Designing for people and planet

Sustainable and human-centered design is inherent to Shepley Bulfinch’s design philosophy and practice.

We approach sustainability holistically, evaluating the broad range of elements that the term “sustainability” encompasses and pursuing those most relevant to the project and place. At the onset of any project, we work closely with our clients to deeply understand their values and outline the various ways in which a building’s design could impact its users and the broader planet.

Some aspects we often explore with clients to define and achieve the project’s sustainability goals include:

• Energy use reduction
• Materials
• Lighting
• Biophilic design
• Water conservation
• Equity and social justice

Most recently, we utilized this process with Smith College to make their Neilson Library one of the most energy efficient libraries with special collections in America. The use of healthy materials is also a focal point of that project. In addition to targeting and incorporating materials free of “Red List” chemicals, Smith College and the design team are leveraging the project to encourage the marketplace to produce more healthy materials.