Innovation

Renaissance 3 Architects P.C. ("R3A") is an architectural design firm based in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania that places an emphasis on sustainability and provides LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings to large corporate clients building new facilities in Western Pennsylvania. In 2001, the firm completed its first LEED certified building for Siemens. Shortly thereafter, the firm launched an in-house sustainability studio that now includes nine LEED certified architects that are active in local green building organization, perform post-occupancy analysis to ensure buildings reach intended performance metrics, and contributed to the design of 15 LEED certified buildings since 2001. The formation of R3A's in-house sustainability studio has allowed the firm to offer sustainable design services and contribute to the United Nation's Sustainable Development goals: 'Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure', and 'Sustainable Cities and Communities.' Additionally, R3A is committed to the Architecture 2030 challenge under which all new buildings, developments, and renovations shall be carbon neutral by 2030.

Inspiration

As part of the Aim2Flourish project I was able to speak with Deepak Wadhwani, a LEED certified Principal and co-founder of R3A, who sees sustainability as a key aspect of what the firm offers to its clients and is passionate about the future of sustainability in architectural design. Mr. Wadhwani described the formation of the in-house sustainability studio arising after the firm's completion of its first sustainable design, the Siemens building in Pittsburgh in 2001. He described the formation of the studio as follows: "For three or four years leading up to the project there was a growing interest in focusing on sustainability. Shortly after the completion of the Siemens building there was a growing interest among the architects that worked on the project to make it a greater part of what we do going forward … out of this interest we put together a team, each architect became LEED certified, and we made sustainability a key part of what we were doing." Sustainability was no longer just an interest for R3A, but a key selling point to clients on future projects. The team members that came to make up the in-house sustainability studio were always conscious of building efficiency and air quality, but the focus on sustainability and applying the LEED standards provided a new purpose and metric against which to measure success.

Overall impact

The in-house sustainability studio contributes to a variety of sustainable changes and helps to create a sustainable future for its community. R3A is committed to helping ensure that its community reduces it carbon footprint, establishes sustainable benefits, and reduces the overall ecological impact of renovations and construction. R3A is able to contribute to these overarching goals through its commitment to LEED standards for green design and sustainability, and its commitment to the Architecture 2030 challenge.

Business benefit

Despite the creation of the in-house sustainability studio in 2001, R3A initially faced challenges convincing clients of the benefits of sustainable design. Mr. Wadhwani articulated the initial difficulties and the growing change in perception of green design, "At first we faced challenges in convincing clients of the benefits of slightly greater short-term investments in favor of long-term benefits of sustainability. However, as time has passed companies have come to see the benefits of sustainability. Now, it is nearly the standard for almost all of our designs and renovations. With changing public perceptions, companies now see sustainability as a key aspect of any building." Since 2001, the demand for sustainable and LEED certified designs from clients has increased, and by committing to sustainability R3A has benefited from the shift. Since the foundation of the in-house sustainability studio R3A has designed 15 LEED certified buildings for large clients around Pittsburgh or nearly one a year since the foundation of the sustainability studio. Now, R3A is even able to work with the manufacturers of various materials for projects to ensure not only that the structure is sustainable, but that even the materials used to design the building are designed and created in an environmental conscious and sustainable way.

Mr. Wadhwani expressed hope about the future of sustainable design and his desire to work on a completely carbon neutral building in the future. He stated, "going forward I think the area of sustainability holds a lot of promise for us (R3A), sustainable design is an area with great promise for further innovation, clients are continuing to become more aware of the potential for sustainable design … The next step for us is really a net-zero building."

Social and environmental benefit

There are numerous benefits to sustainable or green design in any building or renovation project. First and foremost is reducing negative impact of new structures on the environment, and ensuring that renovations improve building functionality and ecological impact through bettered air-quality and experience for occupants. Of particular importance is the contribution toward the Architecture 2030 Challenge under which all new buildings, developments, and major renovations will be carbon neutral by 2030. The challenge requires that by 2020 there is an 80% reduction in fossil fuel, by 2025 a 90% reduction, and by 2030 that new buildings and renovations be carbon neutral. This also included ensuring that new structures incorporate on-site renewable energy systems. Adopting LEED standards and the 2030 challenge helps to ensure a more sustainable future for cities, and that new construction minimizes its environmental impact.

Interview

Deepak Wadhwani, Co-Founding Principal and LEED Accredited Architect