Platt-Whitelaw Architects

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Decarbonization Succeeds Net-Zero-Energy as Sustainability Goal

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By Sandra Gramley, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

As little as a year ago, zero net energy dominated the discussion in sustainability circles. In architecture, that means designing or retrofitting buildings to produce at least as much energy as they consume.

Since that goal was based on solar energy supplied by roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels, after PV panels became cheaper and more prevalent, the next step was to aim higher.

Enter decarbonization.

Decarbonization relates to the reduction of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Those gasses causing the most damage are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gasses. Most of these harmful gasses are generated by producing, transporting or burning fossil fuels.

Most cites’ and states’ climate goals are closely tied to reducing the use of fossil fuels.

According to Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, “In 2015, CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel combustion in the U.S. building sector generated 565.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMtCO2e) in direct emissions, or about 8.6 percent of total U.S. greenhousegasemissions.”

This contribution makes buildings the fourth highest emitting sector in the U.S.

Health is also an issue. Air quality and public health professionals teamed to ask the California Energy Commission to safeguard public health by adopting an all-electric energy code by 2022.

Citing an article in Nature by Irene C. Dedoussi, et. al. entitled Premature Mortality Related to United States Cross-State Air Pollution, this team wrote to the Commission, “…the lack of regulation of the building sector has meant that buildings are now the leading cause of premature death from combustion emissions (particulate matter and ozone).” 

They also pointed out that one in eight Californians has asthma, and that this group of people may be at especially high risk from indoor gas appliances and systems.

Moreover, as noted in a Lancet article by Michael Guarnieri and John R. Balmes entitled Outdoor Air Pollution and Asthma, the team pointed out in their letter that “asthma rates are higher in low-income communities and communities of color.” As building codes evolve, matters of environmental justice like this are increasingly important considerations.

Fortunately, with production of wind energy on the rise and solar panels becoming more affordable, it makes sense for buildings to maximize the energy available from these clean sources.

A major aspect of decarbonization, as it relates to building design, means moving to all-electrical appliances and systems. Solar and wind energy can make electricity, and if a building uses electricity instead of gas, it can be powered entirely by clean energy.

With proper planning and design, buildings can also accommodate electric vehicle charging, thereby facilitating the transition away from combustible fuel vehicles.

Architects play an important role in this transition to decarbonization and building electrification. As such, the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) has been advocating for and promoting decarbonization strategies and policies.

I serve on this committee and work with other architectural leaders to encourage more public agencies to create “reach codes” that would encourage or require electrification. Reach codes are local requirements that exceed the state code.

Many cities have emerged as leaders. The City of Berkeley, California, which prohibited natural gas infrastructure in new construction last year, has led the charge on decarbonization and electrification measures. Other Northern California cities and some places in Massachusetts have taken steps too, as well as a smattering of cities in other states.

Closer to Platt/Whitelaw Architects’ home in San Diego, the City of Carlsbad is limiting the use of natural gas. Already a leader in the zero net energy movement, the County of San Diego is also one to watch.  

It is important for architects to educate their clients about how easy and affordable it is to electrify a new building that will have PV panels.  

Retrofitting existing buildings presents a greater challenge, but Berkeley is considering incentives for making this more financially feasible for owners. It remains to be seen how other cities will address this issue.

Another challenge is ensuring that essential facilities have emergency power that doesn’t rely on fossil fuel-powered generators. The game changer here likely will be high-capacity solar cell backup batteries, but the technology is still evolving.

According to an article on Nature.com, “Before the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, emissions of carbon dioxide were rising by about 1% per year over the previous decade, with no growth in 2019.”

The need to roll back greenhouse gas emissions is dire and immediate. Electrifying buildings can make a big impact in this effort. Help spread the word by sharing this article and talking to your friends, family and coworkers.

Integrating Art into Public Spaces to Engage, Enhance and Inspire

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By Naveen Waney and Sandra Gramley, Principals at Platt/Whitelaw Architects

A percentage of estimated construction costs for new buildings are required by many public agencies to be set aside to integrate public art. This can be at the federal level, like the General Services Administration, or the local level, like the City of San Diego and Port of San Diego.

The art for a public project can easily command a budget of hundreds of thousands of dollars based on the percentage from the set-aside program. The value to the community can be even greater.

Integrating public art encourages interaction, beautifies surroundings and builds history. What would Grand Central Station be without its ceiling murals, floor tiles, Glory of Commerce sculpture or Tiffany clock? Art is one of the reasons that building has helped define New York’s identity.

Platt/Whitelaw has worked with some very talented artists from around the country who help humanize the environments we build, tell the story and invigorate those public spaces. We’ve had the good fortune to work with artists for many of our projects, including University City Fire Station 50, Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mira Mesa Park, South Bay Water Reclamation Plant, 65th & Herrick Pump Station, Chollas Water Operations Plant and Alvarado Water Treatment Plant.

Public agencies established processes where the artist is carefully and fairly chosen and has an opportunity to work with the design team early in the process. This allows the art to truly be integrated into the design of the building or landscape.

The City of San Diego works through its Commission for Arts & Culture office to notify and select artists. Artists apply for a project, and the Commission pulls together a committee of people representing the commission, the community, the building design team and volunteer artists to review applications. Artists are evaluated on originality, professional quality, experience with a design team, communication skills, professionalism and understanding of the project. From there, the top artists are interviewed, and one is ultimately selected.

When we participate on these selection panels, we gravitate to artists who aren’t married to one form of art so there are no limitations when they become part of the creative process. We enjoy sharing our project direction with the artists and seeing how it inspires their artistic ideas. Sometimes, the artist even participates in meetings with the community that shape the vision for the entire project.

Artistic inspiration can come from all kinds of sources. At our Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant project, after consulting with the client and design team, artist Jean Lowe came up with particularly engaging public artwork. At the plant’s operations and visitors center, Jean used terrazzo images to tell the story of water, wastewater and how much humans rely upon water systems. From a goddess pouring an urn to a representation of human intestines, Jean found a way to transform this topic into whimsical beauty that prompts people to reflect upon its importance.

On a public project, the artist, along with the rest of the design team, needs to be thoughtful about how the art will be accessible. With emergency and essential services buildings, the public may not be able to access the entire property – sometimes very little of the property, in fact. How then can the public interact with the art?

Artist Susan Zoccola whom we are currently working with on a fire station in University City, where the structure is situated adjacent to a canyon preserve, engaged with the community and fire fighters at the inception of the project. She flew in from Seattle, met with leaders of the community, walked the local canyonlands and mapped out the topography and watershed of the area. She took this knowledge back with her and transferred the imagery onto an approximately 18- by 30-foot, three-dimensional metal wall sculpture, which was integrated with the landscaping and the building façade facing the community. Open space in our communities is an incredible resource, and the artwork at this fire station celebrates it in an accessible way. 

At South Bay Water Reclamation Plant, another secure facility, we worked with the talented local artist Paul Hobson. He devised a way to translate the flush of a toilet into a beautiful fountain bowl with its water running in a circular motion. Located in the middle of a circular driveway, the large fountain greets guests arriving at the plant. Paul also told the story of water from ancient times to current day with a hieroglyphic frieze attached to the top of the buildings wrapping the perimeters of the structure.

A “green paper” produced by Americans for the Arts’ Public Art Network Council states: Public art humanizes the built environment and invigorates public spaces. It provides an intersection between past, present and future, between disciplines, and between ideas.

At Platt/Whitelaw we design for communities; we design for the public. Our buildings serve the public’s needs, but by teaming with artists, we make sure to engage their imagination too.

[Photo icon: artwork by Susan Zoccola at University City Fire Station 50]