1. ArchDaily
  2. LEED

LEED: The Latest Architecture and News

Heatherwick Studio Designs Inaugural District in Tokyo, Japan

Heatherwick Studio’s new district in the heart of Tokyo has been opened to the public by the Prime Minister of Japan. Named Azabudai Hills, the project is the culmination of a thirty-year revitalization initiative. The neighborhood spans across 2.4 hectares of accessible green space, and features various mixed-use activities, integrating the urban into nature.

Heatherwick Studio Designs Inaugural District in Tokyo, Japan - Image 1 of 4Heatherwick Studio Designs Inaugural District in Tokyo, Japan - Image 2 of 4Heatherwick Studio Designs Inaugural District in Tokyo, Japan - Image 3 of 4Heatherwick Studio Designs Inaugural District in Tokyo, Japan - Image 4 of 4Heatherwick Studio Designs Inaugural District in Tokyo, Japan - More Images+ 6

Foster + Partners Wins Competition to Design New Center in Hangzhou, China

Foster + Partners has been selected as the winner of an international competition to design a new center for Hangzhou, the capital of China's Zhejiang province. The master plan envisions a green and interconnected mixed-use quarter situated in the heart of the Yuhang District. In its essence, the project aims to foster a strong connection between nature and people’s daily lives, creating a sustainable urban quarter.

Foster + Partners Wins Competition to Design New Center in Hangzhou, China - Image 1 of 4Foster + Partners Wins Competition to Design New Center in Hangzhou, China - Image 2 of 4Foster + Partners Wins Competition to Design New Center in Hangzhou, China - Image 3 of 4Foster + Partners Wins Competition to Design New Center in Hangzhou, China - Image 4 of 4Foster + Partners Wins Competition to Design New Center in Hangzhou, China - More Images+ 3

Kimberly Dowdell Chosen as AIA’s First Black Woman President

The American Institute of Architects has elected Kimberly Dowdell as the 100th president of the organization, making her the first Black woman to hold the position in AIA’s 165-year history. Delegates at the AIA’s annual meeting voted Dowdell to serve first as vice president for 2023. Afterward, she will become president in 2024.

During her campaign for president, Dowdell has expressed her support for minorities, while also making clear that she wants to be an AIA president for all. Her platform is based on four key areas of interest: supporting architects in practice, creating a sense of belonging and ensuring access to the architectural profession and education, addressing climate concerns, and designing for the future, considering rapid technological advances. “I firmly believe that the AIA has the power and potential to better serve our profession” she declared in a video made prior to the election.

Google’s Bay View Campus Designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studio Opens in Silicon Valley, California

Google’s first ground-up campus, designed by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studios in collaboration with Google’s design and engineering teams, opened in Silicon Valley. The campus’ mission is to create a human-centric design for the future of Google’s workplace and set new global sustainability standards for construction and office design. The site aims to operate entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030; it integrates the most extensive geothermal pile system in North America and is net-water positive. The campus also includes 17 acres of high-value natural areas, including wet meadows, woodlands, and marsh.

Google’s Bay View Campus Designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studio Opens in Silicon Valley, California - Image 1 of 4Google’s Bay View Campus Designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studio Opens in Silicon Valley, California - Image 2 of 4Google’s Bay View Campus Designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studio Opens in Silicon Valley, California - Image 3 of 4Google’s Bay View Campus Designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studio Opens in Silicon Valley, California - Image 4 of 4Google’s Bay View Campus Designed by BIG and Heatherwick Studio Opens in Silicon Valley, California - More Images+ 6

Evaluating Buildings: 12 Green Building Certifications to Know

The Brundtland Report, 1987 - "Our Common Future" - introduced the notion that the sustainable use of natural resources must "meet the needs of the present generation without affecting the ability of future generations to meet theirs." Since then, the term sustainability has been popularized and, often, trivialized in our daily lives. In the construction industry, this is no different. As much as we know that to build, we need to destroy, how is it possible to mitigate the effects of construction during the useful life and demolition of buildings? A sustainable building, in its design, construction, and operation, must reduce or eliminate negative effects overall and may even generate net positive impacts on the climate and environment – preserving resources and improving the quality of life of the occupants simultaneously. To say that a building is sustainable is easy and even seductive. But what exactly makes sustainable construction?

Answering this question is not a simple exercise. That is why, in the last 30 years, several building sustainability certifications have been created. Through outsourced and impartial evaluations from different sources, they aim to verify the sustainable aspects of any construction. Each of them addresses particular building elements and is typically focused on certain regions of the world. While there are some certifications that verify whether the building meets certain efficiency criteria, others create different classifications, assigning a score based on these evaluations. Below, we list some of the primary sustainability certifications around the world – ranked alphabetically – and include their main architectural applications alongside a brief explanation:

Brandon Haw Imagines a New High-Tech Office Tower in Pittsburgh

JMC Holdings unveiled images of a 21-story office building in Pittsburgh’s 1501 Penn Ave. Designed by Brandon Haw Architecture, an international architecture studio based in New York, in collaboration with the AM/Woolly Group, the new commercial structure is LEED-certified.

Brandon Haw Imagines a New High-Tech Office Tower in Pittsburgh - Image 1 of 4Brandon Haw Imagines a New High-Tech Office Tower in Pittsburgh - Image 2 of 4Brandon Haw Imagines a New High-Tech Office Tower in Pittsburgh - Image 3 of 4Brandon Haw Imagines a New High-Tech Office Tower in Pittsburgh - Image 4 of 4Brandon Haw Imagines a New High-Tech Office Tower in Pittsburgh - More Images+ 4

Determine Which Sustainable Building Rating Systems are Best for You

The variety of sustainable building rating systems promoting health and wellbeing can be confusing. With so many standards, how do you determine which are suitable for your project? How do you take advantage of the synergies between these rating systems to pick the right building materials? By increasing your knowledge of all the available options, you can make a more informed decision and achieve the best possible results for your building. In AEC Daily’s online course you can explore health and wellbeing credits across sustainable building rating systems and study the many options for creating optimal conditions for building occupants.

Is Integrating Building Performance Difficult at Your Firm?

In a study recently published by AIA, less than 13% of architectural firms have incorporated building performance as part of their practice. With buildings contributing 40% of total carbon emissions leading to climate change, just 25 projects are roughly equivalent to planting 1 million trees each year. In addition to that, teams that are able to showcase data-driven and performance-driven decision-making and feature an energy analysis in every pursuit are able to increase fees and generate more revenue. Although integrating building performance sounds like a no-brainer, it proves to be difficult at many firms, because in addition to the practical changes, it requires a culture shift. That culture shift can only happen if the tools are easy to use, accurate, and mesh well with current workflows. Right now is the perfect time to tackle these culture changes due to a few reasons:

5 Ways to Discuss Building Performance for Your Next Project Pursuit

 | Sponsored Content

Today in the United States, buildings account for nearly 40% of carbon emissions (EESI) and 78% of electricity usage. The most sustainability-focused firms run energy simulations for less than 50% of their projects (10% for a typical firm) and only doing so late in the process when design changes are limited and insufficient to combat red flags found in the performance report (AIA 2030 report). We can make building performance widespread once we help the entire community discuss the subject in terms of investment and return. Especially during a project pursuit, since having the buy in from the whole team helps ensure the key project metrics are met. Owners are seeking out teams who are using actual metrics and data driven processes that affect their bottom line. This new approach to practice is what makes the younger teams’ standout and will benefit both the climate and the bottom-line. Here are 5 ways to talk about building performance in your project pursuits: 

West Hollywood Library / Johnson Favaro

West Hollywood Library / Johnson Favaro - Library, Facade, ChairWest Hollywood Library / Johnson Favaro - Library, Facade, Table, ChairWest Hollywood Library / Johnson Favaro - Library, Stairs, HandrailWest Hollywood Library / Johnson Favaro - Library, Facade, Beam, Table, ChairWest Hollywood Library / Johnson Favaro - More Images+ 25

West Hollywood, United States

ARIA Resort and Casino / Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

ARIA Resort and Casino / Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects - Hotels, Beam, FacadeARIA Resort and Casino / Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects - Hotels, Facade, CityscapeARIA Resort and Casino / Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects - Hotels, Facade, BeamARIA Resort and Casino / Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects - Hotels, Facade, CityscapeARIA Resort and Casino / Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects - More Images+ 9

Las Vegas, United States

Shoreham House / Tim Spicer Architects

Shoreham House / Tim Spicer Architects - HousesShoreham House / Tim Spicer Architects - HousesShoreham House / Tim Spicer Architects - HousesShoreham House / Tim Spicer Architects - HousesShoreham House / Tim Spicer Architects - More Images+ 8

Maple Street School Preschool / Barker Associates Architecture Office + 4Mativ Design Studio

Maple Street School Preschool  / Barker Associates Architecture Office + 4Mativ Design Studio - Elementary & Middle SchoolMaple Street School Preschool  / Barker Associates Architecture Office + 4Mativ Design Studio - Elementary & Middle SchoolMaple Street School Preschool  / Barker Associates Architecture Office + 4Mativ Design Studio - Elementary & Middle SchoolMaple Street School Preschool  / Barker Associates Architecture Office + 4Mativ Design Studio - Elementary & Middle SchoolMaple Street School Preschool  / Barker Associates Architecture Office + 4Mativ Design Studio - More Images+ 10

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  3300
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2016
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  ASI Architectural, Abet Laminati, Amkel, Architectural Surfaces, Armstrong Ceilings, +10

Lè Architecture / Aedas

Lè Architecture / Aedas - OfficesLè Architecture / Aedas - OfficesLè Architecture / Aedas - OfficesLè Architecture / Aedas - OfficesLè Architecture / Aedas - More Images+ 9

Taipei City, China

BIG's Relocated Serpentine Pavilion Nears Completion in Toronto as Landmark Tower Tops Out in Vancouver

The collaboration of Bjarke Ingels Group and Westbank are celebrating two milestones in Canada, as the topping out of their innovative Vancouver House coincides with the advanced construction of their relocated Serpentine Pavilion in Toronto.

The two BIG-designed structures, located on opposite coasts, have both been recognized for their architectural innovation. The LEED-Platinum Vancouver House was awarded the World Architecture Festival’s Future Building of the Year in 2015, while the “unzipped wall” is the first Serpentine Pavilion to embark on a multi-city tour of this kind, before ultimately landing in a permanent home on the Vancouver waterfront.

BIG's Relocated Serpentine Pavilion Nears Completion in Toronto as Landmark Tower Tops Out in Vancouver - Image 1 of 4BIG's Relocated Serpentine Pavilion Nears Completion in Toronto as Landmark Tower Tops Out in Vancouver - Image 2 of 4BIG's Relocated Serpentine Pavilion Nears Completion in Toronto as Landmark Tower Tops Out in Vancouver - Image 3 of 4BIG's Relocated Serpentine Pavilion Nears Completion in Toronto as Landmark Tower Tops Out in Vancouver - Image 4 of 4BIG's Relocated Serpentine Pavilion Nears Completion in Toronto as Landmark Tower Tops Out in Vancouver - More Images+ 4

HOK's Mercedes-Benz Stadium Will Be the First LEED Platinum-Certified Pro Sports Stadium in the US

HOK's Mercedes-Benz Stadium is officially the first LEED Platinum certified professional sports stadium in the United States. The new home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons boasts the highest sports venue LEED score at 88 total points.

There is much more to learn from this stadium than just its unique retractable roof system. The two-million-square-foot venue is an unprecedented model for sustainability and performance innovation. Its notable design solutions conserve water, lighting, and energy.

HOK's Mercedes-Benz Stadium Will Be the First LEED Platinum-Certified Pro Sports Stadium in the US - SustainabilityHOK's Mercedes-Benz Stadium Will Be the First LEED Platinum-Certified Pro Sports Stadium in the US - SustainabilityHOK's Mercedes-Benz Stadium Will Be the First LEED Platinum-Certified Pro Sports Stadium in the US - SustainabilityHOK's Mercedes-Benz Stadium Will Be the First LEED Platinum-Certified Pro Sports Stadium in the US - SustainabilityHOK's Mercedes-Benz Stadium Will Be the First LEED Platinum-Certified Pro Sports Stadium in the US - More Images+ 19