We know our world is evolving. Our planet is fundamentally changing as global temperatures rise and the atmosphere experiences higher concentrations of greenhouse gases. In turn, our communities are presented with new challenges. In addition to a widespread focus on constructing more energy efficient buildings, architects and designers are now addressing the challenge of shifting weather patterns. Communities that have been vulnerable to natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. are increasingly at risk – and communities that have been relatively safe from these types of weather patterns, are experiencing new weather-related challenges never before seen. Codes and standards are adapting, but it seems there’s a new challenge faster than we can create a solution to the last one. As an industry, how can we respond? What conversations do we need to be having? And how can we present solutions not just for the future, but for challenges we’re facing right now?

Webster’s Dictionary defines resilience as:

“the capability of a strained body to recover… after deformation caused especially by… stress.”

These on-going stressors and the inevitable shocks to buildings look different in every part of the country and can vary from community to community, even within the same area. For instance, in Los Angeles proper, stressors might be traffic and pollution, and an aging infrastructure – and shocks would obviously be larger disasters like earthquakes. But drive an hour outside of LA (depending on traffic) and you’re presented with a whole different set of stressors – i.e. seawater and sand near the ocean.  Not just location, but depending on a community’s resources, the considerations designers take in the original construction of buildings, and even infrastructure maintenance can all have an impact on how a community is able to react in the face of shocks to the building systems.

A Local Example of Resilience:

Across the street from our headquarters in Grand Rapids, MI is the Grand River. It is a beautiful, wide river, that cuts through the heart of the city while making it’s over 250-mile journey to Lake Michigan. In April 2013, we experienced a flood, the likes of which the city hadn’t seen in 100 years:

A 100-year floodplain

The highest crests in Grand Rapids history*

• 24.76 feet on April 21, 2013**
• 19.64 feet on March 1, 1985
• 19.54 feet on May 27, 2004
• 19.50 feet on March 28, 1904
• 19.29 feet on March 8, 1976
• 19.25 feet on April 3, 1960
• 19.25 feet on September. 4, 1986
• 18.83 feet on March 3, 1982
• 18.60 feet on June 9, 1905
• 18.5 feet on April 18, 2013
• 17.87 feet on February 25, 1997
• 17.84 feet on December 31, 2008

** Projected

* Numbers have been modified in recent years by the USGS since initial records were made. Explanation here.

Despite efforts over the years to rebuild the floodwalls and embankments 1 foot above the 100- year flood mark, when the rains of Spring 2013 hit, the city’s network of waterways under the city was not able to handle the deluge. Many homes all along the river and buildings lining the river downtown had to be evacuated and sat unused for months. A state of emergency was declared and after the flood waters receded, an effort to fix tens of millions of dollars in damage to the areas through which the Grand River flows commenced. This was obviously a shock to the area’s buildings and infrastructure. A challenge that the city expected to face again.

Sure enough, in February of 2018, the “Grand” flooded again.  This time, it hit a crest of 20.7 feet. That’s 2.7 feet above the river’s flood stage, and 1.2 feet below the record-setting flood of 2013. While the damages are still being calculated from this flood, the city of Grand Rapids seemed to receive less of a “shock” in 2018 than five years ago. The lessons learned from the flooding that overwhelmed Grand Rapids in 2013 helped them prepare for the flood in 2018.

(Courtesy | GR Fire Department via mlive.com)

It’s important to note that these floods are nothing compared to the flooding after Hurricane Katrina, or Hurricane Sandy over the last decade or so. In many ways, those storms would have been hard to fully prepare for. But thousands of smaller communities like Grand Rapids are experiencing these types of system shocks more often, and in some cases for the first time in their history.

So What is Resilient Building Design?

Those of us in the green design community understand that even the most energy efficient design, and all the LEED points in the world, are worthless if the building becomes uninhabitable due to flooding, earthquakes, or some other natural disaster. This is where resilient design comes in to save the day.

According to the Resilient Design Institute, resilient design is defined as “the intentional design of buildings, landscapes, communities, and regions in response to vulnerabilities to disaster and disruption of normal life”

A resilient building design begins the design process by exploring typical use scenarios, common points of stress under everyday use, in addition to the most likely disaster situations a building (and its inhabitants) might experience. This means that the local environment and community are inextricably linked to resilient building design.

It is Synonymous with Resilient Community Design.

So, if we can’t effectively design a resilient building without understanding the community and environment of the local area, then it becomes crucial for “resilience” to become a community discussion. To design a resilient community: building owners, managers and operators; architects, engineers and sustainability professionals; risk managers and emergency management professionals; community organizers and public health professionals must come together to talk “resilience design”.

In our experience, most of the discussion about ‘resilient design’ these days is generally in the context of residential buildings and community infrastructure, which is good. But often, this means resilience design in commercial buildings is overlooked, or under-prioritized. Nevertheless, the fact is, resilient commercial buildings have the opportunity to transcend their everyday use and become not only a pillar of resilient design but a pillar in the community.

For instance, a Class A office building will serve the inhabitants and stakeholders of the building but, by definition, will also play a role in the community. Class A buildings often have courtyard areas maintained and used as public space and will offer space hold public events to build relationships in the community. In this way, Class A buildings have the ability to contribute to a socially equitable and sustainable community, even in the aftermath of disasters, and can often be leaders in the “resilient design” conversation.

What Resilient Building Designs will Consider:

We could probably write articles about how to address each of these considerations with your resilient building design, but for now, let’s look at them in brief:

• Infrastructure Failure and Power Outages – Blackouts and power outages are common. Which means commercial building designers need to put backup systems in place to keep buildings usable in times of infrastructure failure.
• Seismic Activity – When it comes to devastating natural disasters, earthquakes are high up on the list, however much of the damage in earthquakes occurs largely due to poorly constructed buildings and faulty infrastructure.
• Extreme Weather: Storms, Hurricanes, Flooding – When designing commercial buildings in hurricane and flood-prone areas, buildings must resist severe wind load, as well as heavy precipitation, and ground-level flooding.
• Extreme Heat and Cold – Natural ventilation with windows, proper insulation and sheathing, solar shades, and even stack ventilation can help buildings stay as comfortable as possible for tenants, even if the mechanical HVAC isn’t available.
• Fire Resistance – Most building codes address common fire hazards with items like fire-resistant stairwells and proper escape methods as well as construction with fire-resistant building materials. But we also need to consider local causes of fires such as earthquakes, lightning, wildfires, and other natural disasters.
• Normal Wear and Tear – Over its lifetime, a building will see millions of humans walking its halls, parking in its lots or garages, riding its elevators, climbing its stairs, and using its facilities. Buildings need to withstand natural disasters and system shocks, yes – but possibly just as daunting is the years of constant, unrelenting, and completely normal use.
• The Building Envelope – This may seem obvious, but the fact is, the outside of the building has a set of crucial considerations all its own. A resilient, durable building uses proper sealing and insulation – in the walls and roof system but also around windows and doors. It will also employ highly insulated windows (double or triple pane, often with a low-E seal and/or inert gas between panes), as well as adequate moisture protection, including flashing, drainage and moisture barriers.
• Interior Finishes – If building resiliency is a focus, protecting the highly trafficked areas of your building, like entrances and hallways; as well as considering elements like flooring, interior doors, and wall finishes will be vital.

In Conclusion:

We understand that no amount of resilient building design can be absolute. There can be good planning and great design that can still be impacted by shocks to the system like natural disasters. We also know that resilient building design must be met with local and community considerations to be successful. Resilience anticipates, drives diversity and redundancies of solutions, and should be considered regardless the scale at which we’re designing. When more resilient and Class A type buildings come to our communities, they have the opportunity to drive the conversation of community resiliency forward.

As leaders in the Green Building space, we are proud of our opportunity to move our clients toward better and best practices. Want to talk more about resilient building design with us? We’d love to.  Give us a call or send us a note!