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Performance design and sustainability are integral parts of BWBR’s design process, whether it is optimizing the project’s use of energy and water resources, reducing the operational and embodied carbon footprint, achieving industry recognized sustainability standards, or meeting financial and wellbeing goals. Together with design engineers, BWBR has successfully evaluated energy and carbon reduction strategies using energy modeling and life cycle analysis on numerous projects.
Recognizing the multiple, urgent forces happening in the world today — and the opportunity the built environment can have in these areas — BWBR implemented a Performance Baseline based on the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. The Framework is built around 10 measures touching on many aspects of life and allowing a holistic view of a project. BWBR uses these measures tied with metrics (Energy Use Intensity (EUI), water consumption, carbon tracking, etc.) to determine priorities and performance goals for each project.
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Designing for Equity & Wellness
Many designs now emphasize the meaning of a facility in the sense of people, culture, and everyday experiences. Designing for building comfort and equity brings value because it can make occupants feel comfortable and safe in their spaces, which can lead to increased productivity, satisfaction, recruitment, and retention.
Well Building Standard
Building comfort can be enhanced by integrating aspects of the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL Building Standard. This standard examines how design, operations, and behaviors within a space can be optimized for health and wellbeing. Developed over years through scientific and medical research and literature on environmental health, behavioral factors, and demographic risk factors that affect health, the standards examine the air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community, and innovation aspects of a building.
Projects
Sesquicentennial Hall
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
The new Sesquicentennial Hall is an instructional and research lab building that replaces most of the engineering functions in the existing Ottensman...
01
Rankin Hall Renovation
Carroll University
Following the success of the Doug and Nancy Hastad Hall and Michael and Mary Jarahis Science Laboratories projects, the Rankin Hall renovation completes Carroll...
02
Heikkila Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building
University of Minnesota-Duluth
The University of Minnesota-Duluth’s (UMD) 70-year-old chemistry facility was originally designed to accommodate 300 students. At the time this project...
03
New Schoenecker Center for STEAM Education
University of St. Thomas
The University of St. Thomas’s new Schoenecker Center for STEAM education has a unique program, combining science and engineering spaces...
04
Warren and Donna Beck Academic Hall
Gustavus Adolphus College
To foster excellence in the teaching and learning experience, provide an attractive and beneficial asset to the campus, and promote...
05
Lund Center Expansion and Renovation
Gustavus Adolphus College
As part of a Gustavus Adolphus College comprehensive improvements campaign, the 1980s-era Lund Center will receive the first expansion of...
06Related Perspectives
August 11, 2023
Valuing History, Incorporating Modern Sustainability
The built environment is accountable for a substantial 40% of annual global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
February 28, 2022
Beyond the Bottom Line: Business Impacts of ESG
While ESG has been a hot topic in Europe for quite some time, more and more business leaders are starting to tune in here in the United States.
July 15, 2022
Four Ways Sustainability Supports Your Bottom Line
Here are a few of the ways BWBR helps our clients examine the bottom-line impacts of sustainability within the context of their specific projects.
April 14, 2021
Raising the Baseline for Building Performance, Sustainability
In 2020, NASA reported the year as tying 2016 for the hottest on record. The five hottest years on record...
June 6, 2024
Forced Labor in the Building Material Supply Chain: A Mitigation Framework
This four-step framework can help designers recognize and mitigate the risks of forced labor within the supply chain of specified building materials.