Page 30 - Green Building Through Integrated Design

8 THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE PROJECTS

but we have to start by knowing what the answer is. And the answer is net-zero ener-
gy. The answer is LEED Platinum. [Knowing where we need to go], then can we use
our collective, creative skills and talents to get to the answer. The most important part
of IDP is being very clear and focused on what the answer must be and then devel-
oping a process to get there.

Let’s pause for a moment and examine some of these insights. First of all, integrat-
ed design is an iterative process, in which one party or another can take the lead at any
given point. Second, it’s about finding specific solutions to specific problems or design
issues, not about simply fitting previous solutions into a new set of shoes. Third, it
needs a clear set of goals, such as net-zero energy or LEED Platinum. As we’ll see
later in this book, the best design efforts yield these results as a by-product of innova-
tive thinking and a willingness to take calculated risks.

PLATINUM PROJECT PROFILE

Operations Centre, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve,
Sidney, British Columbia
Located on the waterfront, the Operations Centre houses the Gulf Islands
National Park Reserve operations and administrative staff. The 11,300-square-
foot (1050-square-meter), three-story facility was designed to consume 75 percent
less energy compared to a similar building with conventional mechanical systems.
An ocean water heat pump system provides all the heat requirements of the building.
A photovoltaic system supplies 20 percent of the building’s total energy needs.
Low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets, and a 7900-gallon (30,000-liter) storage
tank contribute to a reduction in potable water use by over 60 percent.*

Between the architect and the engineer, there are differences in focus; the architect
is interested in the visual appearance of a building in addition to how it functions for
its intended purpose. The engineer is interested in economy of resources, reliability
and control of building systems. There’s no inherent conflict between these two view-
points, but there are widely varying levels of skill and experience that each party
brings to the design problem of high-performance buildings. That’s why the IDP is so
important; it helps bridge levels of skill, acceptance of ambiguity, and risk-tolerance
among the different parties on the project team to produce something that none of
them individually could bring into being. Another aspect of Hydes’ approach is the
visual rendering of complex systems. Each sketch triggers conversations between

*Lloyd Alter, Gulf Islands Park Operation Centre: LEED Platinum [online],
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/11/gulf_islands_pa_1.php, November 8, 2006, accessed April 2008. Canada
Green Building Council [online],
http://my.cagbc.org/green_building_projects/leed_certified_buildings.php?id=41&press=1&draw_column=3:3:2,
accessed April 2008.