Securing The Green Light For Green Design: Convincing Clients and Owners To Pursue Sustainable Design
Punit Jain, AIA, LEED AP®, Cannon Design
It is not uncommon for designers to encounter clients and owners who are not focused on sustainable laboratory design for their projects. Often, sustainable design falls low on the priority list compared to cost, schedule, and space considerations. Placing a low priority on sustainable design can stem from misconceptions, lack of information, and/or general skepticism. It is often the job of designers to introduce clients to the benefits of sustainable design and how it can create efficiencies across budget and space throughout the lifetime of the building.
This presentation will focus on the different strategies and approaches designers can utilize to introduce clients to the multiple benefits of sustainable laboratory design. The speaker will walk through and share methods designers can use to turn unsure clients into those willing to commit to sustainable design approaches.
The speaker will move past strategies focused on changing client's perspectives on sustainable design and also touch upon innovative solutions being implemented with laboratory projects at Coppin State University, A.T. Still University, Eckerd College, and the State University of New York at Oswego. These case studies reveal that it is possible to turn clients doubtful about green design into believers and eventually deliver solutions that push the entire profession in important new directions regarding sustainability in laboratory environments. They also reveal how these strategies can yield important energy and costs savings initially and over time.
Punit Jain is the Cannon Design's Science & Technology practice leader. Mr. Jain has extensive experience in the architecture and engineering of both teaching and research laboratory buildings. Mr. Jain also serves as the firm's sustainable design leader, responsible for promoting high-performance design through LEED® certification, conducting training for the firm's professionals and high-performance design practices. Mr. Jain serves on the National Board of the U.S. Green Building Council. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a master's degree in architecture and construction management, Mr. Jain has taught at the School of Art & Design at Maryville University and St. Louis Community College, and serves as a visiting critic for the schools of architecture at Washington University and the University of Illinois at Champaign. He frequently presents at international conferences and received an individual Go Beyond Award at the Labs21 2010 Annual Conference for his continued sustainability efforts.