Sustainable Design Strategies

In addition to the LEED Silver minimum standard and an efficiency 30% greater than the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 energy standard, Washington University prioritizes the following sustainable design and construction strategies to ensure our projects are continually improving our performance in all aspects of sustainability:

Integrated Design:

The Sustainable Design and Construction Project Manager leads and conducts at least three sustainability focused integrated design charrettes that help identify and track project goals. Additionally, a healthier materials and a healthier furniture meeting is conducted early on to incorporate healthier building materials while minimizing any potential impact on cost or schedule.

The integrated design process also integrates principles from green building rating systems beyond LEED such as the Living Building Challenge, WELL building certification, and Sustainable Sites as appropriate to project scope.

Design and Construction Strategies:

  • Create a more welcoming atmosphere by incorporating light and glass into the Collegiate Gothic style architecture
  • Prioritize energy efficiency by designing efficient building envelopes that reduce energy demand and then right-size the mechanical systems to support the energy needs
  • Integrate daylighting into the design to minimize artificial lighting requirements and save energy use
  • Make major building system choices based on efficiency as well as life-cycle cost analyses for up to 30 years of operations and maintenance
  • Prioritize sustainable and healthier building materials that have low embodied carbon and eliminate or minimize chemicals of concern
  • Choose sustainable and healthier furniture that has a low environmental impact and is compliant with the Healthier Hospitals Initiative
  • Ensure all new construction projects are photovoltaic (PV) solar ready
  • Reuse, refurbish and recycle existing furniture and building materials wherever possible
  • Ensure quality and durability in material selection for easy maintenance
  • Emphasize occupant health and well-being through use of healthier materials supplemented by conducting flush-out, building air testing and green cleaning practices
  • Use ultra-low flow plumbing fixtures to minimize potable water use
  • Practice environmentally sensitive landscaping and maintenance
  • Aim to divert more than 90 percent of construction and demolition waste from the landfill