Approaching Sustainability from Every Angle
Our Pacific Northwest roots have taught us that sustainability comes from creating spaces that respect their settings, serve their communities, adapt to change, and tread lightly on the natural world.
This means going beyond metrics to consider ecological concerns alongside issues of diversity and inclusion—creating spaces that maintain their relevance and truly sustain generations to come.
Health of People & Planet
Buildings should support the health of both people and the planet. This means carefully integrating heating and cooling systems, selecting materials free from harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and PVC, and designing spaces that prioritize comfort and combat the isolation of modern life.
Using resources like the International Living Future Institute’s Red List, we continuously refine our material choices for the well-being of occupants and the environment.
Accounting for Today, Architecting for Tomorrow
Our dedicated Sustainability Director ensures we stay accountable to our goals, tracking environmental impact through annual reporting—both in our office operations and across our projects.
Sustainability also demands thinking decades ahead. Through Life Cycle Cost Analysis, we help teams balance initial costs with long-term value, from evaluating energy systems to maintenance requirements. This forward-thinking approach helps us create buildings that remain functional, efficient, and adaptable to change.
Building on Industry Standards
For over thirty years, we’ve helped pioneer sustainable design in the Northwest.
Through our work designing high-performance buildings—many of which have achieved certifications such as Earth Advantage, LEED, Fitwel, Net Zero, Passive House, Salmon Safe, and more—we’ve developed deep expertise in sustainable design standards.
For us, these certifications are simply a starting point. By prioritizing quality and craft alongside timeless design, we create buildings that are not only environmentally sound but also socially relevant.
This holistic approach—considering everything from durability and biophilia to health and social impact—ensures our spaces retain their value and purpose long into the future.
