retardants. These shades don’t have VOCs, so they are healthier, which aligns with their healthcare mission. Other clients are more progressive. We are working on a project in the Salt Lake Redevelopment with a net-zero requirement. We were able to run early-stage energy models and simulations — how much it would cost comparatively to achieve net-zero. They are currently designing to be net-zero ready and to timeline when to add solar PV features. Ultimately, it is important to be able to present numbers and be data-driven to justify decisions that impact the bottom line. How do you stay on top of sustainability advances? Emma: We engage in web-based platforms. The sustainability community is delighted to share new information that has been derived by boots on the ground — trying stuff, reporting and modeling. It is simple enough to do sanity checks. Vendors’ tutorial videos are also really helpful. What are some of the sustainable projects that you are working on? Emma: We have several LEED projects we are currently working on. The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah is targeted to be LEED Gold. It is very exciting because of the challenges [design faces] with energy-intensive labs and technology. The Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building at Weber State University is another. By separating the lab spaces from the classroom spaces, we can reduce embodied energy. The site constraints at the University of Utah’s Charlie Monfort Field at American First Ballpark made it harder to achieve the water use goal, but by working with the client and the entire design team, we were able to reduce water usage. The Westminster Integrated Wellness Center is also net zero. Natural materials such as wood, brick and zinc combine with the building’s mass timber elements — including mass timber beams and columns as well as cross-laminated timber roof decking and ceiling panels — to elevate the building’s overall sustainability. Our own Salt Lake City office is an adapted reuse building with an Energy Star rating of 85. It has been nice that we have been investing in more health, awareness, and updated technology and biophilia. Where do you think VCBO is going? How has VCBO approached the evolution of the profession and succession in the firm? Dave: Change always brings fear. Businesses that sit too long in that fear fail. Technology is one thing, but the clients have to be responsive, not just in how we produce documents but how the buildings are built — we have to stay on the cutting edge. Inevitably, there are rough edges. The speed of change is hard to keep track of, but the opportunities are profound. VCBO has a bright future. Past history is informing the future. We are not afraid of change. We have 19 active principals, 140 people and offices in Salt Lake City, Utah County and St. George. We joined forces with FSC, a Honolulu-based firm, to provide service to Hawaii. We have specialties in K-12 education, higher education, religious, civic, healthcare, hospitality, industrial and commercial work. We are on our fourth major succession cycle. We don’t arbitrarily choose our principals. Our clients choose our principals. They recognize the commitment of an individual to good design, quality documents and attentiveness. There is a time when the client says they trust our project manager or turns to them directly. That is when we know that this person is our next principal. We try to help people to develop relationships and skills. We don’t get in the way of progress. Deseret Peak High School, Tooele Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital — Miller Family Campus, Lehi 25
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