Big Green: Finding a green firm?

[Kristian Kicinski]

Some questions to measure a firms commitment to green is to ask these
kinds of questions: 
 
How have the principals of the firm taken an active role in promoting
sustainable design in the area?  Are they serving on the boards or
committees of local or national organization chapters like USGBC, AIA
COTE, or other groups?  
 
How many partners, principals, and associates are LEED accredited?  
 
How are sustainable design strategies/ which strategies are you
incorporating into your non-LEED certified projects?  
 
Has the firm completed any projects that demonstrate leadership in
environmental design by being the first to achieve certain awards or
certifications?  For example, AIA Top Ten Green, first Gold-certified
hospital/school/army bunker, first net-zero energy building in the area,
etc.
 
Which projects in your office are pursuing the Living Building
Challenge?
 
 

Kristian Kicinski AIA
LEED Accredited Professional

Bassetti Architects
71 Columbia St. #500 | Seattle, WA 98104
P (206)340-9500 | F (206)340-9519

kkicinski at bassettiarch.com <mailto:kkicinski at bassettiarch.com> 

 

 

________________________________

From: biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org
[mailto:biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org] On Behalf Of Charles Brown
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:09 AM
To: BigGreen List
Subject: Big Green: Finding a green firm?


A former employee (architect) is looking to make a change in the DC
area. She asked me for references and firms to investigate. This got me
thinking.

As the market has changed and many more clients are requesting greener
buildings, most design firms have some experience with green building
and/or LEED. Five years ago I would have questioned a firm's "buy-in" to
green if there wasn't something green about all their work. Many
fence-sitting firms now appear to be firmly committed to greener
practices, while others remain on the fence - giving lip service when
pushed by a client. My impression is that near 100% of recent graduates
want to work for a green firm, but most are being held back by firm
leadership.

My questions: 

As a potential employee how does one determine a firms' commitment to
green design?

What questions do you ask during an interview? 

How do you judge a firm's commitment to leading the industry vs. one
that will be content with LEED Silver and point chasing?

Anecdotal example: A former partner once stated; "I think of LEED as
similar to ADA. In ten years all firms will be doing green projects as
standard practice, just as it took several years for firms to really
understand ADA." My argument was that if we are content with today's
LEED levels in 10 years then the world is in for a lot of hurt!

Thanks, Charles


Charles Brown, AIA LEED AP
Brown Architecture Inc.
324 So. Wilmington Street - Box 117
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
charles at brownarchitecture.net
919.803.3700

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