By Marisol Foreman, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
In the world of architecture, success metrics often revolve around design awards, revenue, projects won, utilization rates, and team stability. While these are important, the landscape of our industry has been changing, requiring an approach that goes beyond conventional benchmarks. One crucial aspect is the environmental impact of our work, and architects are taking the lead in adopting sustainable practices.
Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for architects. Operational and embodied carbon, encompassing energy use and material manufacturing and lifecycle, play significant roles in this equation. The urgency to reduce carbon footprints necessitates sustainable practices in every project, from renovations to new construction.
Believing that passive best practices isn’t enough, Rowland+Broughton is taking action. Established in Aspen, Colorado in 2003, Rowland+Broughton projects range from custom single family residential, hospitality, interior design and commercial to historic preservation and master planning. A sustainability committee, initially guiding firmwide carbon, wellness, and resiliency goals morphed into the dedicated role of a Sustainability Architectural Manager.
A dedicated sustainability manager plays a key role in navigating the complex intersection of architectural creativity and environmental responsibility. Responsibilities include firm education, research and development, and resource management of new and innovative technologies. Hands-on involvement in project teams and coordination with consultants and contractors ensures sustainability objectives are integrated into execution. To stay updated, the manager engages in continuous research, attends conferences, and networks to bring insights back to the firm.
Throughout a project’s design phases, a sustainability manager is integrated into the project team and oversees analyses to ensure a project is optimizing its carbon footprint reduction at every level. By phase goal setting, checklists, and performance tracking keep the project team accountable as critical decisions are made. Energy model iterations allow various mechanical systems to be tested against different envelope and glazing performance levels. Whole building life cycle analyses establish a baseline model to test the impact of design decisions as the project evolves. Daylighting models allow the architects to make design decisions to reduce glare or allow more daylight to reduce the reliance on artificial lighting. Thermal bridging models identify areas of concern for condensation and mold. Interior finishes, products, and appliance selections are also thoroughly vetted to protect indoor air quality (IAQ), water, and energy use.
In an era of shifting mindsets and material innovation, the architectural community is witnessing a change. Beyond energy conservation, the focus now includes occupant health, well-being, comfort, and embodied carbon reduction in building materials. The industry has pushed for transparency from manufacturers regarding the health and environmental impacts of their products. This collective effort is gaining momentum, creating carbon and indoor air quality (IAQ) baselines and data tracking across diverse project types.
Despite progress, a gap in knowledge sharing remains, especially across single-family residential firms. Often, the lean team structures of firms focusing on such projects hinder the overhead time necessary to publish the relevant data. However, integrating dedicated sustainability managers into project teams across all project sizes allows for billable time in addition to the research and development. This role is essential to delivering projects with readiness and resiliency, something every client deserves and requires.
The imperative is to continue building a network of data sharing across firms of all sizes. Firms can share baseline metrics, tracking mechanisms, and research for all aspects of a project’s performance. The Colorado Embodied Carbon Collaborative is a local group of architects and engineers that Rowland+Broughton has joined to do just this. It has become an invaluable resource and knowledge center as we develop embodied carbon goals and tracking, especially for custom single-family residential projects where shared data is lacking. In addition, Rowland+Broughton’s Contractor Alignment meetings extend beyond the design team to ask for contractor feedback and concerns on developing building science methods, materials, and listen to pinch points they are experiencing in the field and with material procurement. By fostering such collaborations, the building industry can more readily achieve sustainability targets, aiding in reducing building’s overall global carbon emission impact.
The integration of sustainability managers into firms of all sizes becomes not only essential as we move forward, but emblematic of a resilient and forward-thinking industry. As a medium-sized firm, we have proven that this role is essential to our service model and to the future of our planet. The journey towards a sustainable future requires a unified commitment, mirroring the integration inherent in our design practices. Architects hold the power not just to shape physical spaces but to contribute significantly to the collective effort needed to address the climate crisis. Through shared knowledge, collaborative initiatives, and a steadfast dedication to sustainable practices, architects can forge a path towards a ready and resilient future.
Marisol Foreman, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a Partner and Sustainability Architectural Manager at Rowland+Broughton Architecture / Urban Design / Interior Design, a progressive, high-design firm with studios in Aspen and Denver, Colorado. Rowland+Broughton’s combined mountain and urban sensibilities inform and enhance a wide spectrum of projects, including custom residential, commercial, hospitality, interior design, historic preservation, and master planning.
Image: The historic Mesa Store, home to Rowland+Broughton's Aspen Studio. Photography by Brent Moss.