As part of our ongoing commitment to being a purpose-driven organization in the region and advocating for a healthy, resilient and zero carbon future, we are pleased to announce that B+H is a signatory to the World Green Building Council Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.
A cornerstone of our commitment includes ensuring that all B+H global studios, where applicable and within direct control, are net zero operational by 2030. Additionally, as part of our commitment, we will advocate for all design work led by B+H globally to meet net zero carbon standards by 2030.
Sustainable Design as an Integrated Approach for B+H
Since the 1990’s, sustainable design has been a definitive component of our integrated approach. From our work on the Metro Toronto Convention Centre – South Building, an integral built component of the Toronto Enwave Deep Water Cooling renewable energy system, to our recent net zero collaboration on The Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation at Mohawk College (First Net-Zero Carbon Design & Operational Performance Certified Building in Canada), followed by the Humber College Building NX deep energy retrofit (First Net-Zero Carbon Design Certified and Passive House EnerPHit certified retrofit in Canada), we demonstrate how we continually push the boundaries on progressive sustainable design and strategy.
Humber College Building NX
In China, we led the way in IAQ (indoor air quality) monitoring in response to the need for healthy indoor spaces and our efforts have expanded to projects across the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.
Based on our success using the GIGABASE and ORIGIN integrated project drawings and ‘material composition disclosure’ specifications databases (from VOCs to carbon impacts), B+H decided to be among the first global companies to monitor and publicly disclose workplace IAQ across our global studios.
Our approach to achieve this goal
B+H will achieve our commitment by developing and implementing a carbon emissions reduction strategy that includes energy consumption reduction and efficiency measures. We will also do this by ensuring all current and future leasing opportunities for studio locations are selected based on a rigorous adherence to high energy performance, renewable resource grids, and a focus on maximized de-carbonization.
In addition, we will engage and empower our clients in the region to deliver net zero carbon operational buildings and embodied carbon benchmarking as the firm has done on net zero carbon certified projects to date, and we will continue to actively pursue work with public sector entities which mandate these targets in their consultant procurement processes.
“As architects and advocates for the design and specification of high-performance buildings that provide healthy productive places to work, live, play, learn and heal, and promoting adherence to continual occupancy and operational improvement plans for clients, we believe in leading and learning by example,” says Karen Cvornyek, President Asia, B+H. “We hope our commitment to a zero-carbon future will inspire our clients and partners to join us in taking actions and help build a healthier tomorrow”.