Sustainability

We believe that buildings should support the well-being of their users and at the same time be a good neighbor to the larger community. A building which minimizes its use of limited natural resources is such a building, as is a building which uses less than its share of energy and reduces fuel consumption.

The principles of sustainability allow us to analyze and organize new and renovated buildings in a way that encourages the maximum re-use of existing buildings, favors building in dense urban areas when this is a choice, maximizes the incorporation of daylighting and building envelop techniques to minimize energy requirements, demonstrates the validity of geothermal heating and cooling systems, green roof gardens and photovoltaic systems and eliminates the exposure of occupants to unhealthy indoor air.

While sustainable design principles are evident in many of our projects throughout our history, since the first firm member received LEED professional accreditation in 2003 this work has become more pronounced.

In 2008, the firm packaged and oversaw the transmission of all LEED required information to USGBC for a public school in New Haven resulting in LEED Gold certification. RWA also understands and incorporates other sustainable design guidelines into its designs, including City and State sustainability regulations. Adherence to sustainability design principles delivers buildings and communities which respect the future as well as providing for the present. Whether or not LEED or some similar program is the goal, RWA believes that every client deserves a building which is as sustainable as it can be.