Environmental Commitment
Ask yourself, what are we sustaining when asked...
are you sustainable?
(click image for full presentation)
That is what we have asked of ourselves and what we are asking of our clients. For us, it is not enough to simply have a sustainability position, everyone has one in one form or another. We put our actions and commitments into use for all to see. We hold forward our real-world experience, our ability to research, and our push to be leaders in environmentally-responsive design solutions. We post comments and critique through our blog about related subjects to further the dialogue and put ourselves out there instructing and implementing.
As designers we see that buildings use 76% of the energy and we know that it is our responsibility to make this better. We also see an opportunity to work with our clients in their processing, and working methodologies to find means of streamlining and reducing their energy needs. This is a partnership.
We believe that good design requires us to think holistically. As building professionals, we have an obligation to consider the influence our projects have on individuals, society and the environment.
FIRST STEP: Incorporate (Be a leader by example)
Many firms say, “We practice what we preach” but what are we “preaching”? At map-lab we have sustainability integrated into our daily operations, from a day-lit office, energy-efficient workstations, fresh air access, reduced printing strategies, use of recycled materials, minimization of non-recyclables, use of non-toxic goods (i.e. cleaning products) and minimization of our carbon footprint because of our access to and use of public transportation. We are also active in our communities, bringing sustainability to a public focus.
Through proactive assessment and action, we work to educate our employees, colleagues, and even our clients on methods of improving operational performance and lessening impact on the environment. This is rooted in our research conducted in the areas of transportation, water and energy use, and indoor air quality, right down to things like office consumables.
SECOND STEP: Integrate (Be a leader of the team)
By taking our core values and threading them throughout the design and construction process the solutions are inherently more sustainable. We work in concert with our clients and consultants to thoroughly examine an array of options, from project conception through construction; underscoring a team effort. As a result, we ultimately create an environment that not only meets the needs of the project but does so with the eye always on a beautiful, healthy, and well-thought design.
The orchestration of the human scale to the building scale is a vital component to a design approach that places emphasis on such things as energy efficiency, day-lighting, access to fresh air, a thermally responsible building envelope, use of healthy and renewable materials, responsible resource management inside and outside the building, and a working methodology that engages in an integrated project delivery approach.
Additionally, a project will only be successful if the community is not only consulted, but also fully engaged during the design process.
THIRD STEP: Inform & Educate (Be a resource)
At map-lab, we consider ourselves more than architects and planners. We are educators as well. Our core team actively teaches at institutions such as The Boston Architectural College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, as well as many professional and community group conferences.
As mentioned earlier, we explore and research the latest publications and progressive thinking in the areas of architecture, urban design, technology, and offer commentary through our blog as well as our speaking opportunities. This not only allows us to integrate the latest thinking into our projects but serves to engage other professionals in a dialogue that perpetuates professional growth beyond our firm.