Sustainability Matters - Blog

Expertise

Expert Interview: Brian Stern, Energy Analyst, LEED AP BD+C

  Brian Stern is an energy analyst with Glumac, A Tetra Tech Company, who supports firm-wide sustainable and high-performance MEP Engineering and building design. His work improves building performance from initial concept all the way through operation. Using energy modeling software, he develops holistic building energy efficiency strategies appropriate to local environmental conditions. Brian’s focus […]

Concepts

Trim Tab Magazine: Rethinking High Performance Buildings

When the sustainable building design community discusses resilient buildings, the dialogue is often couched in phrases like “onsite energy independence,” “future-proofing,” and “community readiness.” Yet, as we’ve learned from the increasing incidence of traumatic climate-related events, resiliency goes beyond keeping buildings upright and lights on. We have seen (and some of us may have unfortunately […]

Expertise

Leveraging Energy Modeling to Improve Conceptual Level Decision Making

-Originally published in the 2018 Facade Tectonics 2018 Annual Conference & World Congress Conference proceedings, Vol I. INTRODUCTION Green building design is continuously evolving to require a more holistic approach, especially with ever escalating concerns about climate change, rising CO2 levels, and progressive energy code cycles. California’s Title 24 Energy Code is moving towards net-zero energy […]

Concepts

The Case for Timber Structures in Sustainable Building Design

The timber trend is beginning to gain traction as a potential change agent in sustainable building design  – particularly in forest-heavy areas of the country like the Pacific Northwest. And it’s due in large part to the increasing availability of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). CLT is a prefabricated material consisting of sustainably-sourced lumber layered in […]

Expertise

Building Commissioning: Moving from Required to Desired

Building commissioning has taken root. In the last decade, implementation of the building commissioning process has expanded greatly throughout the commercial market. This is due in no small part to the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory’s landmark 2009 study “Building Commissioning: A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions.” However, the majority of building […]

Expertise

Radiant Technology: MEP Engineering That’s Artfully Designed and Inspired by Nature 

In part one of this article, we discussed the financial benefits of using radiant systems, namely the cost reduction benefits while helping spaces achieve optimal occupant comfort levels. Now, we want to further examine the technology by examining its ability to maintain the integrity of architectural designs and improving occupant wellness and productivity. Integrating Sustainable […]

Great Projects

Wellness & Productivity: Sustainable Building Design at Gensler’s New San Diego Studio 

When Gensler began designing their new studio in downtown San Diego, they wanted a human-centric space. Taking over the former NBC Broadcasting studio on the first floor of downtown’s 225 Broadway Tower, Gensler wanted the space to be a showcase for innovative and sustainable building design. Designed to achieve both LEED Platinum and WELL Building […]

Announcements

Leadership Growth: Glumac’s Newest Class of Sustainable Leaders

We’re Proud to Announce the Newest Members of Our Leadership Team They’re joining our leadership group because of their commitment to sustainability in the built environment, innovative building design, and most of all – our clients. These new leaders will continue to steer Glumac forward in delivering best-in-class projects. Feel free to reach out and discuss […]

Concepts

MEP Engineering: Cost-Effective Comfort with Radiant Heating and Cooling 

At this point, a lot of digital ink has been spent discussing the benefits of radiant heating and cooling systems in the built environment. Traditional forced-air systems, while cheaper to install, use more energy to properly condition a space. Radiant solutions often recommended by MEP engineering experts because they are more effective in providing and […]

Concepts

Utilizing the Structure to Reduce Energy in Building Design

Energy efficiency continues to weave itself into the expectation of building design. Building trades, including Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Structural Engineers, are having to modify their general practices. The new requirements of building codes, namely energy codes, are subsequently forcing age-old structural detailing into a new realm. Moreover, as designers seek to get the most bang […]

Announcements

Hassalo on Eighth Awarded LEED Homes Project of the Year by USGBC

The USGBC has named Hassalo on Eighth in Portland, Oregon, as its 2017 LEED Homes Project of the Year. The award seeks to recognize “projects, architects, developers and homebuilders who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in the residential green building marketplace.” Glumac teamed with GBD Architects, American Assets Trust, as well as Biohabitats, PLACE, […]

Announcements

Tetra Tech Broadens High-End
Sustainable Infrastructure Design Capabilities with the Acquisition of Glumac

PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 3, 2017– Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) announced today that it has acquired Glumac, a leader in sustainable infrastructure design. The company has more than 300 employees and incorporates innovative sustainable technologies and solutions into each of its designs, including the design and engineering of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard and […]

Concepts

Great Projects

Closing The Loop in Sustainable Building Design

It’s an idea that’s drilled into most our heads as children in one form or another: clean your room, put your toys away, when you leave a place be sure it’s as clean as you found it. Basically – be responsible for your actions, and close the loop on them. It would seem obvious that […]

Concepts

Getting Back to Nature: Why Does Biophilic Design Seem so New?

We’ve discussed the benefits of biophilic design in this space on several occasions. It is the practice of integrating nature into the built environment. But one question that lingers is – why does it seem so new? People tend to enjoy opening a window, taking in a view, and observing nature-based patterns. For this reason, […]

In the Community

ACE Mentor Program Finishes Another Year

Our Southern California team finished up another great year participating in the ACE Mentorship Program. Staff from our Los Angeles office worked with students from Franklin High School in Highland Park, CA, to design a model high-rise tower as part of a team that also featured ACCO, Johnson Fain, Morley Builders, LA City BOE, Swinerton, […]

Concepts

New Thinking About Building Performance Energy Metrics

In the past two decades our industry has seen a significant shift toward a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. In order to properly gauge whether this shift has had a quantifiable impact, terms such as Energy Use Intensity (EUI), Power Use Effectiveness (PUE), and Gallons/Day have become commonplace. These simplified metrics are useful tools […]

Expertise

CSE Magazine Roundtable Discussion: The demands of mixed-use facilities

Mixed-use facilities require engineers to handle several complex components. Our own Scott Vollmoeller recently joined CSE Magazine for a roundtable conversation with other mixed-use facility experts for a discussion on how to successfully execute these large-scale projects. Head over to CSEMag.com website for the full discussion.

In the Community

Para Los Ninos School Student Mentorship

Glumac’s Kameron Beeks, PE, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, and Sarah Deunay worked with seventh graders in downtown Los Angeles to demonstrate natural water filtering systems that contribute to sustainable building design. The lab experiment, developed by Deunay, was part of a partnership with the Architecture Mentorship Program at Para Los Ninos Charter school – […]

Expertise

Your Facility is Mission Critical:
Resiliency and Electrical Commissioning

The demand on our electrical grid is increasing by the day. As cities continue to grow upward and out, all aspects of our daily life – from leisurely browsing the Internet on a smart phone to necessities such as heating and light – are all tied in. This makes a resilient approach to the electrical […]