CarbonPositive '20 Conference & Expo

March 2-4, 2020 | Los Angeles, CA

Hosted by Architecture 2030 and Hanley Woods

by Henry Siegel, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal

The International Conference and Expo provided a “how-to” for rapidly implementing a carbon positive future through mainstream global planning and building design, practice and policy. Sessions, speakers and exhibitors showcased innovative construction and building materials, advanced technologies, design and planning tools, and practices and policies that dramatically reduce urban development, building sector, and embodied carbon emissions to deliver rapid and pragmatic results.

Ed Mazria, the founder of Architecture 2030, kicked off the CarbonPositive '20 Conference by simultaneously looking forward and backward.

Looking forward, Ed reported that it is now projected that we will build 2.4 trillion square feet of buildings worldwide between now and 2060. That is doubling the amount of square footage worldwide today! If we want to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees (C) we need to be far more aggressive about our carbon emission reduction goals – achieving a 65% reduction by 2030, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 rather than 2050.

Looking backward, there is encouraging news that we can build on to achieve these aggressive goals – proof that emissions and growth are “decoupling:” economic and population growth continues on an upward trend worldwide while energy use and emissions are going down. For example, from 1995 to 2005:

• GDP grew by nearly 44%
• Floor area by 23%
• Energy use and emissions both increased by 20%.

From 2005 to 2019 that trend changed:

• GDP grew by 26%
• Floor area increased by 18%
• Energy use decreased by nearly 2%
• Emissions decreased by 21%.

Ed also addressed existing buildings, not just new construction. In most US cities 2% of the buildings -- the taller buildings in downtowns -- are responsible for between 45% to 50% of all building CO₂ emissions for their cities. He presented policy ideas to incentivize and later require that these large buildings upgrade their performance quickly.

And finally, he addressed embodied carbon, noting that the embodied carbon of the core and shell of new buildings, not counting interior finishes and furniture, account for 11% of global emissions. Over the next 10 years, embodied emissions for new buildings will account for 75% of their total emissions, and he noted that as operating efficiency improves, embodied carbon will become a bigger and bigger problem. We need to reduce embodied carbon in buildings on the same schedule -- 65% by 2030, and 0% by 2040. Those are very challenging targets. Much of the rest of the conference focused on specific strategies for reducing embodied carbon -- reusing buildings and materials, improving material efficiency and building with materials that sequester carbon.

We are hiring!

SIEGEL & STRAIN ARCHITECTS currently has an opening for a Project Manager.

Siegel & Strain Architects is a vibrant, award-winning, 21-person East Bay firm with a diverse range of projects. We are a design- and research-oriented practice with a national reputation for advancing sustainable design. We work with innovative sub-consultants and use forward-looking materials and systems. Our portfolio includes civic and educational projects, camps and retreat centers, schools, recreational buildings, custom homes and historic buildings. Our work can be viewed at www.siegelstrain.com. Current projects in design include:

• A new visitor center for Save the Redwoods League and National Park Service.
• Several National Park Service projects.
• A girl scout camp Innovation Center.
• Support facilities for a wastewater treatment plant.
• A youth camp in Southern California.
• Civic and community facilities for the City of Berkeley.
• Facilities at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
• Several community-serving projects under construction including a new library, a camp community center, a new family camp, and renovation of a Boys & Girls Club.

We typically work in collaborative teams of two or more people each with specific roles and responsibilities on individual projects. We are looking for a self-starting project architect/manager to work on projects from pre-design through construction. 

Qualifications:

• Minimum B. Arch.; Master of Architecture preferred
• 10+ years of experience in architecture offices
• Strong design skills
• Ability to research and problem solve
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Sketch-up, Rhino and Adobe Suite
• Strong organizational, writing and interpersonal skills
• Experience preparing construction documents and details, particularly for Type V construction 
• Experience working with California building codes
• Experience in project management and consultant coordination
• Experience in construction administration
• Experience on community-serving projects is a plus
• LEED accreditation, green design experience is a plus
• Experience working on historic buildings is a plus
• Proficiency in rendering and parametric programs is a plus
• Proficiency in energy, daylighting or similar modeling/analysis is a plus
• Licensure required

Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include health insurance, paid vacation and retirement contributions.

How to Apply:
Please e-mail cover letter, resume, references and work samples.
Format: PDF format required. No compressed files please.
Address to: resume@siegelstrain.com
Subject line: Project Manager
  NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE


 

Oakley Recreation Center wins American Public Works Association Project Award for Small Cities/Rural Communities

The Oakley Recreation Center was recently awarded a 2020 American Public Works Association (APWA) Project Award for Small Cities/Rural Communities. The Recreation Center, designed for the City of Oakley by Siegel & Strain Architects and landscape designed by Gates & Associates, is a new $6.7 million, 9,500 square-foot multi-use building on a 6.5-acre site designed for a variety of community events and recreation activities. As one of the youngest incorporated cities in the Bay Area and one of its fastest growing communities, the City of Oakley invested in the Recreation Center to meet the rapidly increasing needs of the community for places to gather and congregate.

The project includes a large 4,152 square-foot dividable community room, a 2,117 square-foot commercial kitchen, recreation offices, and an outdoor patio. With a capacity up to 800 people, the Recreation Center provides the space that was greatly needed for events that unite the community. The site also includes large gathering areas and an athletic field.

The Oakley Recreation Center is designed to demonstrate sustainable building design. Green design features include daylighting, a high-performing building envelope including low-emissivity dual glazing, sunscreens and window shading, Forest Stewardship Certified wood, high-efficiency mechanical, electrical and lighting systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures, high-recycled content materials, low formaldehyde and VOC building materials. Site improvements include extensive grading, native landscaping and irrigation, retaining walls, bioswales, site paths, permeable paving, bicycle and vehicular parking and tree replacement.

For more information visit Oakley Recreation Center on our website.

Project & Location: Oakley Recreation Center, City of Oakley, California
Architect: Siegel & Strain Architects
Landscape Architect: Gates & Associates
Civil Engineer: BKF Engineering
Structural Engineer: IDA Structural Engineers
Mechanical Engineer: H&M Mechanical
Electrical Engineer: O'Mahony & Myer Consulting
Contractor: Woodland Construction
Photography: David Wakely

Looking for a Project Designer/Project Architect

SIEGEL & STRAIN ARCHITECTS has an opening for a Project Designer/Architect

Siegel & Strain Architects is a vibrant, award-winning, 21-person East Bay firm with a diverse range of projects. We are a design- and research-oriented practice with a national reputation for advancing sustainable design. We work with innovative sub-consultants and use forward-looking materials and systems. Our portfolio includes civic and educational projects, camps and retreat centers, schools, recreational buildings, custom homes and historic buildings. Our work can be viewed at www.siegelstrain.com. Current projects in design include:

• A new visitor center for Save the Redwoods League and National Park Service.
• Several National Park Service projects.
• A girl scout camp Innovation Center.
• Support facilities for a wastewater treatment plant.
• A youth camp in Southern California.
• Civic and community facilities for the City of Berkeley.
• Facilities at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
• Several community-serving projects under construction including a new library, a camp community center, a new family camp, and renovation of a Boys & Girls Club.

We typically work in collaborative teams of two or more people each with specific roles and responsibilities on individual projects. We are looking for a self-starting project architect to work on projects from pre-design through construction.

Qualifications:

• Minimum B. Arch.; Master of Architecture preferred
• 3-7 years of experience in architecture offices
• Strong design skills
• Ability to research and problem solve
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Sketch-up, Rhino and Adobe Suite
• Strong organizational, writing and interpersonal skills
• Experience preparing construction documents and details, particularly for Type V construction 
• Experience working with California building codes
• Experience in project management and consultant coordination is a plus
• Experience in construction administration is a plus
• Experience on community-serving projects is a plus
• LEED accreditation, green design experience is a plus
• Experience working on historic buildings is a plus
• Proficiency in rendering and parametric programs is a plus
• Proficiency in energy, daylighting or similar modeling/analysis is a plus
• Licensure or progress toward licensure is a plus

Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include health insurance, paid vacation and retirement contributions.

How to Apply:
Please e-mail cover letter, resume, references and work samples.
Format: PDF format required. No compressed files please.
Address to: resume@siegelstrain.com
Subject line: Project Designer/Project Architect

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Getting to Net Zero: A Discussion on Low Carbon Construction

6:00-7:30 pm, Wednesday, February 19, 2020
AIA San Francisco, 130 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104

The construction industry, through building construction and building use, contributes roughly 40% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions to the environment. Embodied carbon (emissions from building materials and construction) makes up over 25% of this total. The design decisions we make as structural engineers and architects directly impact these emissions. This gives us a vital role to play in reducing the environmental impact of the built environment. This panel session will discuss advances the structural engineering profession is making toward net zero embodied carbon structures, discuss the top three actions structural engineers and architects can take to reduce the embodied carbon in their projects, and discuss how structural engineers and architects can work better together to effectively reduce the embodied carbon of their projects.

Panelists include Brad Jacobson (Principal, EHDD), Bruce King (Founder, Ecological Building Network), Nicholas Miley (KPFF Consulting Engineers), Larry Strain (Principal, Siegel & Strain Architects), Megan Stringer (Associate Principal, Holmes Structures), Vaclav Hasik (LCA Analyst, Urban Fabrick).

This session will be of interest for all building professionals and will raise awareness among architects and structural engineers about how they can make wiser design choices to reduce emissions. Attendees will leave with an idea of sustainable strategies that can be implemented on their projects. This session includes panelists who helped develop the first Low Carbon Concrete Building Code in the U.S. as well as panelists who are involved in the Structural Engineering movement, SE2050, to get to net zero embodied carbon structures by year 2050. The session will be interactive, so come with your questions and ready for discussion! (1.5LU/HSW)

For more information and to register, visit: Events at AIA San Francisco

Getting to Zero Forum, October 9-11, 2019

Marriott Oakland City Center, Oakland, California

Bishop O'Dowd High School Center for Environmental Studies (Photo: David Wakely)

 
Getting to Zero Forum is a solutions-focused event dedicated to zero energy and zero carbon buildings. The 2019 Forum will bring together more than 550 leading policymakers, design professionals, building owners, systems manufacturers, commercial real estate representatives and others working to define a new energy future for the built environment.

Getting to Zero Forum highlights and recommendations include:

OCTOBER 9, 2019 | 10:45am-1:00pm | Cost $35
Bishop O'Dowd High School Center for Environmental Studies Tour
This award-winning project is home to the school's environmental science and engineering program. Designed to complement the Living Lab—a 4.5-acre hillside restoration site, ecological study area, and wildlife habitat at the perimeter of the campus--a new building along with landscape elements tie the Living Lab to the campus core. The new academic building features two large laboratory classrooms, a faculty office and prep space, restrooms and storage. Sustainable building systems and materials—locally sourced, renewable building materials; roof-mounted photovoltaic panels for renewable power; on-site collection and treatment of storm water, and rainwater harvesting—are easily accessed to serve as teaching tools. Lunch on campus is included in the fee. Separate registration for the Getting to Schools Workshop is required. CEUs pending.

OCTOBER 11, 2019 | 8:30-10:00am
Session 3: A Global Call to Action for Zero Embodied Carbon
Getting to zero requires targeting both operating and embodied carbon. Buildings are responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions—28% attributed to operational carbon, and 11% to embodied emissions from materials and construction processes. As the industry responds to the challenge of eliminating operational carbon emissions from the energy consumption of buildings through design improvements, standards and regulations, embodied carbon becomes even more significant. This session will present a theory of change with case studies that aim to be zero embodied carbon discussing the feasibility of building density goals on embodied and operating carbon and explain the role that building reuse plays in achieving a zero carbon future. (1.5 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)

Moderator: Tony Saracino (Autodesk)
Presenters:
A Global Call to Action for Net Zero Embodied Carbon
Victoria Burrows (World GBC)

Thinking Small, Not Tall, to Get to Zero Carbon 
Ann Edminster (Design AVEnues LLC) & Larry Strain (Siegel & Strain Architects)

Embodied Carbon & High Performance in Landmark Structures: The Transformation of Fort Mason Pier 2
Marsha Maytum & Ryan Jang (Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects)

OCTOBER 11, 2019 | 10:30-11:30am
Jolt Session 2: Essential Technologies for Getting to Zero
The U.S. building industry is creating new products, advancing manufacturing techniques, and altering construction approaches to meet the needs of zero energy and carbon goals. This session will show attendees how building envelopes have evolved and how they progressed to achieve zero energy goals; evaluate three key standard HVAC design features that are outdated and not supporting zero energy; and understand how off-site, modular construction can overcome productivity and help zero energy buildings adoption issues in the national construction market. (1 AIA LU|HSW CEUs)
Moderator: David Reynolds (ERS)
Presenters:
Inserting Zero Energy Design into the Growing Offsite Prefab Construction Market
Stacey Rothgeb & Shanti Pless (NREL)

Design for Off: Decarbonization of Existing Buildings
Jonathan Heller (Ecotope)
 
Building Envelope for Net Zero Buildings Lessons Learned Over Twenty Years
Henry Siegel & Nancy Malone (Siegel & Strain Architects). 

For more information and registration, please visit:
Getting to Zero Forum
Schedule-at-a-Glance
Workshops & Tours
Speakers
Registration

Part I: Sustainable Action Plan

AIA 2030 COMMITMENT

Siegel & Strain Architects is a proud signatory of the American Institute of Architects 2030 Commitment, a national initiative to track energy use reductions for all new building with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Since its start, the reduction target has been steadily increased. Currently, the goal is a 70% reduction in energy use compared to similar buildings. The goal will increase to 80% in 2020, 90% in 2025 and finally 100% in 2030. The platform allows firms to compare data, best practices and energy use from around the nation. In 2016, signatory firms achieved a national average of 42% energy use reduction vs the national average, short of our goal, but an increase from previous years.

Our goal: Hit the target of 70% reduction versus the national average.

ENERGY MODELING AND PERFORMANCE DRIVEN DESIGN

We hold ourselves accountable and ensure our projects perform as intended. Beyond the 2030 goals of energy use reduction, we track 80 different data points on a range of sustainability goals including cost, energy, building envelope, lighting, water, materials and site.  When possible, we collect post occupancy data to compare how our projects perform. Some of the modeling criteria we perform includes:

• Life Cycle Analysis
• Daylighting
• Energy Modeling, auditing and benchmarking
• Building Assembly Analysis
• Water Conservation Analysis

Our Goal: Track and compare data points on all incoming projects. Perform energy modeling at the conceptual stage of every projects.

Daylight Modeling of the Brisbane Library

Tracking our projects' Energy Use Intensity against 2030 Commitment Goals

Click here to download our 2030 Commitment Sustainable Action Plan.

SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2018

Rebuild Green Expo

Santa Rosa Veterans Hall, 10 am-7 pm, Free

Presented by Rebuild Green North Bay Coalition  

 

Resilient, affordable, community-centered
GREEN rebuilding options for the North Bay

Home owners involved in rebuilding after the fires face thousands of decisions: design, builders, materials, budget, the list goes on and on. Many of those decisions offer a variety of green options, but it’s a challenge to know how to go about it.

Fortunately, Northern California is home to many of the world’s most experienced and knowledgeable green and sustainable building professionals, who have formed the Rebuild Green Coalition. The Coalition is hosting the Rebuild Green Expo on Friday, February 23, at the Santa Rosa Veterans’ Hall. Admission is free to the public, and promises to make the process of rebuilding green much easier.

“Mostly, it’s about showing people that green and sustainable approaches are not only viable and affordable, they are also healthier and offer better resilience for communities to survive disasters with less disruption,” says Steve Sheldon, architect and builder with Ibis Builds of Sebastopol who represents the US Green Building Council Redwood Empire, and one of the Expo organizers. “We’ll also be offering folks the chance to meet and speak to the experts about their own home designs while learning about all aspects of green building.”

The Expo will showcase information on fire-resistant materials and methods, rooftop solar and micro-grid systems, healthy homes and interiors, resilient communities, defensible and drought-resistant landscapes, zero-net energy, efficient home design, safe induction cooking, financing green building, accessory dwelling units, battery storage for homes, and much more. Professionals on hand will include architects, engineers, energy providers/consultants, landscape designers, contractors, and materials suppliers, to name a few.

Why green? A few benefits include:

• Economic: energy, water, and other efficiencies don’t necessarily cost more, and yet most pay for themselves within a few years and offer significant savings in long-term operating costs. In addition, efficiencies in construction can actually reduce building costs, and incentives can often provide even more savings.(PG&E and Sonoma Clean Power are developing incentives for homeowners rebuilding after the fire, and will be sharing them at the EXPO.)
• Health: homes designed to provide good indoor air quality and non-toxic materials are healthier for people and other living things.
• Resiliency: making sustainable and renewable choices — such as micro-grids, batteries, water reuse systems, and more — make neighborhoods and communities more likely to withstand fires, earthquakes, and other potential threats with less disruption and faster recovery.
• Environment: making sustainable choices is good for the planet.

“The question really is ‘Why would anybody NOT choose green?’” Sheldon adds. “Who wouldn’t want a more efficient and healthier home? We aim to make it as easy as possible, and the group is ready do whatever we can to help folks who are facing the daunting challenges ahead. We are in it for the long haul. The Expo is only the beginning.”

 

For more information, visit www.rebuildgreenexpo.com/green-rebuilding-options-for-the-north-bay.

 

Presented by Rebuild Green North Bay Coalition
Contact: Oren Wool, Sustainable North Bay
oren@sustainablenorthbay.org
(707) 636-4732