The architecture and design industry is focusing on the social impact of design, including sustainability and climate resiliency, entering 2024. We’ve often said that the most sustainable building is the one already built—adaptive reuse is climate action. Similarly, retrofitting existing buildings is very much in line with an industry push toward design for social impact, and we expect this to play out in several ways in 2024.
Lifting Up Whole Communities
Innovative, strategic design does not only impact a single structure; it transforms communities. When it comes to retrofits, we expect to see a push toward improvements and amenities that preserve, complement and support the values of the local community. By engaging with the neighborhood, designers can ensure that the spaces we create are inclusive, accessible and fully embraced by the surrounding communities.
Capitalizing on the inherent scale and detail of an existing historic structure reinvigorates the streetscape and accentuates the unique existing character in a way that cannot feasibly be recreated with new construction. Retrofitting existing underutilized buildings also has the advantage of capturing the embodied carbon associated with the structure and envelope.
Industry Standards Will Shine a Spotlight on Resiliency
2024 is going to see our industry leaning into newly established standards—energy, resource management, wellness and adaptability just to name a few—and embracing a more holistic approach to great design. Here in Massachusetts, the recently adopted Stretch Energy Code emphasizes improving energy performance, and we’re certain to see deep energy retrofits take center stage in public and private spaces with an emphasis on insulation and air sealing. Aside from recognized historic structures, it is no longer an option not to improve a building’s envelope performance.
Additionally, we anticipate that smart building systems, onsite renewable energy and improved stormwater infiltration will reduce buildings’ impact on the local power grid and sewer system. Lower energy-intensive buildings require less demand from the grid and are able to weather the storm better.
Creative Solutions Will Evolve
Through designing sustainable structures, RODE has found that design aesthetics and functionality do not need to be compromised for a project to deliver social impact: We just need to think creatively. The design language of sustainability is comparatively young in the architecture world, and every year brings us new innovations and achievements.
For example, the more we learn about embodied carbon and carbon sequestration, the more thoughtful we can be about our materials choices. Insulation is a major component of many retrofits; fortunately, more options are coming online with lower embodied carbon, wood fiberboard insulation panels and hemp, for example. For structural work, concrete-and-steel has a massive carbon footprint. However, options like mass timber are becoming increasingly popular. (In addition to sequestering carbon, they bring a wonderful warmth and richness to the spaces they create; it’s a win-win.)
We’re currently limited in how we can use these new construction methodologies and materials, but as testing and rating verifications are completed, we can look forward to them becoming more prevalent.
New Year, New Successes
This year, the building industry will think more holistically about what success looks like. It goes beyond sustainability and climate resilience: Truly successful projects will improve the lives of the communities around them. This starts with taking a closer look at the existing building stock and how strategic improvements can be a catalyst for revitalization.