Atelier Ten

"LEED v5 really meets the moment" - This was my first thought when I sat down to write a review of the new requirements for Metropolis Magazine in September 2024, shortly after the release of the second drafts by USGBC. I can't quite characterize 'the moment' any more. The change in US governance has already seen partial mirroring in the corporate world with rollbacks of DEI programs, but thankfully decarbonization plans don't seem to have followed suit yet. Hurricane Helene and California's fires have thrust building resilience into national discourse, but the role of climate change remains politically fraught. The big moves in LEED v5 still align with 'the moment'. 1. Developers pursuing LEED can't remain ambiguous on climate. Projects must do holistic, 25-year projection of their emissions, quantify their embodied carbon, need to meet significantly more stringent energy standards, and get rewarded for electrification. 2. Equity requirements graduated to the mainstream.. but rolled back somewhat. Assessment requirements debuted strong in the first drafts, but got some public backlash. They then morphed into more broadly palatable requirements in the second drafts. Sign of the times? 3. Resilience assessment is mandatory. This topic had remained on the fringes of LEED like equity, and got a similar leg up. No ideological opposition here! There's also simpler messaging and more flexibility in compliance approaches, but higher complexity in requirements and more work needed for certification overall. I dive into some of the details here: https://lnkd.in/gGV683GN Many thanks to my wonderful colleagues at Atelier Ten who contributed to this research, and to Avinash Rajagopal and Francisco Brown for their patience and production!

On February 4th, join Atelier Ten Associate, Devanshi Dadia at the #CampusEnergy2025 Conference in Boston! Devanshi will be co-presenting with Romeo Michael from BR+A Consulting Engineers on the University of Massachusetts Boston Energy and Carbon Masterplan. The team will discuss their comprehensive approach to assess and enhance the sustainability and resiliency for the campus and will walk the audience through the development of a complete roadmap to achieving the University’s decarbonization goals including future proofing for climate hazards. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e9yEi2yd

We're excited to share that the Kresge College Campus Expansion at the University of California, Santa Cruz received an #AIANY Design Award Citation of Merit! Situated amongst a dense canopy of redwood trees, the project balances the environmental impact of the expansion while creating a unique and comfortable experience for the students. Atelier Ten worked with the team to thoughtfully integrate passive design strategies that drive carbon reductions, improve daylight and views, and increase overall student wellbeing. Congratulations to our team!  Studio Gang, TEF Design, Swinerton, Sherwood Design Engineers, Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Office of Cheryl Barton, MME Civil + Structural Engineering, HLB Lighting Design

Embracing innovative materials is a key step in shaping a more sustainable world. Doing so requires courage, patience, and client leadership to move beyond business-as-usual into a pioneering space. It’s fantastic to see this pilot project, including performance testing of Cemvision’s Re-Ment Massive, lead to a letter of intent from EQT Real Estate for the future adoption of low-carbon concrete mixes. Atelier Ten is very grateful to EQT Real Estate for their dedication to exploring low-carbon opportunities and for involving us in the collaboration with Cemvision on the STOREX Self Storage project in Sunbury. A big thanks to Aztec Construction, Capital Concrete Ltd, and Amtest UK Ltd for coordinating site activity and going the extra mile to accommodate all the additional cubes and cylinders for Sandberg to test.

Clear written and visual communication is a major part Atelier Ten's coordination effort, especially graphics that provide a quick snapshot of project status. We find that graphic representation helps bring our reports and presentations to life because not everyone can read a technical analysis at a glance. Want to learn more about Atelier Ten's approach to graphics? Next Thursday 2/6, join Atelier Ten Directors, Shanta Tucker and Junko Nakagawa for a webinar on "The Business Case for Engaging Environmental Graphics" with Project StaSIO! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gqDSMRxz

We’re pleased to continue our successful collaboration with Howells, LDA Design and Sillage, coming third among the 46 entries in the international competition to #retrofit an old paper mill within the #BelgradeWaterfront into a museum honouring the life and work of Serbian-American engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla. Atelier Ten developed an MEP engineering and sustainability strategy based on bio-climatic principles, using groundwater cooling and heating. This would help remove the plant from the roof, creating accessible terraces for visitors and local residents. Our proposal also saw passive cooling and air intake through underground air ducts for the non-museum spaces, while the old chimney would serve as an exhaust, driven by the stack effect and negative pressure created by the wind. Congratulations to Zaha Hadid Architects on their winning proposal and all the other contestants!

On Thursday, January 23rd, join Atelier Ten's US Business Development Leader, Jessica Rafferty, at the AIA San Francisco for "The Relationship Business" from 6-8 pm. Hear from a cross-section of architecture, design and construction industry business development leaders on how they turn connections into clients. The panel will share what works for them and lessons they have learned when it comes to getting work in the short-term and building a pipeline for the long-term. Register at the link below. https://lnkd.in/eZ3JTN2K Quezada Architecture

Atelier Ten is joining forces with NEW SOUTH, Solstice, Black Females In Architecture, Bao Dang Studio, Habitat Unit, AKT II, Maddox Planning, and Momentum Transport Consultancy for an opportunity to design the future memorial on the site of Grenfell Tower. The competition to design a lasting memorial to remember the 72 victims who lost their lives in, and those whose lives were forever changed by, the devastating Grenfell Tower fire was launched by the independent Grenfell Memorial Commission and the RIBA, and has received 28 strong applications. We are honoured to be among the five teams proceeding to the second stage. The final selection will be made this summer. Following extensive community consultation, the memorial design is expected to be submitted for planning in late 2026. https://lnkd.in/egDntBh6

Atelier Ten is excited to grow its innovative team by hiring talented Mechanical and Senior Mechanical Engineers for our Edinburgh office, and Electrical and Senior Electrical Engineers for our Glasgow office. Joining Atelier Ten means becoming part of a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where creativity and sustainability drive every project. You'll work on impactful, high-profile projects, contributing to cutting-edge solutions that shape the built environment. With a strong focus on professional development, career growth, and a supportive culture, Atelier Ten offers a dynamic and rewarding workplace where your expertise and ideas are valued. We look forward to receiving your application! Electrical Engineering positions in our Glasgow office - https://lnkd.in/gcHG4BwV Mechanical Engineering positions in our Edinburgh office - https://lnkd.in/gqY7szpy

As promised, here's a clip of our video from our competition entry with Howells I Nissen Richards Studio I Atelier Ten & Sillage for a proposed new museum in #Belgrade celebrating the life and work of Nikola Tesla, #Serbia's most famous scientist, engineer and innovator. It gives a fantastic sense of how the arrival square, with it's magnetic lighting design and green pavilions, would cosset and sweep visitors into the museum and towards an exciting, immersive experience - a fitting tribute to #Tesla's legacy. Great work, everyone. What a fantastic collaborative experience this has been. Well done LDA Design's Benjamin Walker Evgeny Didorenko Weihua Zhou Huiyu Fu. #Howells #LDADesign #NikolaTesla #Tesla #NikolaTeslaMuseum #Serbia #Belgrade #BelgradeWaterfront #designcompetition #architecture #landscapearchitecture #landscapedesign #publicrealm #heritage #culture #bettercity #greenercity