Description
In the United States, over 1.2 million building permits are issued each year for single-family residences. Over 1.2 million construction projects begin each year, and over 1.1 million homes are completed every year. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design aims to be “the world's most widely used green building rating system,” and certifies only a few hundred homes for new construction globally each year. There exists a great opportunity to find creative ways to integrate sustainability into these projects. This integration may not necessarily mean a certified building, but designers still have ample opportunities to make tremendous efforts towards more sustainable buildings. This thesis will use the design-build of a site-responsive multi-family residence as an opportunity to explore innovative ways for navigating the current environment of sustainability approaches. A whole systems approach will be used for synthesizing the most appropriate strategies, systems, and solutions. An integrated schedule will be used to manage the project timeline. Site analysis, stakeholder surveys, and design thinking will also be used to ensure an exhaustive pre-design process, creatively engaging the client in all decision making processes. Local precedents will be reviewed for their energy performance and biophilic patterns. The work will demonstrate that varied sustainability approaches can be referenced early on in a project, and at any point in the design process, to find client-centered solutions for sustainability problems. It will also demonstrate that using design strategy and design thinking tools throughout the project can aid in client engagement and stakeholder engagement at large, resulting in more inclusive decision-making for critical path items