The 10 S’s

Several years before the United States Green Building Council established the LEED system and Enterprise initiated the Green Communities program, we developed our own framework to guide the green approach to our work.
Although we now often apply LEED and Green Communities standards to our projects, our “Ten S’s” remain a helpful framework for our approach to achieving environmentally responsible work.


SITE SELECTION
 Select sites and buildings that are located adjacent to existing infrastructure and transportation and make connections to surrounding neighborhoods, parks and recreation spaces, commercial and retail centers, as well as educational, cultural and community resources.
SELECT TEAM
 Select a project team experienced in both green design and the integrated planning process, as well as with the proposed building typology, development program, and site characteristics.
SYNCHRONIZE
 Synchronize the project team and stakeholders to establish goals, objectives, quantifiable green performance measures, and project parameters (budget, schedule, program, scope, resources).
SYSTEMS APPROACH
 Systems approach includes gathering relevant data and base line building and site performance information to inform the green design and integrated planning process and establish green performance measures.
SITE PLANNING
 Site planning focuses on place-making and urbanism that contributes to the pedestrian experience. Effective site planning also maximizes passive solar and natural systems that contribute to the comfort and performance of the building and site.
SKIN DESIGN
 Skin design includes the integration of fenestration, insulation, materials and mechanical systems to optimize building performance and energy efficiency, as well as the quality of light and air within the building and on the site.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN
 Structural design considers the embedded energy, production and life cycle of materials, as well as the future adaptability of the core and shell in the new construction, demolition or rehabilitation of buildings and the development of sites.
SYSTEMS DESIGN
 Systems design includes the integration of energy efficient and water conservation systems, with the performance of the skin and structural design, to create a healthy and high-performance interior and exterior environment.
SPECIFY
 Specify the appropriate materials, products, details, and sources that support local economic development, environmental stewardship, renewable resources, green operations, and behavioral transformation that encourage an ecological understanding of green building and site location.
START UP
 Start up includes commissioning the building and developing a green operations and maintenance plan, as well as a post occupancy evaluation procedure to periodically measure green performance outcomes, and retool as necessary.