A Carbon-Neutral Future

Decarbonization is key to addressing climate change. We are part of the solution.

Why We Do This

Whether for individual buildings or on a campus-wide or portfolio basis, the work of building and infrastructure decarbonization aligns with Finegold Alexander’s AIA 2030 Commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of our projects. 

We offer clients deep existing building expertise, gained from years of preserving, adapting and redesigning existing and historic buildings. As technical architects who are closely engaged with the building, the clients, and the CM, we know the right questions to ask, and we bring a design mindset that arrives at approaches and solutions that are both creative and cost effective.

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Finegold Alexander is excited to support institutions both large and small as you strive to meet your commitments to reducing carbon emissions. The task of identifying, prioritizing and solving the challenges associated with numerous buildings of different eras, programmatic uses and MEP systems can be a daunting one. We understand this is a long-term effort. We will build a relationship over time and articulate an actionable plan that brings your existing building stock into alignment with your stated environmental goals on a timeline that works within budgetary constraints. 
We are not an ego-driven team of architects; we understand many of these projects begin with engineering efforts. We have and are working successfully as subconsultant to engineers in the shared objective of decarbonizing our communities – and sometimes working with the same set of engineers as a prime consultant. In short – it’s not about who’s in the lead – it’s about getting the job done. Decarbonization is key to addressing climate change. Period. We are part of the solution.

Seeing the Big Picture

Finegold Alexander is currently collaborating with engineers and institutions on the architectural work required as they implement their Climate Action Plan goals. We support and supplement larger engineering-led master plans, teaming on a regular basis with firms such as Salas O’Brien, CMTA, ARUP, and others. 

We also serve as the prime on sustainability efforts, conducting feasibility studies that identify targeted interventions to push the needle on campus decarbonization goals. Our studies for Wellesley College’s Severance Hall, Tufts University’s Eaton Hall, and Brandeis University’s Brown Social Science Labs are being realized as built projects that will significantly improve the EUIs of these essential facilities that were constructed in earlier eras.

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This includes meticulous review of building envelopes for synergistic and energy saving modifications to support MEP systems changes. This may be building-specific, as has been the case at MIT’s Building 66, where we are providing concrete and actionable options, for potential replacement of the monumental plate glass windows. Minimizing the energy consumption of I.M. Pei’s pristine modernist building while at the same time preserving its streamlined design profiles gets to the heart of our passion for sustainable and affordable architectural solutions.

We also work on a campus-wide basis. At Amherst College we surveyed building envelopes and existing documentation of eight buildings, dating from 1855 all the way to 2004. This included a gymnasium, a library, and multiple academic buildings. We take a hard look at the existing building fabric and systems, review original construction details, and take a deep dive with facilities personnel to inform our recommendations and reports. 

We also help institutions like Amherst College and Smith College as they work to radically reduce carbon input for energy reduction through approaches such as low-temperature hot water loops, ground-source heat pumps and zero-emission renewable electricity. Finegold Alexander assists in the design of updated or new energy facilities, recognizing again that this is truly a collaborative effort, where architects and engineers must work together on behalf of the institution to reach a zero-carbon future.

Our Tool Kit

Finegold Alexander will make recommendations supporting energy reduction while preserving the historic architectural fabric of your campus, as we have at Wellesley College, Amherst College and MIT. We will assist you in “big picture thinking” and determining architectural impacts at building interiors – coordinating the construction scope as required for a successful renovation. 

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At every campus we visit, we find synergies between energy and envelope upgrades, and provide important information regarding code triggers and other potential unforeseens. We are as excited to design individual building modifications as we are to tackle new energy facilities to support system-wide campus changes.
ON-SITE INVESTIGATIONS OF EXISTING CONDITIONS

Select Projects and Client List

True to our AIA 2030 Commitment, we pledge to engage with your dedicated team at both the macro and micro levels and move towards a carbon-neutral world together. We have worked closely with the following clients, and we look forward to working with your team as well!

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Sustainability on Campus
Amherst College
Brandeis University
MIT
Smith College
Tufts University
Wellesley College

Featured Energy Case Studies


CONNECT WITH OUR FA ENERGY PRACTICE LEADS

If you have a project in mind, we would be happy to have a chat about how we can make that happen.

LET’S TALK: SCHEDULE A STRATEGIC SESSION.

FAenergy@faainc.com
REBECCA BERRY
PRINCIPAL, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY
LARA PFADT
ASSOCIATE, SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIST