Category: GS Sustainability

Glotman•Simpson’s Journey to Net Zero

In the last few years, several ominous phrases have crept into our daily lexicon including “atmospheric rivers”, “quarantining”, “social distancing”, and “air-quality index.” Oxymorons are also taking over our headlines such as “stormy California” and “rainy Arizona.” Spurred by the pandemic and climate crisis, the world is changing faster than ever before – and our ...

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On Track: Sustainable Building Design and Code Evolution

Pages Sustainable Building Design and its Intersection with the Building Code and Performance Based Design Seismic codes are ever evolving and generally ever increasing. Read More

On Track: Considering The Balance Between Material Costs + Labour Efficiency

  We recently stumbled upon a thought-provoking article, authored by Steve Webb, in The Architectural Review. Webb envisions an alternative future where taxes are employed to protect human labour and penalize excessive material use, thus curbing wasteful practices. Historically, the cost of labour has outweighed the price of materials, resulting in buildings designed to minimize …

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On Track: Building Decarbonization and Technology: BIM Integration

The embodied carbon policy landscape in North America is rapidly evolving, and at Glotman Simpson we are fully embracing the change. Slowly but surely, policies are aligning with the current environmental demands of the era. With these policy shifts, we must adapt to create a more sustainable, equitable and decarbonized built environment. The question then …

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On Track: Let Post-Tensioning Take the Stress for the Planet

Concrete slabs can be held accountable for most of the embodied carbon in our buildings, responsible for nearly 40% to 70% of the total concrete volume in a high-rise tower.  For developers looking to reduce their building’s carbon footprint, directing their attention toward these structural elements is a great starting point. This month, we dive …

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On Track: Footing Elements & Sustainability

Footing Elements + Sustainability Footings are the unsung heroes of building structures, performing a vital role without attracting attention. Unlike the prominent architectural features of ever-popular Mass Timber structures or the aesthetically rustic steel braces systems often found in retrofit buildings, footings are often buried below a layer of soil and then further covered by …

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On Track: Structural Transfer Design

  Our On Track series explores what levers we can pull to reduce the environmental impact of building structures. The need to accelerate climate action in the form of innovative solutions that minimize both operational and embodied carbon is imperative and represents a critical part of a low-carbon future. Last month focused on policy and …

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