DLA Architects Ltd Blog

Sustainability and Green Design are the buzz words of the day, especially in reference to architecture.

What’s it all about?

Well, the way we talk about it is a great place to start; language can be a challenge because each of us might think a term has a different meaning. Three terms commonly used interchangeably in reference to the building and construction industry are Green Design (GreenBuilding), Sustainable Design (Sustainability) and High Performance Buildings. Definitions of these vary by who is defining them, for instance:

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines “GreenBuilding” as:

“The practice of maximizing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use resources – energy, water, and materials – while minimizing building impacts on human health and the environment, through the complete life cycle – from siting, design, and construction to operation, renovation and reuse.”

The US Green Building Council defines “Green Design” as:

“Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and its occupants. This includes site planning, safeguarding water and the efficient use of water, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, conserving materials and resources, promoting indoor air quality for the benefit of current and future generations.”

The United Nation’s 1987 “Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development” (The Brundtland Principles) defined “Sustainable Development” as:

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

In the book Cannibals with Forks, author John Elkington defines “Sustainable Development” as: Read the rest of this entry »

In the latest issue of Illinois ASBO Update, our team discusses how school districts can prepare their facilities for the future. In “From-the-Field” our own Dwain Lutzow, AIA asks “How do your facilities measure up?” and discusses how existing schools can rethink space to “keep up” with new schools.

The cover article “Forward Thinking Schools: Shaping Schools to Invigorate Student Learning” was written by Bruce Dahlquist, AIA, LEED, AP, BD+C. In it he discusses how 21st century schools face the challenge of adapting existing infrastructure to meet current and future technology and educational delivery methods. He explains how creative architectural design, sustainable design and classroom remodeling can shape inspirational environments that are the focal point of the community.

Take a look:

Generally people think of a Program as an overview or outline of an overall production, including a cast and what their role is. At least that’s what you get when you go to the theater…

Architecturally, it’s the background research and decisions that all come together to define the Scope of Work for a project. While, I guess you could start a design/construction project saying “I have ‘x’ dollars to spend” or “I want a project completed by a certain date,” when all is said and done, the ultimate judge of success is “does it meet my needs?” Designing something within budget and on-time is important, but it’s a useless waste of time and money if it doesn’t solve client needs. Rather than starting a project blind, it’s important to have a strong Program established at the outset. The Program is really about the “Why” and “How” and since building systems are so interrelated with many decisions affecting others, it really helps to define and prioritize what the client is looking for.

This is something we were very aware of in the design of our new DLA Architects’ corporate offices. In this project we took on the role of client and the programming process gave us the opportunity to take a close look at our current needs and farther into the future.

Sharing a brand story by weaving it into the office environment

One of the most important aspects of our program was Branding. We looked to our Read the rest of this entry »

Our own Bruce Dahlquist will be attending and sharing his insights at the Third Annual APWA Sustainability in Public Works Conference.  The conference focuses on the latest and most innovative tools, practices, and case studies pertaining to economic, social, and environmental responsibility in public works.

Bruce will be part of a panel addressing “The Power of Sustainable Partnerships.” He’ll be joined by Josh Behounek, an Urban Forester with Davey Resource Group; James Thomas Bell, Superintendent of Parks with the City of Elgin; Aaron Cosentino, MBA, Sustainability & Grants Coordinator with the City of Elgin. They’ll be discussing the collaborative, community based approach the City of Elgin took in developing a sustainability action plan to address alternative energy, economic development, urban/green design, transportation, waste management, green infrastructure, water resources, and community outreach.

If you’re at the conference, be sure to stop by Parlor BC on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 11:10.

Participants in the Elgin Sustainability Action Plan committees discuss the goals and the process (via City of Elgin).

Yesterday was one of those days that really lit me up. It rekindled that passion for the practice of architecture and made me think about my role as a citizen of the world.

During the day I was a speaker (along with Aaron Cosentino and Jennifer Fritz-Williams of the City of Elgin) at the Greentown Conference in Elgin, speaking on the City of Elgin Sustainability Action Plan. Seeing hundreds of people from the region gathered to learn the best practices of greening a community was inspiring. Our panel shared all of the great green and sustainable accomplishments in Elgin, not the least of which was the community involvement in the development of the Plan. We also heard several outstanding presentations that reaffirmed my commitment to good design and a respect for the environment. In addition, I was able to share passive solar design theory incorporated into our work with the session attendees. It was a great conference, and I would encourage others to attend the next one.

As incredible as the conference was, it turned out to be only an “appetizer for the main course”. To wrap up the night, I attended a screening of Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time. It was presented by Curt Meine, a biographer of Leopold, and hosted by the Fox River Country Day School.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Leopold, he is one of the pre-eminent conservationists of the 19th and 20th Century. Much of what we espouse as environmental conscience evolved through Leopold’s eyes.

Every once in a while in my career, I’ve been presented with seminal events which have impacted my philosophy of life, approach to design and planning, and my respect for the environment. One such event was reading The Death and Life of American Cities by Jane Jacobs.

For me, Green Fire was an equally important event. If you have an interest in environmental issues, this movie is certainly worth seeing. If you don’t have access to the movie, read any of his books – or at least look him up on the web. You won’t be disappointed!

“Leopold helped redefine our understanding of the natural world and provided much of the foundation for the modern environmental movement. His legacy can be seen everywhere.” – Janet Ginsburg, Chicago Tribune

One last thing, don’t forget to stop by our booth at Elgin’s Green Expo on May 7th to learn more about sustainability! It’s free and open to the public.

Image courtesy Adi Respati via Flickr

Ideas come from everywhere if you’re open to them.

As an architect, I see my profession as a blending of social conscience, psychological reactions to space, engineering trends, ergonomics, art, sustainability, and technology – all of which are great sources of inspiration.

Ideas often come from keeping my eyes open to human patterns and relationships. How we interact and how we respond to stimuli tells a great deal about the potential success of the spaces that I design. Advances in engineering and technology form the core of the shell which clearly impacts design, but when it comes down to it, the people make the place.

I like to think that some of my best ideas come from being a good listener –  and even an interpreter.

My ideas for design come from listening to my clients. I try to get into their heads and really understand their needs. It’s critical to understand the impact of how a space is used now and what the future trends may be in order to evolve a unique, yet appropriate design. From here, looking through the lens of my experience in architecture and building systems, I find the inspiration to solve the puzzle that is their building. We have quite the portfolio of educational spaces, and I find that talking to school administrators, teachers, and students gives me an understanding of what makes a successful learning environment.

I also find it important to listen to the site. The site is like the base medium for an art installation, a uniquely shaped canvas upon which we place a message. The size and shape of the site, the environmental features, will affect the design. Clues then come from laying out designs, reacting to what is given me. Rather than force an inappropriate idea on a site, I work with the site. The result is often an efficient floor plan as well as an energy-conscious building. Being a LEED Accredited Professional, I would say that my designs tend to come from nature and a building’s relationship to its immediate environment and the community-at-large. Good design ideas respect the environment.

In conclusion, my design ideas tend to come from introspection, a social conscience, and being vigilant of my surroundings. Design is dynamic and ever- changing. So are the ideas that generate design.

Where do you get your ideas?

Be inspired:

If you’re interested in sustainability, you might want to check out the GreenTown: The Future of Community Conference.

The event brings together the public and private sectors in a dialogue about creating healthy, sustainable communities. They had 3 events in the region and more than 1,000 attendees last year.

DLA Architects’ President Bruce Dahlquist, AIA, LEED AP will be participating on a panel at the next GreenTown, on April 28, 2011 in Elgin, Illinois. Others who’ll be participating in the session titled “The Elgin Community Sustainability Plan” are the City of Elgin’s Sustainability and Grants Coordinator Aaron Cosentino and Historic Preservation Planner Jennifer Fritz Williams, along with Al Zelaya, an Urban Forester with Davey Tree Experts.  

Registration and other conference details can be found at the GreenTown website: http://www.greentownconference.com/register_2011_elgin.asp

Fulton Elementary School, a new building designed by DLA Architects, is featured in the new issue of Design Cost Data (DCD) Magazine. 

Here is a sneak peak at our new space. We’ve moved both of our offices over, but you’ll notice that there are some superficial construction items that still need to be finished;. In addition, we still have a great deal of unpacking to do.

We put a lot of thought into where things would go, but we still have to organize it and combine things from the two offices. For instance, if our file system is numeric by project number and some files were at each office, we need to go through the files and shuffle them together in order. So please forgive the clutter and boxes everywhere, there is much work to be done. Enjoy!

Our clients and friends know DLA Architects for sustainable design. In fact, many of our recent projects have earned USGBC LEED Certification… or LEED Silver… or LEED Gold. With that in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the design for our new office utilize “green” principles! As we are quickly approaching our big move, we thought we’d share how we’ve applied this thinking to our new place.

One of the first considerations in a green project is the site. So that’s where we’ll start.

Since we weren’t constructing a building from the ground up on a brand new site, we didn’t need to concern ourselves with many of the site issues that might present themselves. We did, however, get off to a good start by choosing a building that is Energy Star rated.

Since covered parking minimizes the heat-island effect, the 3-level parking garage at 2 Pierce Place was another factor that influenced our site selection process.

It was also important that we choose a site that was within a short distance to services; the on-site deli will make it easy to grab lunch and the surrounding business park includes a driving range, a two-and-a-half mile long walking path around ponds and trees, and open fields throughout the park.

We’re not too far from public transportation and since our new building also has bicycle parking and showering/changing facilities, our employees have a variety of transit options.