Kjell Anderson, FAIA, LEED Fellow

#InclusiveFromTheStart This image is a screen capture from my Facebook memories 11 years ago today about how LEED certification had added Cradle to Cradle materials to their points system. That got my nerodivergent brain all fired up...again. The Cradle to Cradle book from 20 years before this post was written reminding decision makers that like people, products start somewhere but in a finite system we would be smart to think about where they come from, how they're made, used and desposed of. The authors were solving the problems of cradle to grave thinking that was creating so much garbage and pollution in the world. But then and now, when I hear the green design world talk about product, material and building lifecycles and lifecycle costing, they are never really thinking about cradle as in baby or baby as the start of a person's life, or cradle to cradle thinking about lifetime impact and legacy for people. That's always been so bizarre to me. But these are not new thoughts for me. In 2011, the Ontario Association of Architects published in their magazine an article I co-wrote with an architect and would later present at several conferences but for the first time at the 2012 Transed conference in India about how smart green design choices can make spaces also accessible and good universal design (https://lnkd.in/gmjRh3vK). And the ideas in the article started even earlier in 2004 when I was teaching a Universal Design course and then created and taught a Sustainable Design course for the Architectural Technology program at Sheridan College. #Inspiration: People want to make getting accessibility right easier, right? So if all these buildings are already looking for C2C certified materials and products... Did you know to obtain C2C cerification there are 5 criteria and 2 are already perfect to be tweaked to ensure disability inclusion?: 1. Material Health ("Ensuring materials are safe for humans and the environment"); and 2. Social Fairness ("Embracing safe, fair and equitable labor practices that advance human rights and strong communities"). Let's do that! If you've been following me for any time now, you know I often say there's nothing more sustainable than accessibility because 100% of people are born with or get temporary, situational, short and long term disabilities during their lives due to illness, accident and aging. Disability is part of the human experience so why accessibility is ultimately integral to successful design. So let's update an existing well known and widely used system so that the 34 year old ADA, 5 year old Accessible Canada Act and 2 year old European Accessibility Act can also require C2C certified products and materials. #AccessibleCanada #ADA #EAA #CRPD #disability #inclusion #accessibility #UniversalDesign #Sustainability #SDGs #architecture #InteriorDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanPlanning #design #education #policy #legislation #CultureChange #WeAreBillionStrong

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Season 17 of AIA California's arcCA DIGEST takes up the first of four topics drawn from the AIA California Strategic Plan: Adaptive Reuse, Building Decarbonization, Housing, and The Future of the Profession. Interestingly (but perhaps not surprisingly), articles in this season’s lineup also address building decarbonization and housing, as adaptive reuse is a potent strategy for both. Timely reading given the new embodied carbon provisions in CalGreen effective TODAY! #arcCAdigest #adaptivereuse #decarbonization #embodiedcarbon #housing

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Best, most well-written & important architecture book I've read in the past 10 years? People, Planet, Design: A Practical Guide to Realizing Architecture’s Potential by architect Corey Squire AIA, lead author of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. #design #architects #architecture #sustainability #climatecrisis #designexcellence

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First things first, when it comes to architectural fees, there's no one-price-fits-all approach. We’d love to give you a cost estimate per square foot—if we could. But answering the question of “how much does an architect in Malibu or Maui cost?” really does depend on what you want from your property, as well as the complexity of your home project. These are some of the factors that might influence the fees involved in planning for your new home in Malibu or Maui. 👉 https://lttr.ai/AShes

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🏛️ In the evolving world of architecture, Eric Cesal challenges us to reconsider the role of licensure in 'Practice Disrupted' Episode 146. 🌀 While licensure establishes a foundation of trust and safety, ensuring architects meet rigorous standards, Cesal warns against complacency. The profession's regulated nature should not blind us to the dynamic shifts propelled by technology and market changes. 🔧As architects, we must build not just to current standards but also with an eye towards innovation and adaptation. 🌍Let’s embrace licensure as a starting point, not a finish line, and engage actively with the future of architecture. Tune into episode 146!

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Grateful to see the industry coalesce around a single definition of “net zero.” Two regrets: 1. They only look at operational carbon, not embodied (“upfront”) carbon. 2. The definition does not include leakage of high-GWP refrigerants. https://lnkd.in/gHHMDp9k

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"Cataldo said the July 1 code amendment is "minimal enough" that it will likely be an easy and quick issue to address, even for those who are surprised by it. The analysis is very close to the LEED analysis for embodied carbon, Cataldo said, so if a consultant is needed to complete the paperwork, it will likely be easy to find one that can do it." I wouldn't call this "minimal". Your biggest hitter in many buildings will be concrete, and reducing embodied carbon in concrete is going to require new mixes, with different structural properties, different cure times. My favorite local engineers are on it, but it is going to be a vetting point in engineer selection. You've also got your sustainability consultants, and while it may be "very close to LEED", it's still a different software being used for analysis. And gosh I hope this doesn't add a lot of time to plan check... So we're changing cost, schedule, consultant selection... doable, sure, but not "minimal".

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What seems like an anomaly, could send ripples through Cali Counties that possess high DIFs. Developer Impact Fees are just one of many costs associated with keeping #affordablehousing costs per unit elevated. However, DIFs have been a reason for not significantly (and regularly) raising property taxes.

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Many thanks to Andrew Sansom, Marc Sansom, and SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange for amplifying the great recent work of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) resolving to proactively adopt a research- and ethics-based clarification of human health and wellness in its practice pathways, awards, and advocacy agenda. This is a global issue, as compelling research proves that architecture either improves or hinders human health and wellbeing, and those design choices echo for generations. https://lnkd.in/emRjQneh

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Every project we work on starts with drawings. If they exist, we study them to see exactly how a space is constructed. We can see what is possible -- what walls can be removed, what can be repurposed, where plumbing can be located, and more. If there are no drawings, we create them. A huge part of design is knowing the exact proportions and measurements of a space. Our goal is to design spaces that can realistically be built. Whether we're designing from the ground up or renovating an existing space, it has to be doable, meet the budget, and look beautiful. Learn more about our #liveableluxury design services: FisterDesign.com #fisterdesign #interiordesignerideas #interior #interiordesign #interiordesigner #designbuild #outdoorliving #exteriorremodeling #remodeling #greatroomdesigns #kitchendesigns #bathroomdesigns #Miamidesigner #hospitalitydesign #hoteldesign

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The tire fire at AIA national HQ, and the scrambling use of the national conference for wagon circling and doubling down in response, is just... bad. But at least there's some exquisitely painful copy coming out if it! Here is part of the AIA's statement on why there is absolutely, positively, nothing at all to see here, move along with only shallow breathing through your mouth, please: "... the Board directed external counsel to review the planning and execution of the AIA Staff Learning Retreat that took place in March 2024. The review focused on the specific issues raised to the Board. That portion of the review has now concluded. The Board has reviewed the facts, found and confirmed that there was no wrongdoing, and there is no action to be taken by the Board..." Let's unpack. The first sentence you can take at face value. Well, except that the "learning" was taking place at an all-inclusive in the DR. The second flags that this review purposefully left stones unturned. The next two sentences say two different things: one, said limited-scope review is over (that was quick!); two, the board is sitting on its hands. There is a period in between. To a former wordsmith, this is exactly the construction I'd employ to use the magic of proximity to suggest two things were connected, without explicitly saying so. The icing on this tortured-prose cake is "found and confirmed." There's no way this phrase has ever been used outside of an 18th-century royal proclimation. How do you "find" something (as in, making a determination), and then "confirm" your own finding? If you only "confirmed" something, that could suggest it was the outside counsel that made the initial finding. But if they had, I'm sure the board would have trumpeted that. If the board just "found" something, that could suggest it was different from what the actual report concluded (if it did make any conclusions). Ramming the two words together muddies the waters enough to create plausible deniability. If you rearrange the letters a bit, you get "a confounded firm," which seems a much better fit for this situation (sorry, readers, couldn't resist). What would clear all this up: releasing the entire completed report to members. When that might happen: when an intrepid PhD student working on her thesis, "Why Architects No Longer Matter: Mismanagement and Turmoil in the 2020s AIA," uncovers it in 2064. https://lnkd.in/ezfdp7Mm https://lnkd.in/ea8AHY3b https://lnkd.in/eqetCfVa

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What annoys you about architects? With The Anti-Architect Podcast, I continuously look to improve our industry by taking a critical look at how architects are viewed. If you ask the tough questions you can get some pretty interesting answers. Comment with your answer below👇 Christine Williamson, AIA Jeffrey Bershad David Supple Michael Abboud KP Reddy #TheAntiArchitect #AntiArchitect #Podcast #Architects #Architecture

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We all know that labs are tricky when it comes to operational carbon due to high energy demands. What is lesser understood is how structural considerations can help reduce the embodied carbon associated with material selection. I'm excited to hear what Isabel Mandujano RA LEED-AP and Harshda Prasad, SE, LEED AP have to say about #decarbonization strategies for labs.

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🌍🏛️ Exciting Opportunity for Architects and Urban Planners! All Things Urban is thrilled to announce our latest initiative: Call for Project Submissions 'Collaborative and Sustainable Architecture'. We are on the lookout for completed projects that showcase innovative approaches to sustainable and inclusive design, deeply integrated with ecological principles and community collaboration. What Are We Looking For? 🔸 Innovative projects ranging from buildings to master plans completed within the last five years (!). 🔸 Designs that effectively address ecological and social challenges. 🔸 Projects that inspire and demonstrate the transformative power of architecture. Why Submit Your Project? 🔹 Showcase your work to a global community of over 70,000 urban professionals. 🔹Gain visibility on our platforms including our blog, social media channels, and during our online networking events. 🔹Connect and engage with other leaders in urban development and sustainability. How to Submit? Please send your projects by 25th April 2024, 6 PM CET / 12 PM EST. ✨ For more details, visit the open call announcement on All Things Urban: https://lnkd.in/dHNXcy7X Let's highlight how architecture can not only exist but thrive in harmony with our planet and its communities. We can’t wait to see your incredible projects and feature the best and most innovative solutions in our network! 🔗 Submit Now! https://lnkd.in/dHNXcy7X If you find this opportunity relevant for the urbanists worldwide, consider resharing ♻ and follow us All Things Urban for more content like this. 💬 Know someone perfect for this? Tag them! #opencall #architecture #urban #urbandesign #callforsubmissions

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If you are interested in Soundscape, I highly recommend this book. Great collection of research. “with soundscape, one achieves a deeper understanding of the acoustic environment and its effects on people.”

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Is your #AEC project and team pursuing awards this season? HERE ARE TWO TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES AT #WINNING! 1) Follow the instructions. If a required submission element has a limitation, say a word-count limit or time limit for a video, stay within it. 2) Answer every question. Some questions are really multiple questions, and each part requires an answer. Like "Describe the top challenges on the project and how your team addressed each." Tell me the challenges AND solutions. Simple, right?!?!? Recently I spent 15+ hours judging entries for a well-known building awards program. It was surprising how many entries didn't do well at the basics. Before hitting "submit", get a fresh set of eyes for a quick QA/QC review. #aecmarketing #copywritingtips

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As a society, we're rightly concerned about adding affordable housing, but we can't forget that it should be done well — meaning that we must create places where people want to live. This example, Centennial Place by Scott Edwards Architecture, was designed for low-income people in Portland, Oregon. The complex includes over 20 apartments designed for families and provides many spaces that encourage a sense of community (including homework rooms). Trauma-informed design principles (that seek to optimize emotional well-being of building occupants) make it very liveable. It's also a very sustainable project that has EV charging stations, bicycle parking, and fossil fuel-free heating. It contains many ideas worth exploring: https://buff.ly/42BaOts #affordablehousing #housing #housingcrisis #liveablecities

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Imagine if all architecture and construction firms worked like this. Does it work? Yes it does - I worked in a highly successful architecture co-op in Glasgow for five years before my curiosity took me into academia. #cooperatives #policychange #peoplefirst #sharedequity #architecture #construction

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Is it possible to build for the missing middle? A new report from the Terner Center for Housing Innovation unpacks development challenges in California and finds that most projects aren't viable under current conditions. Read the full report to learn more about policy changes needed to boost middle housing development: https://lnkd.in/gqzeDEU7

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