Embodied Carbon in Our Future Cities

Mark Sarkisian, Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
David Shook, Structural Engineer, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Innovative planning for cities of the future is essential. Cities are the solution to responsible habitation as issues of the environment gain increasing importance. Even early at planning stages, cities, districts, parcels, and buildings can be evaluated for efficiency and environmental impacts. Design parameters such as site conditions, building height and form, structural system and materials, and anticipated construction time can be considered when evaluating design opportunities. Net useable space, specifically relating commercial value can be interactively considered based on anticipated service areas, structural systems and building shape. Considering only height limits and parcel sizes, the Parametric City Modeling™ can parametrically consider the impacts of building systems on net usable area, therefore efficiency / marketability of space. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, the algorithm can evaluate the environmental impact of these systems as well as the cost-benefits of enhanced system components over the development's service life.

NBM Media

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