Long recognized among architects as a word connoting quick, efficient project development, we have introduced the charrette to our clients and fellow project-team members as a carefully orchestrated event to encourage creativity and focus on resource efficiency. The result, we are finding, is a better project, more cohesive design team, and delighted clients.

A well-conducted charrette pulls together people with the necessary skills and authority so that far-reaching decisions can be made quickly to save substantial time and money. The final result is an organized plan that helps key decisionmakers understand the opportunities and practical implications of a concept for a project.

In the case of the "eco-charrette," we focus on sustainable development goals, strategies, and integrated design solutions. It's an intense meeting, a day or more, in which all participants in the project focus on ideas for the efficient use of energy and resources in the new building. The group generates goals and then develops strategies for accomplishing those goals.

By conducting an eco-charrette early in the design process, a project team goes a long way toward ensuring the success of a green building. These sessions are rapidly becoming a common element in the design of high-performance buildings and have been used successfully on some of the most progressive buildings in the Pacific Northwest.

A true story from 1996
THE CLIENT wanted to optimize use of natural light in his new office building and contain costs (of course!). THE ARCHITECT proposed high-performance glazing for the windows to maximize light coming into the building and control heat loss. THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER suggested using fluorescent lamps with light sensors to modulate the electric light in proportion to available natural light, and then proceeded to calculate the annual savings. THE CONTRACTOR surmised that the glazing and the lights with sensors would substantially increase the project budget. In response, THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER suggested smaller mechanical units because the building would be in a cooling mode most of the year and the electric light fixtures would be a source of heat. Quickly calculating the cost of the smaller mechanical units, THE CONTRACTOR determined that this integrated solution would reduce the total project cost. Furthermore, THE ELECTRIC UTILITY REPRESENTATIVE offered substantial rebates for the high-performance glass, energy-efficient light fixtures, and daylight sensors. THE OWNER was delighted with this collaborative problem solving. The result was a high-performance building for less cost, annual energy savings, and naturally lighted interior spaces for the building occupants.

How eco-charrettes work
The eco-charrette process begins when a new project is launched, sometimes before architects and engineers have been hired. The facilitator interviews the client before the eco-charrette to determine their environmental and energy-efficiency goals for the project and the desired outcomes for the work session. It is also common for participants to share in the development of the sustainability goals and objectives during the eco-charrette. The facilitator plays a pivotal role in the design of the agenda, selection and layout of the charrette's venue, and preparation of the logistics for the group's meeting.

Once the design team for the project has been selected, the entire team—architect, engineers, contractor, building user representatives, and owner—meets in the eco-charrette for at least a day—sometimes two or more, depending on the size and complexity of the project—to devise strategies for attaining the project's goals for sustainability and energy efficiency. Multi-day charrettes can also be used to launch and refine the architectural design of a project.

To achieve greatest success in an eco-charrette, it should involve everyone who is involved in the design, construction, and operation of the project— often including those who approve or provide the funding and occupant representatives. When people are involved from the outset, they are more likely to feel ownership of, and work for, the success of the project.

About 12 to 30 people is the optimal size for most eco-charrettes. You will often find that once the word gets around that the session is being formed, a multitude of curious and interested individuals will want to take part. So you sometimes have to be judicious in selecting who should participate. Moreover, with the more intensive eco-charrettes necessary for large and complex projects, a variety of breakout sessions during the two or three-day event will enable more depth of focus on the issues.

In addition to crafting environmental design goals, objectives, and tactical plans, the eco-charrette is an excellent opportunity to conduct a preliminary LEED assessment or scorecard. (LEED is a green building certification program of the U.S. Green Building Council. For more information go to the Web site.) In the period of two hours, it is possible to review the entire 69 LEED points with the entire design team and owner to determine which level of LEED certification is appropriate to serve as a goal for the project. This serves as a good basis from which to discuss design and construction cost implications for the project.

The eco-charrette is also a dynamic environment for the dissemination of information about the design of both the built and natural environment. One of the consistent comments I hear from those who have participated in eco-charrettes addresses how much they have learned about the design of high-performance buildings. It is for this reason that we ususally invite select individuals to participate in the charrette, even if they are not involved directly in the project; i.e. the CEO of the company, local government representatives, or other clients who are considering the launch of a new building project.

The time spent in the eco-charrette is structured for productivity, and considerable change can result. The end result is to collectively create profound sustainable development goals, establish measurable objectives, and outline the process for achieving the objectives and goals. The eco-charrette enables a group of people with a myriad of specialized knowledge to discover solutions while creating ownership and consensus. For a high performing "green" building project, this is a formula for success.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.