritizes responsible travel, eco-tourism aims to educate people about the natural world, fund environmental preservation initiatives, support economic development, and improve the well-being of local communities.

While not foolproof, adopting and implementing sustainable tourism initiatives can help improve the tourist industry as a whole and ensure tourism is conducted in a more ethical manner—that is, it minimizes environmental, socio-economic, and cultural harm as much as possible.

19. Heat-Island Mitigation

Westcoat offers both solar reflective waterproofing and concrete coating systems. These systems help combat the urban heat island effect by lowering surface temperatures. Here, MACoat Solar Reflective was installed on a Carmel Valley deck. Photo courtesy of Westcoat

Rising global temperatures, combined with the propensity of urban areas to experience higher average temperatures than rural areas—the so-called “heat-island effect”—puts nearly 41 million people in the US alone at increased risk of fatal heat stroke.

In order to prepare for this increasingly dangerous phenomena, many cities have begun integrating heat-island mitigation into their development plans, including measures such as:

• Cool infrastructure. Light-colored and solar reflective coatings applied to rooftops, sidewalks, and roads allows for a substantial amount of solar heat energy to be reflected rather than absorbed.
• Green roofs. Act as insulators by absorbing solar energy and can be as much as 30 to 40% cooler than conventional rooftops; when implemented to scale, green roofs can help lower city-wide temperatures by approximately 5% via evapotranspiration.
• Trees and green spaces. Similar to green roofs, the expansion of green spaces and the planting of trees contribute to evaporative cooling and provide shade for pedestrians.

20. Pedestrian Infrastructure & Walkability

Multiple urban portals at the Gensler-designed Arizona Center were created to direct pedestrian circulation toward the project’s central core and encourage impromptu social gatherings. With the new open entries, walkability increased dramatically. Dramatically patterned perforated metal screens integrate with existing facades. Photo by Bill Timmerman

For the last few decades cities and other urban centers have been designed around the automobile, largely at the expense of walkability. This has led to the transportation sector accounting for approximately 29% of all carbon emissions in the United States, with light-duty passenger vehicles responsible for over half of that figure.

In an effort to reduce these emissions more and more urban planners, developers, architects, and engineers have begun designing with walkability in mind. “The most sustainable cities are truly resilient and include design for walkability, allowing people to get around on two feet with easy access to key business and cultural hubs without putting their health at risk,” Renee Schoonbeek, senior associate vice president at CallisonRTKL, wrote in a previous gb&d article.

Encouraging walkability by prioritizing pedestrian infrastructure—such as wide sidewalks, wayfinding tools, trails and footpaths, bike lanes, and crosswalks—over car-centric infrastructure reduces vehicle dependency to get around, resulting in fewer emissions and higher air quality.

21. Expanding Public Transportation

The Harrison Path Train Station in Harrison, New Jersey leverages YKK AP subsidiary Erie AP’s ENVIRO|FACADES unitized curtain wall. Photo courtesy of YKK AP

In a similar vein, increasing access to affordable, high-quality public transportation systems can help reduce carbon emissions even further by providing safe, reliable, and sustainable alternatives to personal automobiles. The logic here is simple: buses, trains, subways, and other transit systems are capable of carrying far more people than a personal vehicle can while also producing fewer emissions per person.

This is especially true for cities and countries that invest in public transportation that runs wholly or partially off of renewable energy. Japan, for example, is widely regarded as having one of the best public transportation networks in the world, largely thanks to the country’s investment in electric high-speed rail systems that are fast, reliable, and incredibly low-polluting.

22. Affordable & Sustainable Housing

Photo by Bruce Damonte

Sustainable housing refers to the subcategory of sustainable architecture concerned with the development of green, affordable housing projects and encompasses everything from private single-family residences to high-rise apartment complexes. These housing projects are intentionally designed, built, and operated in such a manner so as to reduce the structure’s environmental impact, promote social equity, and uplift social stability without contributing to gentrification.

Housing that utilizes renewable energy and energy-saving measures, for example, can help reduce renters’ utility bills and decrease reliance on potentially unreliable or overtaxed local energy grids, thereby improving energy security and improving community resilience.

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We see this exemplified in Edwin M. Lee Apartments, a residential complex designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMSA) that serves as the first combined homeless veteran and low-income family development in San Francisco.

“The Edwin M. Lee Apartments has set a new standard for community-forward, equitable design,” Gwen Fuertes, architect and building scientist for LMSA, previously wrote for gb&d. “The integrated design creates a healthy, energy-efficient, resilient, and regenerative complex that provides social, economic, and environmental value to the residents and the greater community.”

23. Accessible Health Care

John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, using YKK AP 50H. Photo courtesy of YKK AP

While the majority of these examples deal with environmental sustainability, it’s important to recognize those concerned with promoting social sustainability as well—and ensuring everyone has access to affordable, quality health care regardless of their financial standing is crucial to promoting social sustainability. This also entails addressing and reducing the historic health care disparities based on race, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, and disability status.

By making essential services like health care accessible to all community members we in turn create a healthier society for both current and future generations.

24. Poverty Alleviation

Wheeler Kearns Architects designed The Night Ministry in Chicago, renovating three floors of a former manufacturing facility in the Bucktown neighborhood. Photo by Kendall McCaugherty, Hall + Merrick Photographers

While it may be more appropriate to consider poverty alleviation as a stepping stone towards sustainable development rather than a true example of social sustainability, poverty alleviation programs nevertheless play an important role in the quest to create healthy, resilient, and equitable communities.

Organizations like The Night Ministry in Chicago, for example, help foster social sustainability by providing overnight shelter, warm meals, housing support, and health care services to those experiencing poverty and homelessness in the greater Chicago area.

25. Disaster Risk Management

Disaster risk reduction or management describes the systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and minimizing the risks of various environmental, climate, and social disasters. Disaster risk reduction efforts are designed so as to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities to these disasters and prevent future disasters by addressing the factors that trigger them.

Disaster risk management strategies often manifest in the form of resilient infrastructure, educational programs, poverty alleviation campaigns, improving healthcare accessibility, and even the relocation of vulnerable populations.

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