Measuring up to the criteria of sustainable construction – “Progress”

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, USA

The California Academy of Sciences building in San Francisco is rigorously designed for energy efficiency, low carbon emissions, and environmental compatibility. The structure is covered by a living roof – an undulating meadow of native plants – which not only gives the building’s footprint back to nature, it is a visual and spatial amenity, an energy saver, a rainwater sink, and a sophisticated mechanism for daylighting and passive cooling.

The academy is the world’s largest LEED* Platinum-rated public building and the world’s greenest museum, with 54 LEED points. 90% of the materials from the former building were recycled. The building’s photovoltaic panels generate 213,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually. 32,000 tons of sand from the foundation excavation went to nearby dune restoration projects. The building is 30% more energy efficient than required by the applicable building code, and 68% of the building’s insulation comes from recycled blue jeans. The building won the Holcim Awards Silver 2005 for North America.

Read project update – California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, USA

Sustainable Construction - Autonomous alpine shelter, Monte Rosa hut, Zermatt, Switzerland

Definition – Innovation and transferability – “Progress”
Progress comes from innovation at the forefront of sustainable construction, a quantum leap in comparison to conventional procedures.

read definition – Innovation and transferability – “Progress”

Sustainable construction - Development Alternatives world headquarters, India

Example – Development Alternatives world headquarters, India
The building is designed as prototype for low-cost sustainable urban architecture and proposes a new approach particularly relevant, especially in rapidly growing Asian cities.

read how the Development Alternatives world headquarters addresses “Innovation and transferability”

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