Sustainable Design

Design with the Environment in Mind 

The proven impact that the built environment has on people and planet has made sustainability imperative for all projects at WTW. Our sustainability guiding principles are based on the understanding that every project has a rippling effect on the environment and the communities that surround it. Therefore, every project starts with an interdisciplinary session to establish the environmental and wellness benchmarks that will guide future decisions. 

In addition to the intense focus placed on energy performance and resource conservation, WTW aims to empower human performance by prioritizing the health and well-being of building occupants. As rating and certification systems continue to grow and evolve we become the facilitators that can assimilate the complexities inherent to the certification process and provide clear leadership to achieve the established sustainability levels. When considering designs for facilities we like to consider multiple elements and maximize things such as natural lighting, open and inviting interiors, translucent exterior walls to showcase activities, and aesthetically respond to the surrounding landscape and community. 

Through the use of advanced technology, we explore solutions that help our clients understand innovative concepts. We program, plan, and create buildings and communities that reflect the unique values and culture of our clients in highly sustainable environments. Embedded in this process is the implementation of resilient strategies that can help mitigate the effects of unprecedented climatic events. This effort requires a visionary spirit, commitment to continuous research and solid experience in all aspects of the built environment. 

Including LEED, PHIUS, Passive House, and Living Future accredited professionals, our staff brings a diversity of strengths and talents that support and enhance our building solutions and guide the process from inception to post-occupancy.

Finding the right rating system for your project is an integrated process that our team has a lot of experience with. Click here to take a deeper dive into each rating system and how your project fits! 

A very well-known rating system for sustainability and green building, LEED certification is frequently requested or required by our clients. Notably, more than 20 WTW projects have achieved LEED Gold, including the first LEED Gold student union in the country. Just as many have been certified or achieved LEED Silver, and in other cases our team has confirmed project compliance with many LEED credits without pursuing a formal certification. The rating system provides useful guidance and direction for reaching sustainable goals.

There are two critical elements of NetZero and NetZero Ready Design that WTW has implanted for several interested clients. In one dimension, it is important to carefully identify the energy usage of the building, from major HVAC systems down to anticipated daily plug loads. The only way to achieve NetZero is to have a realistic accounting of the energy needed for user comfort and productivity. Secondly, the space and infrastructure is needed to support on-site energy generation. This is frequently managed with an array of solar panels, but can also include wind turbines and geothermal systems. A NetZero Ready project has the space and infrastructure ready for the on-site energy generation, but those systems are not installed upon building completion.

Parksmart^SM is the world’s only rating system defining and recognizing sustainable practices in parking structure management, programming, design, and technology.  An industry-driven, field-tested road map for high-performance new and existing parking garages, ParksmartSM recognizes forward-thinking facilities working today to shape tomorrow’s transportation ecosystem. The WTW team completed the first Parksmart^SM Gold Rated facility in the world, which resides on Pittsburgh's North Shore. 

Passive House Design embodies the concept of absolute minimal energy use. The average Passive House Certified building will consume 10% of the energy of a typical new building. Don’t let the title fool you – The Passive House system has grown beyond its roots in Germany to include buildings as large as 270,000 square feet. Achieving a goal of Passive House Certification must be set at the very beginning of the project. Employing Certified Passive House Designers (CPHD), WTW can design your building to meet the stringent performance requirements of this system. We’ll accomplish this by orienting the building for passive solar gain, developing high-performance envelopes, and selecting specialized heating, ventilation, and cooling strategies.