Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and LEED Certified Buildings

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Charrettes and LEED Certified Buildings By
Katherine Pettit
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Charrettes and LEED Certified Buildings

• Agenda
• Charrette Background
• Elements of Charrettes
• Research Results
• Guiding Conclusions
• Charrettes and Best Practices

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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• Traditional Design Process
• Linear
• Old Model

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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• Charrette Process
• Ecole de Beaux Arts
• Current definitions
• Sustainably focused charrettes

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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• Problem Statement
• Disparity exists in defining the goals of a
  beneficial charrette and how the process is best
  employed.
• Inconsistencies in participants involved, length,
  goals, when charrette is implemented.
• Very little research has been conducted

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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• Response to Study
• By April 22nd, 2003, 51projects were LEED
  Certified. As of August, 2004, an additional 69
  projects were LEED Certified.
• Obtained project contact information for 42 of
  the first 51 projects and 62 of the second 71
  projects.
• A total return rate of 44 of entire survey pool
  and 50 of contacted survey pool.

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Survey
    CHARRETTE An intense design workshop in
which a team of individuals collaborate to
develop the sustainable design of a building.
      TRADITIONAL PROCESS A design process
that does not include the use of charrettes or
similar integrated design processes.          
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Research Results
    
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Research Results

• Number of Charrettes Conducted

    
  
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Survey
Q6. For each charrette conducted please identify
the type of attendees.     
    
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When to Conduct a Charrette
Q4. Please indicate the time in the design
process in which each charrette was conducted.
    
Timing during design process Schematic Design
49 Design Document 39
    
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Survey
Q7. Select the duration of each charrette
conducted.
Duration of Charrette A Few Hours 52 One
Day 36 Two to Three Days 6
    
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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• 90 of those that conducted a charrette agreed or
  strongly agreed that charrettes were an important
  part of the projects LEED Certification.

    
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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• 79 of those conducting charrettes agreed or
  strongly agreed that due to implementing a
  charrette, a building with a higher level of
  sustainability was achieved.

    
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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• 72 of those conduct charrettes disagreed or
  strongly disagreed that the charrette process did
  not assist in attaining a higher level of LEED
  points.

    
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Investigating the Relationship of Charrettes and
LEED Certified Buildings

• Impressions on the charrette process
• 83 of those conduct charrettes disagreed or
  strongly disagreed that the project would have
  received more points if only the traditional
  design process was used.

    
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Research Results
What were the benefits to conducting a charrette
during the design of the LEED Certified Building?
(that the charrette was) a way to truly instill
a sense of partnership in the successful
completion of the project a mix of
engineering expertisehelped balance areas where
architects are often weak or can overlook
opportunities. Seeing the work required from
others may have helped each member of the team to
approach their own work with the necessary
seriousness and dedication.
    
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Results
What were the benefits to conducting a charrette
during the design of the LEED Certified Building?

• Collaboration, Coordination, all participants
  contributing, cross discipline dialogue 26
• Common vision, goals set, established priorities
  19
• Team building, sense of partnership, team
  dedication and responsibility 15
• Education, explanation of LEED 11
• Sustainable buy in, established value of
  sustainability, commitment 9
• Brainstorm, many ideas formulated 5
• Having resources available to make decisions 5
• LEED used, credits reviewed 5

   
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Research Results
What were the challenges/problems in conducting
the charrette during the design of the LEED
Certified Building?
Ideas were very quickly discarded by individuals
without research. Sometimes the simples approach
proved to be the most effective, but it might
take a while to realize this. It was a
challenge to integrate the step into the usual
design process for those less familiar with the
charrette process. Could have benefited more
if the charrettes had occurred right in the very
beginning of design Establishing a comfort on
the part of the engineers that they could
participate as creative contributors.
   
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Results
What were the challenges/problems in conducting
the charrette during the design of the LEED
Certified Building?

• Logistics Getting all involved available, costs,
  travel, time commitment 27
• Getting those reluctant to participate to attend,
  convincing of value of
• charrette 13
• Facilitating, organizing 12
• Conducting charrette too late 12
• Learning curve, comfort with new process 12

   
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Research Results
Do you have any suggestions for conducting
successful charrettes focused on producing LEED
Certified buildings?
Include a charrette description in the bid
package. Make it and the results part of the
mandatory deliverables in a project. Have a
facilitator who can lead an open process and
generate enthusiasm in the group to go away in
advocate for a sustainable building The most
successful charrette would be one that is held
during the pre-design/programming phase of the
building ideally in conjunction with
establishing the construction budget.
   
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Results
Do you have any suggestions for conducting
successful charrettes focused on producing LEED
Certified buildings?

• Making sure all stakeholders attend,
  multi-disciplined group, various participants
  21
• Good Consultant, someone well educated in LEED,
  facilitator 12
• Conduct charrettes early, before design phase
  after programming 11
• Timing of charrettes scheduled regularly
  throughout design process, allow for all day
  meetings 9
• Preparation and research prior to charrette 7

   
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Top 10 List Best Practices for Green Building
Charrettes

• 6. Everyone participates (no one dominates!)
• 7. Know local materials/resources/incentives
• 8. Check your ego at the door!
• 9. Hold multiple charrettes during project
• 10. Assure that participants are prepared in
  advance understand process

    
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Top 10 List Best Practices for Green Building
Charrettes

• Hold charrettes early (and often)
• Make sure ALL stakeholders are represented
• The charrette facilitator must be versed in LEED
  and green bldg.
• Someone must be charged with championing the
  charrette results through the project
• Establish clear charrette and project Goals