Architect 50

I actually have this question out to the editors on this. Also on #46, what the denominator of the equation includes (i.e. all projects that the firm has completed?) I'll report if/when we hear back...

I’ll respond to that. We already got an answer on that question: Editor’s response: For 46B, we’re viewing this as open-ended in the sense that you probably won’t have collected data for projects that were completed at the end of 2017, so the best way to create an estimate would be to consider all the projects you conceivably could have collected data for in 2017, even if they were completed in 2016, and then create an estimate using that pool of projects. From: G

Going back to Kate's question, you mention "out of total reported" which indicates, like us unfortunately, you all did not report 100% of 2017 projects. Question 34 requires 100% to answer the next few and makes no regard on how close a firm might have come to that goal. I imagine we are far from alone, especially in the larger firms, so how is everyone dealing with that? Pure honesty or something a bit grayer? Robert Phinney Sent from my iPhone

Chris: On Question 46 on Post-Occupancy work... (46A: "Does your firm gather energy performance data on your completed projects to see if they are meeting their energy goals/predicted performance (from utility bills, M and V, or tracked through the building management system’s software/dashboard)? 46B: "If yes, for approximately what percentage of completed projects did your firm collect data for in 2017?")   So, your understanding is that they are only asking about in the projects that reached occupancy in calendar 2017? [As opposed to ongoing monitoring of projects completed in previous calendar years...?]  

In response to 'Re: [Green Gurus] Architect 50' Do not reply to this message; send comments directly to 'roseann@buildinggreen.com' Hello, I will be away from the office between Thursday, July 12th, 2018 and Friday, July 13th, 2018. I will respond to your email once I have returned Monday, July 16th, 2017. Thank you! If you are in need of immediate assistance, please contact charlotte@buildinggreen.com.

Chirs: In response to Z's question for 46B, we interpreted this as all projects completed by the firm prior to 2017. If it is only for projects completed in 2017, please advise as our percentages will be very different.

This is all I know about this question: 1. My original interpretation of this question “approximately what percentage of completed projects did your firm collect data for in 2017?” was that they were asking, of all the projects we’ve ever completed, what percentage did we happen to collect data for in 2017? 2. However, I pointed out to my colleagues here at ZGF that this would be an extremely low percentage (50+ years of completed projects, one recent year of data collection) and practically meaningless. 3. Our marketing folks contacted the magazine and asked for clarification, and that’s when we got the somewhat clearer question intention clarification, but with that still murky-answer-potential that distinguishes this leading industry survey: “For 46B, we’re viewing this as open-ended in the sense that you probably won’t have collected data for projects that were completed at the end of 2017, so the best way to create an estimate would be to consider all the projects you conceivably could have collected data for in 2017, even if they were completed in 2016, and then create an estimate using that pool of projects.” 4. Their answer implies an intention of asking about 2017/recent year pool of projects (“…even if they were completed in 2016, and then create an estimate using that pool of projects…”) though of course we could have “conceivably” collected data on 50 year old projects in 2017, so for folks who want go that route, the door is open there too…. 5. We’re doing 2017 projects, that have or will have data collection after 1+ year of occupancy. Not sure how much that helps. I know there was some talk about some of us engaging the magazine to help rite better questions – did anything ever come out of that? -C From: Z Smith

Hi guys: I'm very interested in seeing the new Sustainability questions for this year's Architecture 50 survey but since I'm not in the position to register for the survey can't access them. It would be helpful to see how the media industry is/isn't changing in response to the urgent issues facing us. Can anyone send me the survey questions (only) to my email: maryannlazarus2@gmail.com many thanks. MAL Mary Ann Lazarus maryannlazarus2@gmail.com mobile: 314.805.9332

Hi Mary Ann, I just sent you a copy of the worksheet in PDF form to your e-mail listed above.  I'm glad to see some questions on material selection and specifications this year. And Kate, I interpreted the percentage as "projects" not as "project GSF." So, if we had 20 projects out of 100 in design during 2017 that met the question's criteria, the percentage would be 20%. Good luck everyone! Best, Alison Nash, Assoc. AIA/ LEED AP ID+C/ CPHC DiMella Shaffer 281 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210

After re-reading Chris' postings, I think the intent of the question might possibly be: We want to know how often you monitor your projects after they are occupied.  Of the projects that took occupancy in calendar 2017, on how many of them have you started gathering data?  Obviously, since we are submitting in July 2018, we could only have 6 months of data for a project occupied in December 2017, but you could still be learning from that.   You can always use the narrative part of the response to point out if you've been tracking buildings for longer, etc.  The good thing about Arch50 is that they keep updating the questions each year to keep things timely.  The bad thing is that each year they add some questions or metrics that don't quite make sense. When they first started asking about measured performance (yay!) they asked a question that essentially translated as "How many projects completed in the last 12 months do you have at least 12 months of occupied energy data on?" (huh?) This year, they ask about your AIA 2030 portfolio savings (which, because it is based on cumulative BTU weights the projects with the greatest impact most heavily). But then they ask you what *percentage* of your projects (not weighted by size) had energy modeling or daylight simulation or carbon accounting or met the 70% energy savings target.   Then they just ask you how *many* projects were registered or certified under LEED, so big firms would presumably have a bigger total count than smaller firms.   These are all, as they say, incommensurate.   Other issues: While AIA 2030 tracks projects in two separate buckets--- (1) new construction & major renovation, where we track energy, (2) interiors projects, where [because all the architect often gets to change is lighting, not envelope and HVAC and you rarely have a full energy model] you only report the lighting power density --- Arch50 smashes the 2 project type buckets together and asks you questions about energy savings.  This would seem to make a firm with mostly interiors-only projects come out with meaningless numbers. Perhaps a small working group from SDL could offer to "proofread" the questions before they go out next year?  If Architect magazine is concerned about "letting the students see the exam in advance", this group could be comprised of people who aren't at submitting firms...

Yes, yes, yes. We really need these questions to be meaningful. For better and worse there are many in the profession that respond to these sorts of rankings. It would be so useful if these were meaningful and there was some sort of integrity to this. At the moment we struggle with understanding the question much less creating a quality response. It would be extremely useful if there were a way to help Architect magazine get this right. This needs to move from a “marketing” and “PR” framework to a professional governance framework. Unfortunately it has struggled for years and remains “PR” wrapped in the emperor’s fine frock of “governance”. Transparency at its worst. Rand From: Z Smith

In response to 'Re: [Green Gurus] Architect 50' Do not reply to this message; send comments directly to 'andreal@buildinggreen.com' I am on vacation from Monday, July 16 through Friday, July 20. If you need immediate assistance, please contact Angela Battisto (angela@buildinggreen.com).