Great Design must move beyond considerations of form and function to encompass performance issues relative to the environment and human health.

Overview

At Amenta Emma, we take a holistic view of sustainability to prioritize considerations of environmental and human health. We believe sustainability to be a fundamental responsibility in service to our clients and communities. As signatories to the Architecture 2030 Challenge, we are committed to reducing the GHG emissions of the built environment and moving towards a carbon-neutral future.

Our Approach

Each project offers a chance to make an impact. Our standard practice is to adopt measures to improve sustainable and wellness outcomes, beyond code or certification requirements, for every project. We collaborate with each client to understand their priorities around sustainability and leverage our experience to develop unique, common-sense approaches. Leveraging these standards and analytical tools in our process allows Amenta Emma to deliver greater value to our clients striving to realize their sustainability goals.

Heath & Wellness

With 90% of our time spent indoors, Amenta Emma recognizes the importance of creating healthy interior environments. We have developed a variety of healthy materials guidelines utilized in all our projects that promote health, wellness, and material transparency. Beyond materials, our planning solutions incorporate spaces that promote the increasing need for mental wellbeing.

Adaptive Reuse

As of 2022, the average commercial building in the United States was 53 years old. Too commonly, we view these assets as forgotten relics – prime to be replaced with a newer, shinier building to meet the current need. As architects, we have long sought after the ‘blank slate’ of the new building with its inherent capacity for realizing our creative vision. However, the concept of adaptive reuse emerges as a beacon of hope, breathing new vitality into forgotten spaces and structures that might otherwise succumb to the passage of time.

Net Zero Energy

To support the design of buildings and renovations that use no fossil fuel or greenhouse gas-emitting energy to operate, Amenta Emma has committed to developing expertise and leadership through accreditation and integrating into our practice the tenets of more advanced rating systems and standards established by the International Living Future Institute and the Passive House Institute.

Mass Timber

To support the design of buildings and renovations that use no fossil fuel or greenhouse gas-emitting energy to operate, Amenta Emma has committed to developing expertise and leadership through accreditation and integrating into our practice the tenets of more advanced rating systems and standards established by the International Living Future Institute and the Passive House Institute.