Our high performance future will be “automatic” and “somatic” Many of humanity’s greatest technological advances and unexpected innovations have happened when engineers drew inspiration from related fields or from the natural world. The late Owen Finlay Maclaren helped design the Spitfire’s landing gear – and later invented the folding pram by applying his knowledge of…
In a continual effort to pursue embodied carbon reductions within buildings, Toronto’s Integral Group are helping to instigate and drive the viability of Mass Timber construction. Advancements in wood product technology and systems are a driving force in producing highly innovative wood buildings that are being developed around the globe. The integration of the most…
Fire, water, air, and earth are the basic elements that make up the universe, and these elements often parallel different sustainability approaches within the built environment. As a Marketing + Communications Intern for Integral Group, I have been eagerly learning more about the built environment and how sustainability plays a central role in the firm’s…
I had the pleasure of acting as Project Manager on one of Integral Group’s latest Zero Net Energy projects, the San Francisco International Airport’s Consolidated Administration Campus (SFO CAC). The 130,000 ft2 project, which is beginning occupancy, will consolidate several departments currently scattered throughout the airport facilities, and well as provide museum-collections storage for the…
Amanda Stanley – Senior Public Health Engineer As a public health engineer, I have often found myself frustrated at the limitations of products and systems. To me, the true job description of an engineer is to problem solve, face challenges and create new, dynamic and innovative ways to overcome these, with lessons learnt as positive…
Burst out of our ‘industry bubble’ by using high-end visualizations and storytelling to explain carbon to wide audiences and create positive change! You go to the same green building conferences every year, hoping to be challenged by the conviction and creativity of the people and their amazing work. Amidst an intense happy-hour conversation with new…
When Passive House design entered the marketplace in the 1990s, it was conceived for single-family homes to make them more energy-efficient and comfortable for occupants; the focus was isolated to the confines of that building. As Passive House design has expanded and gained exposure, more and more owners and developers are considering Passive House design…
Most people are familiar with architectural visualization, which is often focused on making the building look as beautiful and attractive as possible. What I do, you might call “engineering visualization for buildings”. It has a different emphasis, focusing on explaining how complex systems actually make a building work, and helping people make better decisions about…
Recently graduated from a liberal arts institution, my ideas of advocacy were strong but limited. I began my time at Integral Group as the sustainability intern who was certain advocacy only meant pressure through political and social avenues. With this strong belief, I felt skeptical of the Living Building Challenge intent for economic “good,” until…
Integral Group’s mission is to accelerate the shift towards environmentally responsive design by making sustainable buildings and communities. One net zero/net positive building at a time is awesome but won’t get us where we need to be to reverse the effects of climate change. Through our consulting practice, we focus on low carbon and resilience…
As a proposal coordinator at a deep green engineering firm, I have picked up a lot of technical knowledge over the years – why a tight building envelope is important to sustainability, what an air source heat pump is, and even what the commissioning process really entails – but I’m always excited for the opportunity…
The public release of Fitwel at the end of 2016 prompted Elementa Consulting Principal, Edward Garrod to become the first Fitwel Ambassador outside of North America. Elementa Consulting are the UK arm of international ‘deep green engineering’ practice Integral Group. As soon as Integral Group became a Fitwel Champion in early 2017, Garrod challenged his…