Christopher Carvell Architects PC has practiced integrated sustainable design since our inception in 1995. The principles of sustainable design continue to influence our core beliefs by reducing the carbon footprint in every building design. Many clients believe that the more sustainable a building, the more it will cost to build. Our integrated design approach is challenging that notion with a number of recently completed projects that have used sustainable strategies from the very early stages of the programming and design process to create efficiencies with minimal or no increased costs. Simple planning strategies such as proper building orientation and massing, taking advantage of solar access and daylighting can have significant energy savings. Rather than the typical additive process of applying sustainable technology to a preconceived design plan, our integrated design approach analyzes each design strategy and building system to find its synergies that optimize efficiencies given the unique site location and program.
From conceptual design criteria for massing, building orientation and site circumstance we understand the need to balance the ideals of resource conservation, energy efficiency, pollution prevention and human comfort with the realities of performance criteria, constructability and budget (LEED, Green Communities, WELLBuilding, Austin Green). We are regional innovators in sustainable design with dozens of initiatives to our credit working with private investors, affordable housing developers, city and county governments, and college and university clients throughout the Rocky Mountain west region.
Energy efficient practices include passive design strategies that start with optimizing the buildings orientation to the sun in order to control solar loads while maximizing daylighting and natural ventilation. Other sustainable features include high performance building envelopes – coupled with efficient HVAC systems displaying virtual consumption metrics to the building’s occupants as an educational model. Selective and discerning use of indigenous materials and renewable energy sources (PV, & geothermal) and native landscaping all contribute to a reduction in the buildings carbon footprint with 10 buildings having obtained LEED Gold Certification.
