• The world’s largest architecture and design firm is pushing the concrete industry to reduce carbon emissions.
• Concrete, furniture, and carpet are all areas in the built environment that are ripe for innovation.

The world is warming at an alarming rate, and consumers have set their sights on flashy, eye-catching products that offer high-tech solutions to reduce carbon emissions. Electric vehicles and smart thermostats are examples of incredible technologies that will drive us toward more sustainable lifestyles. These high-tech solutions generate their own demand; the shiny and new always does. However, if we are to achieve critical climate goals, we must find ways to take what’s old and gray and make it shiny and new. In fact, we must demand it.

Concrete is the second-most consumed material in the world, second only to water. It’s in our homes, offices, hospitals, and schools—and chances are it’s beneath you right now. The production of cement, a key ingredient of concrete, accounts for at least 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. If you think this is a small number, think again. If the cement industry was a country, it would the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions, outdone only by China and the US.

As co-CEO of the world’s largest architecture and design firm, I’m one of concrete’s largest customers. I believe private industry must lead the pursuit of a more sustainable built environment, and we’re using our status to push the concrete industry to reduce carbon emissions through innovation. And it’s not just us; consumers are demanding it as well.

Shanghai Tower. Image courtesy of Blackstation

Innovation is essential to carbon reduction, but innovation isn’t limited to microchips and automation. We are surrounded by opportunities to apply innovation in unexpected areas, including concrete. Furniture and carpet are two other areas in the built environment that are ripe for innovation.

The carbon impact of furniture increases substantially as replacement furniture is purchased throughout the lifespan of an office building (approximately 60 years). In fact, the total sum of embodied carbon in furniture often surpasses that of the concrete used during the initial build. Like furniture, carpet is replaced several times. Traditional carpet manufacturing consumes large amounts of water and generates significant waste. The cumulative impact of replacing carpet is nearly equal to the building’s concrete.

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The problem is compounded by tenant leases, which often last less than 10 years. This means every 10 years a building could experience completely new interiors, including furniture and carpet. This means one building could experience as many as six lifetimes of furniture and finishes.

Viettel Group Headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Owen Raggett

Material reuse, the cornerstone of the circular economy, is one of the most effective and achievable strategies for reducing embodied carbon. Reuse strategies can be implemented at every phase of the design process, including strategies for reusing existing concrete, furniture, and carpet.

Consumers have the power to demand manufacturers reduce carbon emissions. Together we can apply innovation in unexpected places. Ask your designers, contractors, or building managers about embodied carbon and the circular economy. Don’t know where to start? Ask them about the furniture and carpet.

The post The Carbon Innovations Hiding in Plain Sight appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Despite predictions of a retail apocalypse, the sector has stabilized by reimagining the shopping experience.
• Brands are operating fewer locations with a greater focus on buy online, pick up in store.
• Architects are designing shopping centers to resemble town squares as shoppers move away from traditional malls.

The past few years have been tumultuous for the retail market. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered many non-essential businesses, the increased competition from e-commerce presented a serious challenge to brick-and-mortar retail.

Yet even under these difficult circumstances, prophecies of a total retail apocalypse have largely proven to be overblown. According to the National Association of Realtors, retail vacancy rates declined throughout 2021 and ended the first quarter of this year at 4.5%. Pandemic restrictions have largely been lifted, and shoppers appear eager to get out of the house and shop in-person again.

More importantly, retailers have responded to these challenges by reimagining what the brick-and-mortar experience looks like for shoppers. Part of that has been reconfiguring store layouts to facilitate an omni-channel experience—for example, by embracing a “buy online, pick up in store” (BOPIS) model or offering more of a showroom experience.

The designers of retail spaces, who have used these challenges as an opportunity to innovate new formats that help brands respond to customer trends, will continue to play an integral role in the market’s transformation.

“Retail design is becoming more of an integrated function of an omni-channel approach, with a greater focus on merging technology into the physical space,” says Jay Baptista, senior principal at Stantec, one of the leading providers of retail design services worldwide.

This transition goes beyond store design itself. Architects are also reexamining how shopping centers themselves are designed and oriented. The traditional shopping mall is making way for a more pedestrian-oriented, outdoor shopping experience that incorporates a variety of uses—including residential—in a format that reflects the feel of a historic town center.

In this sense, brick-and-mortar retail is evolving to meet consumer demand rather than dying out—just as it has in the past.

The Changing Nature of Retail

Stantec centered the master plan for McGregor Square around a public plaza to create a gateway between downtown Denver and the ballpark that could be enjoyed during off-season as well as game days. Photo by Moss Photography

Despite the recovery of the past year, the pre-pandemic trend toward online shopping continues unabated. In response, retail designers need to create spaces that motivate customers to shop in-person again, Baptista says.

With fewer locations than before the pandemic, retailers can now be more purposeful with curating a positive customer experience in their remaining stores. That means smaller footprints, less clutter, and a more instinctive layout that allows customers to engage more with products and the overall brand experience—all while controlling costs in an inflationary environment.

But recognizing that customers have become accustomed to the convenience of online shopping, and leveraging those benefits, is also critical. Baptista says the design community must help retailers bridge the gap between their online platforms and brick-and-mortar locations by integrating technology into the store experience.

“It’s about maintaining a digital presence consistent with the physical presence; incorporating touchless elements that speed up and simplify the ordering process—whether it’s from a phone, kiosk, or touch screens placed throughout the store,” Baptista says.

Many retailers are incorporating radiofrequency identification (RFID) with smart barcodes to better track inventory items. Others have removed fixed register locations in favor of self-checkout or roaming associates equipped with Bluetooth-enabled tablets. These tools have the added benefit of helping to reduce staffing needs in a tight labor market.

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Perhaps the most substantial change in physical formats, though, is the need to respond to customers’ desire to buy online and pick up in-store.

“One of the biggest questions is: How do you optimize the space both as a showroom but also as the distribution hub and delivery station?” Baptista says. This entails designing a space with less shelf space in favor of a larger distribution center for online orders.

Restaurants, while facing somewhat unique challenges, are also supporting higher volumes of delivery and pick-up orders and need to recalibrate their space in a similar fashion. According to McKinsey, the market for food delivery more than doubled during the pandemic. For dining establishments, this means adding spots for curbside pickup and designing kitchens geared toward to-go rather than plated food.

From Shopping Malls to Town Squares

Stantec was recently commissioned to reimagine the Potsdamer Platz Arkaden mall in central Berlin—originally built in the 1990s on a site where the Berlin Wall once divided the city. Rendering courtesy of Stantec

Across America, hundreds of shopping malls have closed in recent years due to increased competition from e-commerce and changing consumer habits—and Covid-19 restrictions did the market no favors. According to the NAIOP Research Foundation, there were once more than 1,500 shopping malls in the US. Today there are less than 1,000—and that number is expected to continue to drop.

“I think the pandemic accelerated this rate of change and exposed the retail industry to all of these underperforming stores, and there was a realization that the environment was overbuilt,” Baptista says.

In their place, architects are designing shopping center formats that more closely resemble a town square or main street experience, with shops centered around a walkable, outdoor promenade that maximizes density and incorporates additional use cases to complement soft retail, such as grocery and entertainment.

“It’s about trying to re-create that old downtown feel,” Baptista says. “You’re seeing a move to more of an integrated mixed-use function, like adding multi-family residential components to retail centers” as well as experiential functions like gyms and health clinics.

Major league sports teams have increasingly sought to leverage this trend to build dynamic shopping and entertainment districts around their stadiums—helping to build brand awareness and keep fans engaged before and after leaving the park.

Stantec recently partnered with the Colorado Rockies on developing McGregor Square, a vibrant new urban space next to Coors Field that combines shopping and dining options, condos, a hotel, office space, and entertainment venues. Stantec centered the master plan around a public plaza in order to create a gateway between downtown Denver and the ballpark that could be enjoyed during off-season as well as game days.

Sustainability Through Adaptive Reuse

Stantec used 3D software to visualize a facelift of the existing three-story shopping mall to more dramatic refurbishments that would see the facility transformed into six urban flagship blocks centered around a two-level cultural and hospitality market. Rendering courtesy of Stantec

Some malls are being partially torn down and completely remodeled to reflect these changing consumer habits, similar to the way architects are designing new shopping centers.

“We’re responding by trying to make it a live-work-play environment when we work with developers,” he says. With malls, “it’s about repurposing that real estate. You have the land, so what’s the best use for it?”

Even centralized urban malls are not immune to these challenges. Stantec was recently commissioned by Brookfield Properties and ECE Group to reimagine the Potsdamer Platz Arkaden mall in central Berlin, which was originally built in the 1990s on a site where the Berlin Wall once divided the city.

Stantec used an extensive suite of 3D software to visualize a series of scenarios ranging from simple facelifts of the existing three-story shopping mall to more dramatic refurbishments that would see the facility transformed into six urban flagship blocks centered around a two-level cultural and hospitality market.

“Brookfield elected to pursue the more expansive scenario that will see the mall revitalized into an urban hub of entertainment, gastronomy, and destination retail,” Baptista says. Construction is underway, and global brands such as Nike, Apple, and Audi will begin moving in once construction is complete at the end of 2022.

Adaptive reuse of existing structures is also far more sustainable than building from scratch. According to the EPA, even a new, energy-efficient building that includes as much as 40% recycled materials will still take approximately 65 years to recover the energy lost from demolishing an existing building of comparable size.

Many of these older malls were not built to operate sustainably, so repurposing them provides an additional opportunity to incorporate green features. Updated building envelopes, such as walls, floors, glazing, and roof systems, all improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Stantec also works with clients to integrate building management system (BMS) software into a structure’s mechanical and electrical systems, which yield at least a 20% improvement in efficiency and reduced carbon usage.

A More Hygienic Shopping Experience

Photo courtesy of Excel Dryer

Another legacy of the pandemic and its impact on retail design is a desire for a more hygienic shopping experience. Indoor air quality has become a top consideration as people have become more aware of how germs are spread.

To alleviate these concerns, Stantec works with clients to incorporate 100% outside air (OA) capable mechanical equipment and high level polypropylene membrane (PPM) filters, which increase beneficial indoor air circulation and reduce the spread of viruses and other particulate matter in the air. “The pandemic has certainly amplified the need for filtered and fresh air indoors,” Baptista says.

Incorporating touchless features, like restroom fixtures and accessories, is also becoming a necessity. Excel Dryer, which designs and manufactures touchless hand dryers for a wide range of retail formats, has added HEPA filtration systems to its XLERATOR hand dryers to remove more than 99% of harmful viruses and bacteria from the air stream.

Reducing paper towel waste from restrooms is also top of mind for retail designers—not only as a sustainability measure but also to keep facilities cleaner and more hygienic. The American Journal of Infection Control has found that even unused paper towels can contain culturable bacteria.

“Used paper towels can accumulate in waste receptacles and are a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses,” says William Gagnon, vice president of marketing and sales at Excel Dryer. “Our sensor-activated hand dryers are a hygienic way to dry hands and promote proper hygiene.”

The post Brick-and-Mortar Retail Design: Reimagining the Way We Shop appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Norway’s small size, robust digital infrastructure, plentiful data, and enthusiasm makes it a great place for new business.
• International investors may be looking at Nordic startups more than ever before.
• New companies like Modulize, Varig, and others are recruiting globally.

Coworking spaces, startup accelerators, maker spaces—today’s offices are more collaborative and creative than perhaps ever before. Once known by many for its oil and fishing industries, Norway is reinventing itself with innovation and a bustling startup culture. The excitement was clear on a recent quick tour of the Mesh Community coworking space in the heart of Oslo.

“The big shift now is that international investors are really looking at Nordic startups,” says Håkon Kalbakk, cofounder of Modulize, a building solution for offsite construction that started in November 2020. “The technology is great, and valuations are much lower than in the US, Israel, and even a lot of Europe like Berlin, London, Stockholm. It’s radically different than five years ago. There’s much more money, and investors are looking for great teams.”

Kalbakk calls himself a serial entrepreneur, having started his first company after business school in 2007. Modulize, based out of the Mesh space, is his fourth tech startup based in Norway with a global focus.

The city of roughly 700,000 has a lively startup ecosystem, with more than 50 startup accelerators, incubators, and clusters, according to the Oslo Business Region. In 2019 you could find 2,200 startups in Oslo—50% more than 10 years ago. “In 2022 there are even more startups,” says Siw Andersen, CEO of Oslo Business Region. “Oslo has been the underdog of European startup cities for a while now, but we see a rapid shift in the volume of successful startups coming from Oslo. In 2021 the investments going into startups increased by 260% from the year before.”

Oslo now has six Unicorns—Kahoot! (an edtech platform widely used in the US), Gelato, Oda, Duune Analytics, Cognite, and Autostore, all of which came about in the last three years, Andersen says. Unicorn is the term used in the venture capital industry to describe a startup company with a value of more than $1 billion.

Mesh is a coworking community in Oslo that works to create the best startup HUBs. Photo courtesy of Mesh

Andersen says Oslo is a great place for startups because a lot of founders, investors, and incubators focus on impact. “Solving global challenges is the main business model for most of our startups and the support system around them. We know we need to move much faster if Oslo is going to be emission-free by 2030 as declared in the municipality’s Climate Budget and Norway’s green transit. Here startups will play an important role.” She says most investors are seeing that impact is the only way ahead, and many available funds in Norway are only available if the business supports clean, green initiatives.

Oslo has been the underdog of European startup cities for a while now, but we see a rapid shift in the volume of successful startups coming from Oslo.

The design and architecture sectors are strong in Oslo, and there’s a genuine interest in a sustainable and circular economy. To meet the city’s emission-free goal, Andersen says construction companies have had to develop new solutions and products like all-electric excavators, all-electric mixer drums for concrete mixer trucks, and more. “By using its buying power, Oslo can escalate the green transition, and these products can then again be exported to accelerate a global change,” she says.

Starting Small

Modulize cofounders Lucas Carstens, Håkon Kalbakk, and Olav Ljosland. Photo courtesy of Modulize

Lucas Carstens, cofounder and CEO of Modulize, lived in London before making the move to Oslo to work. “Part of what’s great about Oslo is that it’s not that big,” he says. “You get a really nice balance. There is some culture, there are nice restaurants, there is a scene for whatever scene you want to have, but you don’t spend one-and-a-half hours commuting each way.”

Carstens says the city’s size makes it much easier to network as well as get access to relevant people—rather than being five steps removed from who you actually want to talk to. “I feel like Norway has turned into this test bed for a few application areas, and construction is one of them. EVs is another,” he says. “Maybe there’s a little bit more open data, there’s a little bit more collaboration, a little bit more willingness to try a few things.”

The country’s size allowed Modulize to quickly gain coverage to reach Norwegian manufacturers, and many already use their solution today. “If you want to know somebody in Norway we probably know them, whereas in the US that’s probably really different,” Carstens says. “That’s another potential benefit—we pick a small market, and we figure it out. Rather than trying to do everything all at once and have millions of potential customers and users, where you will always be this tiny fish in a big pond. Maybe in Norway we can be a medium size fish in a smaller pond more quickly.”

Inside Mesh. Photo courtesy of Mesh

What could be viewed by some as a disadvantage—not having a large client base of a particular type—can also be an advantage, according to Renate Straume, CEO and founder of Varig, a sustainability software company for commercial real estate that started three years ago. Varig also works out of the Mesh coworking space.

“In the US you could build a product just for office buildings larger than 40 square meters. You really don’t have that in Norway,” she says. “Your client base, even though you can be fairly specific, is going to be fairly diverse. That means that when we have something that works, something that’s ready to scale, it’s a very mature product compared to a lot of other marketplaces where you just don’t get to that place without having a fully fledged product that a lot of stakeholders and types of clients have tested and found worth paying for.”

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Andersen says testing a product or service in a smaller place first can certainly be an advantage for some startups, but it’s not the only advantage. “In health care we have very good testing facilities because of the good public-private collaboration—between companies, hospitals, and R&D—and because the Norwegian health care system is very much digitally advanced. In other areas like mobility, Norway has long been a leader in electric mobility. Half of the cars sold in Norway are electric. My point is that mobility startups can test their solutions easily in Norway not only because of regulations but also because of our closeness to wild nature. If your product works under Norwegian conditions in the Norwegian weather, it will work anywhere.”

Collaboration is Key

Renate Straume, founder of Varig. Photo by Oda Hveem

Sharing knowledge and experience is part of the coworking experience, too. “Even if we’re competitors we try to make each other good because everyone wins if we move forward,” Straume says. She says having the shared space has also been convenient for bumping into like-minded people and continuing to network.

Carstens agrees. “They do have events here, and then for us it’s first and foremost the ability to recruit and retain talented people. When you’re a small company, you can’t provide cool office space and a nice restaurant with an Italian chef.”

Kalbakk says its central location also helps, as it’s easy for talented young people to reach. “That’s the first priority, and the second priority is networking,” he says.

Inside Mesh. Photo courtesy of Mesh

Straume says that’s part of the reason why Varig decided not to have their own office. Instead they share space with another startup that has some of the same owners as Varig.

Both Varig and Modulize, like many other startups they know, are actively recruiting globally. Modulize now has employees from across 10 nationalities. “We convince them to move to Oslo from India, from Brazil,” Carstens says.

More Benefits

Oslo Startup Day. Photo courtesy of Oslo Business Region

Straume says she thinks Norway’s startup culture is also thriving because of its digital infrastructure and access to data. For example, they have things like Elhub, a central IT system that supports and streamlines market processes like electricity sales. “All the electricity data from every electric meter in the entire country is collected in one central hub you can build an API to and, as long as the person who owns the electricity meter says, ‘Yes, this company can have access to my data,’ you can have access to any electricity meter in any building in Norway,” Straume says. “It digitizes and streamlines things in a very predictable way. You end up with good systems that aren’t going away.”

Of course, Norway’s welfare system is another benefit. “Norwegians can take a risk of starting a company and still have a system that will catch them if they fail,” Andersen says. The country’s stable economy, highly educated population, and innovative business culture also make it a great place for startups, she says.

So what does the future hold? Andersen hopes it will include looking at urban development, architecture, design, and construction more holistically. “One of the topics at this year’s Oslo Architecture Triennale is neighborhoods, which describes an important part of the future of buildings that has really not been addressed. What about the spaces between all the buildings? And who takes responsibility for facilitating the zones in between?”

The post Inside the Changing Nature of Oslo’s Sustainable Tech Startups appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Effective planning, sophisticated design, and technology will contribute to greener buildings.
• Materials like bamboo, rocks, recycled concrete, and CLT are often being used in the place of traditional concrete.
• Architects are pushing for more buildings not just with outdoor spaces, but extensive access to nature and open areas.

With buildings contributing nearly 40% of all global carbon emissions, it is more critical than ever for the construction and design industry to put a focus on sustainability for a greener, brighter future.

A key tenet that more designers now uphold is the attention to ecological balance, construction longevity, and a focus on implementing innovative sustainable practices. Sustainable construction focuses on several distinct parameters, including the use of recyclable materials, effective layout and orientation, solar energy use, carbon-neutral construction, and energy conservation. By leveraging smart materials, bio-friendly orientations, energy conservation, and intelligent facades, designers create a sense of balance through their expression.

Developers worldwide are proactively revisiting ways of enhancing building sustainability through effective design and planning, more sophisticated designs, and implementing technology.

How Buildings will Become More Climate-Sensitive

Embrace Tower. Rendering courtesy of Prasoon Design Studio

Over the last decade there has been a heightened consciousness toward the environment, which can also be attributed to measures taken by the world governments as well as the tangible effects of climate change that are being felt at large. Increasingly architects and designers are realizing that building designs need to reflect the conditions of the area in which they are located. For example, buildings in warm climates should utilize tinted windows to cool off the space, rather than air conditioning units.

Critical initiatives like the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), Pearl Rating System (Estidama), and LEED have shaped the perspectives of architects globally. Architects are also exploring the interplay of technology and sustainability. Through automation and IoT, water conservation, energy management, and waste reduction are being accomplished at scale across new developments. Additionally, the deeper focus on preserving ecological balance through sustainable measures is a critical trend within the region.

Smart materials like bamboo, rocks, recycled concrete, and cross-laminated timber (CLT) are being used extensively in the place of traditional concrete. These materials help promote a lower carbon footprint while being more durable and maintenance-free. The use of low-emitting materials, paints, sealants, and adhesives also ensures the better interior quality of modern structures. A key element to sustainable buildings is an emphasis on green fixtures and fittings. This includes using low e-coatings, LED lights, and smart energy management systems integrated to reduce HVAC costs.

Different types of smart facades are also being developed with the help of smart materials that lower energy costs and provide insulation. For example, the proposed Embrace Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a green-certified building with a high-performance building envelope that reduces the environmental impact and ensures a sustainable connection. The unique form is also responsive to the wind-load, minimizing structural costs while enhancing efficiency.

Another key contributor to the sustainable architecture movement is the retrofitting of older buildings with more sustainable implementations, energy sources, and strategies. Solar panels are making older buildings more energy conscious, and better ventilation is making interior airflow cooler. Retrofitting is also providing direct ROI for business developers, as it lowers energy and maintenance costs.

Improving the Quality of Sustainable Design

Because sustainability is more in demand now than ever, clients will be looking for better options, driving architects and designers to evolve by reducing their carbon emissions and creating healthier spaces for their inhabitants.

Take the proposed Treescapper in Gurugram, India, for example. There has been such an exciting push to create habitable ecological spaces with more outdoor open areas on every floor, not just on the ground level.

Architecture plans need to also focus on the internal environment quality, especially for residential structures and commercial buildings. From sun orientation and indoor climatic conditions to natural ventilation and harnessing energy, architects have many ways to design more livable and greener buildings.

Using the sustainable building materials is equally important to creating quality designs. Traditional and low-quality construction materials can directly contribute to toxic emissions and reduced structural integrity. That is why, for example, in the Middle East, strict building and design codes are implemented to ensure structures comply with outlined materials norms. A top Dubai architecture studio would have to use the best quality of materials sourced from producers that themselves follow green manufacturing processes.

Bridging Biophilia and Sustainability

There’s been a growing interest and awareness toward mental and physical well-being and the impact our environment has on it. As the industry moves forward, the inclusion of biophilic design elements like outdoor spaces and maximized natural elements like terrace gardens, natural light, views, and air are becoming more popular.

According to the Journal of Cleaner Production, moving toward human-centered approaches and biophilic design is a way to boost environmentally sustainable design practices by focusing on the qualitative aspects of the human dimension and connecting with nature. The paper posits that a more holistic approach to design (i.e. marrying environmentally sustainable designs and biophilia) may lead to more sustainable outcomes.

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An ideal way to introduce sustainability through design is to ensure adequate space for native landscaping in the region. This includes plants and vegetation that are native to the region, requiring minimal maintenance and upkeep. The landscaping helps boost the air quality of the area, provides shade in high-heat regions, and adds to the aesthetic properties of the project. Additionally, landscaping promotes healthy soil quality, which can improve the flow of water and air through the earth significantly.

The Future of Sustainability and Architecture

Architects and designers need to understand the core concept of sustainability at the strategic level. The preliminary stages of research and strategy need to ensure the minimal wastage of materials as well as the elimination of polluting construction practices. This is where technology solutions come into play.

The next few years will be significant when it comes to implementing technology-based project management and remote connectivity solutions that not only improve planning, procurement, and operational efficiency but also help architects achieve their sustainability goals. Acquiring highly sustainable materials, leveraging smart energy management tools, and reducing construction waste will be critical goals for the year as firms transition towards more sustainable execution. Additionally, novel site informatics via drones, 3D printing, and robotics will empower architects to design more renewable spaces integrating digital twins and real-time analytics solutions.

In the coming years sustainability will be increasingly seen as a design philosophy and architects will develop buildings based on the core tenets of eco-friendliness. The benefits of sustainability are evident as it can directly lead to long-term cost savings, reduction in environmental impact, and higher quality of living for residents. Architects are focusing on the role of design strategy and green design principles to ensure buildings are increasingly self-reliant, green, and compliant with global sustainability norms. It is essential for architects worldwide to consider natural greenery, waste reduction, material optimization, and other core aspects of sustainability as high-priority areas in construction and development.

With architects uncovering new strategies to design greener buildings, it’s so wonderful to see more structures being developed in synchronization with the natural world.

The post How Climate-Sensitive Design will Change Future Architecture appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Biomimicry is the imitation of natural biological designs or processes in engineering or invention.
• B+H Architects says we can use biomimicry as a lens to learn and shift the way we think about design.
• Mature provides the ultimate engineering systems to sequester carbon, regulate temperature, purify the air, and more.

Twenty years ago, if I looked at a forest, I would’ve told you that I see trees, some brush, a pathway, and, generally, a very typical forest scene. I suspect many others would as well.

Now I see ancient elders that have long-lasted climate change. Material designers, creating facades that adapt, breathe, shed, and expand with their environment. Chemists, making incredible biodegradable solar harvesters that decompose in a circular economy. I see towers, pumping water up hundreds of feet without any electricity or mechanical devices. And I see a community connected through an underground mycelium network—sharing information, resources, and materials to support the health and diversity of the larger system. In a forest I see genius solutions for how to thrive on this planet.

Biomimicry is innovation that is inspired by nature. And it’s all around us. It’s Velcro that was inspired by the hooking mechanism of the burs that stick to your pants while you hike. It’s copying the bumps of the humpback whale fin to make wind turbine blades that are more efficient, run at slower wind speeds, and are quieter than a traditional turbine blade. It’s Pax’s impeller or Apeel’s biodegradable fruit skin. It’s about recognizing that for 3.8 billion years nature has been refining solutions for how to thrive on this planet.

After 20 years in the field of biomimicry, I now see the forest so much differently.

Can we move from “doing less harm” to once again becoming a contribution?

Humans are not a bad species; we are just a very young one. On an evolutionary timeframe, nature has been designing over billions of years, and humans, well, we have barely just arrived. Yet in that time we have risen to be a dominant species with destructive capabilities and are now at the risk of wiping ourselves off this planet. It is like we’re in an adolescent stage where we seem to be fighting against the world and convinced that we are winning.

We are not.

The idea of “doing less harm” suggests humans are fundamentally a problem for nature. This is one area that biomimicry will help us shift. When we design by drawing on nature we realize that, fundamentally, we are a part of nature. Biomimicry shows us first that nature designs solutions to very similar problems as us, with the same basic resources and context, but just with very different processes—packaging, transportation, structures, creating color, moving through fluids, pumps, agriculture.

Our breath feeds trees, our effluent feeds wetlands, and our bodies feed the soil. Once we drop the facade that we are somehow separate from nature and that, in fact, nature needs us and could teach us, we can use biomimicry as a lens to learn. We need nature to save ourselves.

At no cost to us, nature provides the ultimate engineering systems to sequester carbon, regulate temperature, dissipate storm and energy gradients, store and treat water, purify the air, produce oxygen, reduce noise, provide soil, and grow food. The World Bank estimates protecting and enhancing ecosystem services could prevent global economic losses of US $2.7 trillion every year. And the more we disrupt intact ecosystems—which have taken hundreds, if not thousands of years to refine their systems to be the most effective at these ecological services—the more we put our own species’ survival at risk.

Our actions indicate that we have little regard for the genius of nature, nor her value in keeping our planet relatively stable. But when we start to explore how we can emulate nature to improve our built environment, we will see that the most effective way we will mitigate climate change will be by keeping ecosystems intact. That is, an intact forest or wetland is worth so much more than a carbon-neutral building.

What are the barriers to biomimicry?

Biomimicry is not more widely applied because there is a lack of awareness and a perception that it is difficult and costly.

Despite it being an old idea (Da Vinci was a biomimetic), most people I talk to have never heard of biomimicry. And for those who do know about it, there is often a misconception that it is difficult to put into practice. However, in my experience the only limitation is people’s creativity. For any problem someone comes up against, there is likely a natural model that we could take inspiration from. The challenge is in finding that model, cleverly abstracting the ideas and metaphors that it provides, and then creatively exploiting existing technology to make those ideas real.

What’s exciting is that today there is both a tremendous need for bold, sustainable ideas, and also a great opportunity due to the advancements in technology. For example, concrete that self-heals like skin, walls that breathe like lungs, and windows that block light like eyelids already exist because we have access to incredible technologies like 3D and 4D printing, green chemistry, the Internet of Things, computational architecture, additive manufacturing, and incredible new materials.

Like our house design in India, we learned from elephant skin to create a self-cooling wall. We abstracted the basic principles of capturing moisture in the cracks and found that a rock wall that harnesses the water from the rain harvesting system would perfectly mimic this idea. In doing so we made a very simple cooling technology that was inspired by nature and was also incredibly inexpensive.

Perhaps the biggest underlying barrier to applied biomimicry is that it can be seen as a disruption to the status quo. Over the last several hundred years humans have made incredible progress through reductionist, mechanistic, and robust approaches. Yet the ideas that have led to the success of our species in the past are no longer appropriate drivers for how we are being forced into the future. This fundamental change of thinking can be difficult to accept and even forcibly resisted.

We will not solve problems with the same thinking that created them.

Resilience literature calls problems like climate change “wicked” because there is no precedent for how to solve it. The same thinking that created it won’t get us out of it. And that’s where I believe biomimicry has so much value. It can help us look to another model than our own human exceptionalism to shift not just our designs but also the assumptions that inform our design.

Paradigm shifts, however, are difficult to coordinate and achieve. At an individual level, new information and ideas can inspire a new approach, yet at a societal level, this can be fiercely resisted. This is because paradigms tell people what is important, legitimate, and reasonable and form the basis for how a community organizes itself. Paradigm shifts, therefore, can disrupt order and make many people uncomfortable. They suggest that the previous worldview was incorrect or incomplete.
However, progress can happen naturally as new information and insights emerge. The shifts are generally preceded by growing crises generated by the persistent failure of thinking of the past. This is exactly what climate change is forcing us to do—look and rethink the ideas and assumptions that have got our species to this point.

How can architects and planners harness biomimetic design to tackle real-world problems?

Rendering courtesy of B+H Architects

Rendering courtesy of B+H Architects

Rendering courtesy of B+H Architects

In the past our team has applied biomimicry to help create Canada’s first circular food economy, used bio-inspired technology to improve indoor agriculture, and even created master plans that were more resilient and cost effective by working with the natural assets and trajectory of the land. However, one of our most comprehensive projects is a biomimetic house design in Bengaluru, India.

To start, we stripped the design challenge down to a few key things we wanted the design to do: notably, breathe and self-cool, collect water for periods of drought, and be a contribution to the place. To achieve this we looked at barrel cactus, termite mounds, elephant skins, baobab trees, and forests as our guides. We designed stack ventilation, perforated walls that create shading and micro-climates, a rock wall that used trapped moisture to cool the building, and an interconnected rain harvesting system that can feed an incredible network of permaculture gardens, while taking care of the family’s needs for 100 days of potential drought.

To ensure our design was a contribution, we measured the ecological performance of the building. That is, we measured how much carbon it could sequester, oxygen it could produce, stormwater it could retain, noise and air pollution it could reduce, and heat it could absorb. We then compared that to a scenario of not doing anything to the land as well as a hypothetical scenario as if this land was never developed and still maintained its original old-growth forest ecosystem. The goal was to see if our design was better than doing nothing and closer to what nature could do without us. And even though we didn’t make it function as efficiently as a forest, we at least know how far we need to go.

What’s next for biomimicry?

It’s exciting to see the growing adoption of biomimicry in multiple sectors, which is fueled by incredible research that both uncovers nature’s genius and applies it to real-world problems. Electrical eels, for example, are being researched to inspire a new kind of power source. The algorithm that ants use to build ant bridges is helping us reimagine urban infrastructure design. Pine cones are making buildings more efficient as we learn and apply how they open and close with moisture. And black butterfly wings are providing inspiration for superior solar cells.

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The Covid-19 pandemic and climate change has taught us disruptions represent a prime opportunity to rethink existing strategies and collective modes of thinking. This is why I think it’s an incredible time for biomimicry.

Between 2000 and 2012, bio-inspired patents grew 750%. By 2030 $1.6 trillion USD is the expected global output for biomimicry-based innovation. We are seeing massive companies like Interface Carpets, B+H Architects, GE, Nike, and Kraft, build in nature-inspired services and ideas.

And most importantly, we are seeing a massive uptake from youth, who are desperate for a hopeful future, through new course offerings, global competitions, and platforms to learn how to adopt a biomimetic mindset, find their niche, and build biomimicry into it.

All these steps forward give me hope that, collectively, we are beginning to shift our perception of nature and design to see that the greatest model for sustainability already exists, in the natural world.

The post Learn from Biomimicry and Save the Planet appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• The AHR 2022 Expo showcased the HVAC industry’s move toward a carbon-neutral future.
• Improving indoor air quality and reducing carbon emissions through electrification were among the expo’s biggest topics.
• LG Electronics Air Conditioning Technologies USA, a leader in the US market, debuted product solutions aimed at alleviating these pain points.

Each winter leaders from across the HVAC industry—from manufacturers and distributors to contractors and engineers—convene at the AHR Expo to share ideas, cultivate relationships, and drive innovation within the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning market.

Yet, like most large industry-wide gatherings, the AHR 2021 Expo was canceled due to concerns about Covid-19. This year the show was back in full swing at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 31 to February 1, 2022. New players and industry stalwarts alike debuted innovative new products and services that respond to some of the key concerns in the market—like improving indoor air quality and reducing carbon consumption.

One of the leading exhibitors at AHR 2022 was LG Electronics USA, Air Conditioning Technologies, the South Korea–based global leader in home electronics and technology. While LG entered the US HVAC market in 2004, the company’s Air Conditioning Technologies division is already one of the leaders in the industry.

“As certain areas of the commercial sector recover from the pandemic, a good deal of opportunities are opening up,” says Steve Scarbrough, senior vice president at LG Air Conditioning Technologies USA. “We’re not only investing in new technologies on the product side, we’re also maintaining focus on global supply chain and distribution network trends.”

Scarbrough sat down with gb&d to discuss the top trends at AHR Expo 2022 and how the HVAC market is going smart and green.

Tell us about some of the highlights from this year’s expo.

2022 AHR Expo. Photo courtesy of LG Electronics Air Conditioning Technologies USA

It’s been two years since the whole industry has gotten together, so we were really excited to see many innovative new products on the market, and this year’s expo did not disappoint.

Clearly indoor air quality was a huge topic everyone focused on at the show. The pandemic truly made us all much more aware of how pathogens travel through the air and how important indoor air quality is toward overall health and well-being. Key areas of discussion for the industry include: How do we treat outside air, and once the air is exchanged in the building, how do we keep that air clean?

We also saw new products that provide comfort in lower ambient temperature environments. In areas with cold winters like the Midwest, heat pumps had a reputation for years of being less capable, so it was viewed as difficult for these systems to act as a primary heating source. That has changed with products like LG’s inverter heat pump systems with LGRED° heating technology that provide powerful heating performance even in extremely low temperatures.

And, of course, there was a continued emphasis on digitalization and electrification. This isn’t just related to user-friendly control systems—which are great for streamlining operations—but also new smart technologies for monitoring the systems and assisting with service issues while increasing energy efficiency. This is especially true for large commercial operators.

Lastly, we saw a great deal of excitement. It’s been two years since we’ve seen all of our other colleagues, and it was great to be back under the same roof and meet face-to-face. There was so much curiosity among the attendees. I really enjoyed getting to walk the floor again and see all the new entrants and the offerings introduced this year.

As you mentioned, IAQ is top of mind, especially in the commercial market. How is the industry responding?

Of course there’s been a big move overall to improve filtration systems, especially in larger spaces. And while Covid may have been a catalyst, there is a growing awareness of how air exchanges and the ways air circulation and filtration can assist in improving indoor air quality and, ultimately, promote good health.

For LG in 2022 we’ve focused on expanding our capabilities for conditioning outside air with the innovation of our dedicated outdoor air system offerings (DOAS). LG’s DOAS units are designed to condition outside air more efficiently, for improved indoor air quality and comfort.

What does the future hold for electrification and digitalization?

Like most industries, the HVAC industry is going digital in a lot of new and exciting ways. That includes smart technologies for monitoring systems as well as remote control capabilities. We expanded the LG ThinQ® app to allow remote control of LG HVAC equipment in tandem with other LG home appliances and electronics. ThinQ can also learn your personal preferences to provide custom recommendations or even proactively alert of issues as they arise. With the full LG ecosystem, homeowners have the power to create a smarter, more comfortable home.

In terms of electrification, this goes hand-in-hand with the transition to more sustainable HVAC solutions. Maybe six or seven years ago, strategic electrification was a buzzword in the industry—everyone was talking about going green, but no one could quite define what that meant in terms of industry-wide standards. But now the technology is catching up with our ambitions, and we’re seeing a standardization for these types of metrics.

Can you expand on how electrification relates to environmental sustainability?

2022 AHR Expo. Photo courtesy of LG Electronics Air Conditioning Technologies USA

The goal of electrification within the HVAC market is to remove the reliance upon fossil fuels. As utilities increasingly source power from green energy sources, it’s our job in the HVAC industry to create specifications for products to run on clean energy. State and local regulations are also helping push us in the right direction.

Cities like Seattle and Sacramento are banning fossil fuels in new residential and commercial construction. At the same time you’re starting to see the implementation of HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) within the residential market that measures building performance, so it’s important for our business to stay at the forefront of sustainability.

The move toward electrification has been reflected in the products we debuted at AHR Expo 2022. One of our newest offerings, the LG Inverter Scroll Heat Pump Chiller (ISHPC), utilizes inverter technology to provide hot or cold water for both comfort and process applications. The high heating, low ambient performance of the ISHPC means we can meet hot water heating requirements while supporting our carbon reduction strategy.

How is LG incorporating sustainable measures into its products and business model?

Photo courtesy of LG Electronics Air Conditioning Technologies USA

This is not just about LG Air Conditioning Technologies; this is about being a model of corporate responsibility for the entire globe. And that means putting your money where your mouth is, which is exactly what we’ve done—for example, with our new North American headquarters campus in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

This LEED Platinum building received the prestigious 2021 USGBC Leadership Award as a showcase of environmentally friendly design. Through rooftop solar and highly efficient HVAC technology, the campus produces more energy than it consumes.

But we take it a step further by reexamining not only our processes and global footprint, but also how our finished products perform in the real world. This has been a huge priority and focus across all LG new products this year.

For example, at AHR 2022 we introduced two new split dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS): the LG Split Rooftop DOAS and the LG Split Compact DOAS. The Split Compact DOAS provides heat pump heating without the need for natural gas piping, reducing the need for fossil fuel sources and providing more efficiency than electric resistance heating alternatives. Both received recognition as 2022 AHR Innovation Award finalists in the ventilation (LG Split Compact DOAS) and indoor air quality (LG Split Rooftop DOAS) categories.

We also incorporate variable speed/inverter technology across a range of products and offer a robust lineup of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) products.

We don’t look at sustainability as a single entity—it’s a global responsibility in every action we take regardless of LG business unit. That’s from our CEO all the way down the line.

The post Carbon-Neutral HVAC is the Future appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• During carbon capture, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is taken from the atmosphere, where it can then be injected into rock.
• Over time the injected CO₂ forms into stone.
• Carbfix has found an efficient method to this process that turns CO₂ into stone in less than two years.

Iceland is known for many things: glaciers, volcanoes, the northern lights, and its Viking history. But beneath the surface—literally—lies one of the country’s exciting eco-friendly efforts: Carbfix.

Started in 2006, Carbfix is a long-lasting environment solution that removes carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and turns into stone in less than two years. The best part? All it takes is a carbon injectable.

The process uses direct air capture, a carbon removal technique that captures CO₂ from the atmosphere—an otherwise “very dilute stream of CO₂,” says Sandra Ósk Snæbjörnsdóttir, the geoscientist at the helm of Carbfix. “This is similar to finding the four pink LEGOs in a pile of 10,000 LEGOs.”

From there the CO₂ is compressed to be injected and stored in geological formations, called carbon storage, or used to make products such as cement. “The direct air capture method is important for capturing emissions that cannot be captured directly, such as CO₂ emissions from airplanes,” she says.

And though direct air capture can be energy-intensive, “it is anticipated that during the latter half of this century we will have to start removing already emitted CO₂ from the atmosphere,” Ósk Snæbjörnsdóttir says. “Direct air capture will most likely play an important role in these scenarios.”

Photo courtesy of Carbfix

How Carbfix Works

Carbfix’s carbon capture process starts with a combination of CO₂ and dissolved water that is injected into reactive basaltic rocks, which Ósk Snæbjörnsdóttir says are perfect for direct air capture because they contain many of the metals needed for efficient mineralization. (Other rock types that are not as reactive are currently being studied to see if they are effective for carbon storage.)

After the compressed CO₂ is injected, it speeds up the release of metals from the rock, and, over time, carbonate minerals/stone is formed. It was thought that this type of stone formation would take hundreds of years to take shape, though Carbfix has dispelled that notion, proving that it can take less than two years.

Silja Y Eyþórsdóttir, digital media specialist at Reykjavík Energy, says this breakthrough has changed perceptions on traditional carbon capture, such as from production plants or energy facilities. “This must be the biggest accomplishment of Carbfix,” she says. “We think, however, that the best is yet to come.”

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Iceland and Beyond

In a collaboration with Climeworks, a direct air capture company, Carbfix’s flagship project at an Icelandic geothermal power plant, which focuses on carbon capture and storage operation, has reported huge successes. Since the project started in 2014, they’ve stored more than 70,000 tons of CO₂. Carbfix and Climeworks are the only companies with a direct air capture and storage chain in the world.

Iceland, being made almost entirely of volcanic rocks, a form of a reactive basaltic rock key to the Carbfix process, was the perfect launching point. But now Carbfix is looking to expand.

Eyþórsdóttir says that around 5% of continents and most of the ocean’s crust are suitable for the injection, and while many of these places are easily achievable places for carbon storage, most don’t know it. “Carbfix wants to establish strategically located carbon storage hubs around the world, which can get rid of millions of tons of CO₂ from industrial clusters, thereby maximizing the storage potential,” she says.

Photo courtesy of Carbfix

How Carbfix Can Change the World

With climate change more prominent than ever, the world is looking for a manageable solution to get rid of carbon, and Carbfix just might be the answer.

The Carbfix process is safer, more environmentally friendly, and cheaper than standard methods of carbon capture, and governments must be willing to take chances in trying to turn into a green economy, Eyþórsdóttir says.

“Carbfix is going to play a big part as industries are struggling to find a manageable solution to get rid of their carbon,” she says. “The biggest obstacles for Carbfix going forward are not technological but rather the willingness of governments and the private sector to transition to a green economy.”

Fjola Kristjánsdóttir, CEO of Green Building Council Iceland, says that the Carbfix process is important to implement anywhere possible now more than ever, as the time to reverse the effects of climate change is nearing its end. “We need some positive news, and Carbfix is giving us some positive news on combating climate change.”

The post How Carbfix is Combatting Climate Change by Turning CO2 to Stone appeared first on gb&d magazine.

Two words: touchless technology.

Why Buildings Need Touchless Technology

COVID-19 can spread in tiny droplets from an infected individual through talking, coughing, and even just breathing. These tiny droplets are referred to as aerosols, and the aerosols containing the disease can be quite small. Even droplets as small as 5 micrometers in diameter can carry the infection. For a frame of reference, that’s just a little bigger than the width of a strand of spider’s silk.

The average air filter isn’t going to come close to stopping a droplet that small, and upgrading your filtration system may be more expensive than you’d guess. The issue isn’t necessarily in the cost of the high-efficiency filter you’d need or the frequency of the changeouts that those filters require. When you increase the efficiency of a filter, you have to restrict the amount of air that can pass through the filter. This means that you need to have a greater pressure of air in order to supply the same amount of air to a space. An office or a classroom might become a more infectious environment by increasing filtration if you’re not also increasing the supply of air, being as the air handling system’s first job is removing air that’s contaminated and supplying fresh outdoor air to a space.

Photo courtesy of Delta Controls

If you want to increase filtration, you need to increase the size of the air handling unit that’s supplying the space. This means a costly upgrade in mechanical equipment in addition to the cost of the filtration system. These costs are likely prohibitive to schools and offices that may not have extensive budgets for retrofit. Even in new construction, these designs may simply be too expensive to be feasible. If we’re not going to be able to filter additional aerosols from the air, what can we do to make our offices, schools, and hospitals safer?

The answer may come from the mechanical side of construction. The controls industry is working on the reality of a touchless office, where contact with commonly used objects in a workplace facility is reduced or eliminated entirely.

Within a conventional office space, all of the technologies that help make the space work are siloed. Access control is on its own network or subnetwork. Lighting is handled by direct switching or a simple subnetwork of basic controllers. Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) run in parallel to these systems.

A study done by the Carleton Institute for Civil Engineering shows that a light switch is touched once every two hours. A wall thermostat is touched once every 35 hours. These numbers are from systems that employ conventional building automation. Neither the CDC or the WHO have determined exactly how long COVID-19 can exist on an inanimate surface, but their most conservative estimates are far beyond those timeframes.

Photo courtesy of Delta Controls

The Technology Behind Going Touchless

It’s only the most recent advancements in technology that make it possible for touchless spaces to exist. In a touchless office, the separate networks that control lighting and access control disappear. End devices are integrated directly into the building automation system, and their control is automated, or they’re operated from a user’s phone. New apps allow for the complete control of any connected device. These apps are similar to those used in smart home technology, but they allow for the separation of users and the advanced security that workplaces require.

It’s all made possible by the advancements in network technology and their widespread implementation across devices. BAS devices can connect directly to access and door control using Bluetooth, WiFi, and IP communication. Lighting can be controlled using any number of protocols starting with dedicated communications, such as the DALI lighting protocol to more open systems like those mentioned for access.

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The real advancements come from devices that haven’t historically been connected to a BAS. With IoT, everything from the blinds in an office to the screens in a boardroom can be connected to the system and controlled from one interface. This is all only possible when it’s one interconnected network controlling it all. We’ve had system-level integration of networks within buildings for years, but the costs of integrating independent networks and the lackluster results of the integrations can discourage users and system designers.

In a system-level integration, two networks speaking their own languages are forced to interact. It takes skilled integrators that need to become versed in both systems to make them work together. Some of the technical difficulties in getting these systems to work together can result in missing features from either system or workarounds that aren’t intuitive to the end-user. All of this encourages users to resort to manual control, creating high traffic infection points.

With device integration, BAS controllers can act as a hub for all the devices in the room. When the devices are directly connected, the integration is much simpler, and device features can be more fully utilized. If the BAS implements intuitive control, users will be more likely to use their phones to raise blinds, adjust lighting levels, or control the temperature of their environment.

Photo courtesy of Delta Controls

How Does Touchless Technology Work with Multiple Shared Devices?

So where does that leave workers who need to touch many shared devices or controls? It’s IoT and the increasing prevalence of alternative communication types incorporated into BAS devices that solves the other half of the equation.

Let’s take a boardroom, for example. In a touchless office, the door can be automated using sensors at the entrance or near-field communication between a door access point and a user’s phone. People won’t need to touch the door handle to gain access to the space. Once they’ve entered, lighting can be adjusted automatically, and temperature preferences can be input with the user’s phone.

But if the occupant wants to deliver a presentation, that still leaves a TV or projector remote control. These devices can now be integrated via IR communication directly from the BAS or integrated via SmartTV technology. You could conceivably hold an entire meeting with minimal exposure to infection points.

Photo courtesy of Delta Controls

How Does Touchless Technology Work in Schools and Health Care Facilities?

How does device-level integration help educators safely help children get back to school? Many of the devices present in a boardroom are very similar to the devices found in a classroom. With a relatively low retrofit cost compared to mechanical equipment revision, control of the classroom can be accomplished by a teacher’s phone. Doors can be automated to be unlocked by staff in the same touchless manner, and motion or pressure sensors can be used to open them by students. With widespread device-level integration, teachers can control the room in the same fashion as an office.

Healthcare buildings with advanced air filtration systems can still benefit from this integration as well. Filtration will help with airborne contaminants, but it still doesn’t reduce the risk of someone coughing into their hand and then touching a door handle or light switch. The staff of hospitals and other healthcare buildings are more sensitive to the need to reduce touchpoints, and device-level integration makes it easier for them to accomplish those goals.

What are the Challenges of Touchless Technology?

The major barring factor in achieving the vision of a touchless office resides higher in the process of building construction and retrofit. Architects and engineers need to know what’s possible with the latest in building automation technology, or these solutions won’t be specified or suggested to building owners. In a traditional specification, each area of control—things like lighting, access, and HVAC—are relegated to different sections of the specification. This means that the BAS or master integrator doesn’t have the option of using device-level hubs that can integrate these devices directly.

Integrators and controls manufacturers will always seek out relationships with building owners and operators so they can influence how technology will be integrated. For architects and engineers concerned with using the latest technologies available, they should seek out learning opportunities for what integrations are available in the marketplace and who can provide those solutions. It’s never been easier to find someone offering webinars or remote learning. After all, the vision of a touchless office is still just a vision for many, and the risks of returning to the office too soon are too great.

The post Why Touchless Technology is Key in a Post-COVID World appeared first on gb&d magazine.

How the New York School of Interior Design is changing the conversation. 

Courtesy of NYSID

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To learn more, visit New York School of Interior Design.

What does it take to build a sustainable space? It’s a question David Bergman is passionate about, and one he’s committed to answering. As director of the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Interior Environments program, he shapes the way the next generation of interior designers create spaces that are friendly to both the environment and people. “We’re taking care of energy and the planet but also taking care of ourselves,” Bergman says. “That’s where the interiors come into play.” 

NYSID’s program, with classes taking place in New York City on evenings and weekends and also available online, is one of only a handful of post-professional sustainability design programs in the country, Bergman says. As it approaches its 10th year in 2020, Bergman reflects on some of the lessons students take away to share with their clients.

The NYSID Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Interior Environments program offers classes at night and on weekends.
Photo by Mark La Rosa

Air Quality in Focus

As architects and builders turned toward energy efficiency and tighter building envelopes over the past few decades, there’s been an unintended consequence: dangerous indoor air. “We get this toxic cocktail indoors of materials and finishes that off-gas all kinds of things. Unless there is adequate ventilation, it remains indoors,” Bergman says.

There’s now a push to combat this problem from both sides, he says: by promoting healthier materials, finishes, and maintenance procedures as well as improving ventilation and circulation. Drafty windows and doors used to naturally allow for outside air to circulate. In today’s efficient structures, we need to add in proper ventilation under the right controls. By doing so, we can improve the air quality inside and protect the inhabitants.

Courtesy of NYSID

Baked in from the Beginning

To create a truly sustainable design, the focus needs to be there from the outset. There’s a growing awareness, Bergman says, that it is an integral part of any plan. But it’s important for designers out in the field to convey this message. “In this program we teach students how to not just design, but also how to communicate their design,” he says.

One of the biggest obstacles preventing widespread adoption of sustainable practices is the seemingly abstract nature of the concept. Bergman says it can be hard for people to grasp the impact their home or office has on the environment as a whole. But turn the focus to looking at the impact on themselves at a more personal level, and it’s a different story. “When we can start to appeal to our clients’ own health, in other words, appeal to their interests and make it less abstract, that’s another route to getting through to people.”

Photo by Mark La Rosa

Helping Us Feel Our Best

NYSID’s entire faculty encourages students to think of projects in a more holistic way. Rather than just looking at the cost of one material over another, it’s essential to factor in the potential impact of the space on people. If a slightly cheaper material makes someone less productive, or even sick, any savings is wiped out.    

Students are encouraged to connect the dots between how spaces look and how they make the people inside them feel. “Sustainability also includes factors such as light—making sure we have enough light and air to keep us both healthy and productive and feeling good on many levels,” Bergman says. 

After all, who doesn’t want to be productive and feel better? And there can even be a financial incentive. “You get your money back in the form of well-being, and in the form of energy efficiency. You spend a little more money up-front and get it back over time,” Bergman says.

Rendering by Yilan Dong and Charmaine Mendoza

Making the Case

Ultimately, Bergman and his fellow instructors are passionate about doing their part to encourage the next generation of designers to advocate for sustainable approaches. “I sometimes make the case that we can view this selfishly—and that it may be a more convincing, less altruistic ‘save the polar bears’ approach for some people. When put like that, it’s not the planet we’re trying to save; it’s us,” he says.

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Learn more about the New York School of Interior Design and see more teaching sustainability stories.

The post Why Sustainable Interiors Matter appeared first on gb&d magazine.

The architects behind the Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa used digital information technology to optimize acoustics and design. [Photo: Courtesy of Adam Hunter/LMN Architects]

Messana Radiant Cooling Ray Magic system uses radiant gypsum panels to cool and heat rooms. [Photo: Courtesy of Messana]

Smart-lighting pioneers Crestron are among the world’s most successful smart-building technology developers, employing more than 2,500 employees worldwide. [Photo: Courtesy of Crestron]

[Diagram: Courtesy of Continental Automated Buildings Association]

Prefabricated steel buildings go up quicker than if you were to use traditional building materials. [Photo: Courtesy of EcoSteel]

[Photo: Courtesy of National Business Furniture]

The concert hall at the Voxman Music Building, at the University of Iowa, is made up of nearly a thousand folded-aluminum composite modules, all digitally designed and produced. [Photo: Tim Griffith]

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The post What Exactly Makes Smart Buildings (and Smart Cities) So Smart? appeared first on gb&d magazine.