NORR’s Post

Check out this interesting presentation from Blake and Tobias that includes comprehensive strategies to the timely topic of Office-to-Residential Conversions

As more office buildings are being converted to multi-family housing, it is important that we do these conversions using an integrative approach focusing on reducing embodied carbon emissions while maximizing energy efficiency. Watch this latest NORR presentation that emphasizes both of these important issues at the link below.

Let’s look at your refurbishment project through the lens of sustainable construction!

Highmark, a commercial office refurbishment in central Dublin, is projected to save over 143 tonnes of carbon through sustainable floor materials and exemplifies modern, sustainable construction. A key aspect of the project’s sustainability deliverables was the choice of the Tate RMG600+ lower embodied carbon (LEC) raised access floor panel, selected for its outstanding sustainability credentials and its role in reducing the building’s carbon footprint. Highmark exemplifies the future of modern, sustainable architecture with its LEED Gold certification, A-rated energy efficiency, and alignment with the EU Taxonomy. Read more > https://lnkd.in/exCPBn76 Tate, part of the Kingspan Group. #Highmark #CommercialOffice #CaseStudy #Projects #RMG600+ #Kingspan

📢𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 - Speaker Announcement 🎟️𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁: The green::blue urban infrastructure conference bringing 16 thought leaders and practitioners together to inspire innovation, best practice and policy for greener, cooler, more liveable cities. #WhereShadeHitsThePavement2025 📌𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Mercure Melbourne Doncaster 📅𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: FEB 19 2025 𝗪𝗵𝗼: Matthew Watson 🌿Associate, Hassell For 15 years, Matthew has delivered ambitious urban transformations driving complex infrastructure, public spaces, and landscape renewal projects across Australia and the UK. Now, for international design practice Hassell, Matthew is at the helm of a design team for the Melbourne Metro project that is reshaping the public realm of city precincts to align with their unique context, climate, and communities. A champion of green infrastructure, Matthew weaves sustainability into the urban landscape and will share invaluable insights and technical expertise gained along the way. 🌳𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Designing city precincts for green infrastructure - lessons learned from the Melbourne Metro project Ambitious public transport systems that are coordinated with land use planning objectives, can be catalysts for development and urban renewal. Using the Melbourne Metro project as an example, Matthew will address the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating green infrastructure systems into highly urbanised city contexts, and how the project sought to design resilience into each of the five station precincts through tree canopy cover, vegetated surfaces, and Water Sensitive Urban Design. 🎓𝗖𝗣𝗗 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀: Registered Landscape Architects receive 6 CPD points for attending. 🎟️𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗: https://hubs.li/Q0335z7n0 #ClimateResilience #LandUse #NaturalInfrastructure #GreenInfrastructure #UrbanForestry #UrbanPlanning #UbanDesign #ClimateAction #SustainableDevelopment #Conference #Networking #Leadership #Innovation #ProfessionalDevelopment #IndustryEvent #Melbourne #Engineering #CivilEngineering #AssetManagement #Urbandesign #LandscapeArchitecture

💦 Did you know that improving #WaterEfficiency can significantly reduce the #CarbonFootprint of buildings? It’s a frequently overlooked aspect of sustainable design, yet it’s one we need to tackle directly and easily. Simon Keogh, Senior Architect at COADY Architects, put this into practice—starting at home. He tested ideal shower flow rates himself and brought those learnings to his team. Together, they’ve integrated #WaterEfficiency into the design of a 500-new development, with easy and cheap flow restrictors for showers and hand basins. 📹 Watch the full #ActNowForClimate video here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d6wKu3fz This is just one example of how we’re rethinking design to decarbonise Ireland through our #BuildingLife initiative. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eM_b7AkM World Green Building Council

COADY Architects delivering cost effective low carbon solutions for clients and #sharelearnings . No brainer here. Optimise lower water consumption results in lower operational energy and high credits for green certification as Irish Green Building Council #homeperformanceindex and compliance with Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) #2030climatechallenge. Remember declare ACTUAL use by reading the water meter after 1 year, for compliance with #2030climatechallenge Would recommend AECB - Association for Environment Conscious Building and Passive House Plus advocating same optimisation : 5lm for showers, 1.89lm for WHBs and 7lm kitchen taps with 4/2.4 low flush WCs Jeff Colley

🇺🇸 LEED Certifications for “Sustainable Buildings” - by Dr. Christine Lemaitre. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications aim to promote sustainable building practices but have faced several controversies. Critics argue that LEED often emphasizes design and predicted performance over actual performance, leading to discrepancies between expected and real-world outcomes. Additionally, the high cost of certification, including documentation and consultancy fees, can make it inaccessible for smaller projects. Developers might also engage in "point chasing," prioritizing easily obtainable points over more impactful sustainability measures. Furthermore, the one-size-fits-all approach of LEED may not be suitable for all regions and climates, resulting in inefficiencies. There are concerns that market forces and industry lobbying influence LEED standards, potentially compromising broader sustainability goals. Christine Lemaitre, CEO of the DGNB German Sustainable Building Council and a member of the World Green Building Council, experienced these issues firsthand. After finishing her studies, she worked in a LEED-certified building in Atlanta, where she was shocked by its poor functionality. This experience marked her first encounter with “sustainable buildings.” ▶️ You can find her full story (in German) on our website under “Archive”https://lnkd.in/d-Czwwxf. #architectsnotarchitecture #AnAtalks #architects #architecture #christinelemaitre #sustainability #greenbuilding #sustainablearchitecture #environment #climateaction #buildingdesign #sustainabledevelopment #DGNB #leed

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 In our pursuit of a greener future, we witness increased attention to sustainable and energy-efficient residential design. LEED certification created a robust framework for leading this transformation. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗗-𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 To achieve LEED certification in residential architecture, we focus on: • Location and Transportation (LT): • Water Efficiency (WE):  • Energy and Atmosphere (EA): • Materials and Resources (MR):  • Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): One of the examples is Stone Abbey, At 1040 Bank St, Ottawa, ON, Canada which is in the certification process. The primary result revealed 8 days ago that the building had been certified with the Platinum badge, scoring 83 points. However, this building has been certified earlier in 2020 with  LEED V4 BD+C HOMR. The building was designed by Hobin Architecture, However, I don't have enough information if this Platinum certification was through Hobin design or other modifications to the building. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? Have you worked on similar LEED-certified projects? What strategies or design choices have you found most effective in creating sustainable homes? Let’s exchange insights and ideas to continue driving innovation in sustainable architecture! #LEEDCertification #SustainableLiving #ResidentialArchitecture #GreenBuilding #EnergyEfficiency #EcoFriendlyLiving

Have you explored the realm of sustainable construction and green building practices in the UK, shaping a future where eco-friendly and sustainable construction methods are prioritized for a greener built environment? 🌿🏗️ By incorporating sustainability into construction projects, the UK's building sector is leading the way in promoting green buildings and environmental conservation. 1. Sustainable Construction Talent Pool: Drawing expertise from diverse backgrounds, the UK attracts top architects, engineers, and construction professionals dedicated to implementing green building solutions, eco-friendly materials, and sustainable construction practices to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. 🌍🏠 2. Green Building Incentives: The UK government offers support through green building certifications, sustainable construction grants, and energy efficiency programs to encourage businesses to adopt green building practices, promote sustainable architecture, and enhance the energy performance of buildings. 💡🏢 3. Eco-Conscious Construction Hub: Positioned as a global leader in sustainable construction innovation, the UK serves as a hub for green building research, sustainable urban development initiatives, and eco-conscious construction projects, revolutionizing the construction industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. 🌱🏘️ Whether you're interested in developing sustainable building projects, integrating green architecture into your designs, or advocating for eco-conscious construction practices, the UK offers fertile ground for realizing your sustainable construction aspirations. Let's explore how we can collaborate to seize these sustainable construction opportunities together! 🌿🏗️ #SustainableConstructionUK #GreenBuildingPractices #EcoFriendlyArchitecture #EnvironmentalConservation