TIME: CannonDesign is the design firm making net-zero buildings a reality

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November 5, 2024

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We are proud to share TIME Magazine has published a new piece titled, "The Design Firm Making Net-Zero Emissions Buildings a Reality," that highlights our sustainable design work and several key projects.

The story opens with a deep focus on GSA Building 48 at the Denver Federal Center. We helped the GSA transform the former World War II Munitions Plant into a leading-edge workplace for the Department of the Interior.

While simply repurposing the building itself is a feat, the design is much more aspirational as it seeks to be LEED Gold, SITES Silver, and both net zero energy and net zero carbon. The building is operated by 100% renewable energy.

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An interior photo of GSA Building 48 in Denver. The building sets a new precedent for sustainable design of federal buildings.

Later in the piece, our Sustainability Director Eric Corey Freed offers insight on how we are helping clients look at not just building energy, but both operational and embodied carbon.

Testimonials

  • Architects have a big impact on the planet. Can we design and build in a way that the more buildings we build, the better off we are? The answer is yes, we know we can.

    Eric Corey Freed Sustainability Director

Knowing that traditional material building materials like concrete, steel and insulation have high embodied carbon emissions, we work with institutions to use alternative, low-carbon materials. One strong example is the use of mass-timber at California Institute of Technology's Resnick Sustainability Center.

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Essentially a makerspace for climate scientists, the Resnick Sustainability Center relies on sustainable design strategies - like the use of mass timber - to build on its mission.

The piece also shines light on other significant projects our teams are designing including the Mount Sinai Medical Center Irma and Norman Braman Cancer Center and Cordilleras Mental Health Campus.

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Cordilleras Mental Health Campus rendering

While each project has its own nuances, they all demonstrate how sustainable design can ignite better outcomes around health, performance, innovation, collaboration and more for building users.

This new piece from TIME builds on momentum for our sustainable design team. CannonDesign was just recently named the Metropolis Magazine 2024 Planet Positive Firm of the Year.

Read the full TIME Magazine story

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