Site Assessment & Design
Our built environment is flooded with glass boxes that could be located anywhere, while many of the most successful and celebrated examples of architecture reflect and respond to unique site features. Whether or not a design team has a say in siting a project, carefully assessing the site should be on every project’s to-do list.
Careful consideration of these factors can inform design and support not only sustainable design objectives but also the basic architecture of the building:
-
onsite climate conditions
-
unique weather patterns
-
solar access
-
water opportunities
-
unique flora and fauna
-
topography
A site assessment early in design can reduce costs, allay potential risks, support the health and well-being of occupants and native habitat, and promote other unique site features.
Site Assessment & Design
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
-
Porous Plus: Eco-Tek Pavers Include Regional Slag
Product Review
Eco-Tek porous pavers offer recycled and regional content in addition to stormwater management.
-
Geopier's Low-Impact Foundation Support for Poor Soils
Product Review
The rammed aggregate pier (RAP) system uses compressed aggregate in a series of shafts to support foundations in poor soil, saving materials and trucking.
-
Silva Cell Facilitates Urban Tree Growth
Product Review
The Silva Cell provides a framework that supports streetscapes and paved surfaces and encloses uncompacted subsurface soil so it can be used for tree-root growth or stormwater mitigation.
-
Capturing Concrete Washout Pollutants
Product Review
Atlantic Concrete Washout uses portable, sealed containers and specially designed trucks to collect and dispose of waste products left over after washing down concrete equipment at construction sites.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
-
California Questions Whether Low VOCs Make Artificial Turf Safe
News Brief
Smell no evil, see no evil: low counts of toxic fumes have been used to argue turf fields with crumb rubber are safe, but a new bill calls for more study.
-
SITES v2 for Sustainable Landscapes Aligns with LEED
News Analysis
Now publicly available, the updated rating system features new credits and benchmarks based on expert input.
-
Tree-Covered Neighborhoods Pop Out Healthier Babies
News Brief
Babies of mothers living in greener areas had higher birth weights in a new study—regardless of air quality, walkability, and other factors.
-
Kids Breathe Easier When Trees Eat Smog
News Brief
Study shows how urban trees save millions in medical bills, using a new method to model smog concentrations.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
