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2 weeks ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:The Essential Sofa from Sabai is upholstered in 100% recycled velvet or up-cycled polyester. Humanscale’s Path Chair contains more recycled plastic waste than any other chair on the market. The Earth Stool from Mater is manufactured partially from plastic e-waste and coffee shell waste.
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2 weeks ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Designing with weather-resilient building materials is central to future-proofing the built environment. ICFs are amongst the most durable and wind-resistant weather-resilient building materials. Metal roofing offers a high degree of weather-resilience compared to other roofing materials.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Neuro-inclusive design looks to create built environments that actively support and enable persons across the full spectrum of human neurodiversity. Some of the principles that govern neuro-inclusive design include flexibility and adaptability, sensory-friendly environments, inclusive wayfinding strategies, and biophilia. Neuro-inclusive design can be applied in any architectural context, but it is extremely important in educational buildings and office/co-working spaces.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Expected to be released in early 2025, LEED v5 is the latest iteration of the USGBC’s comprehensive green building certification program. LEED v5 is centered around three key areas of impact: decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration. In addition to new prerequisites and credits, LEED v5 is also introducing new requirements for LEED Platinum certification.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:By prioritizing pedestrians over vehicles, walkable neighborhoods give people the ability to access their daily necessities within walking distance from their home. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits of reduced vehicle usage, walkable neighborhoods also have a variety of economic and health benefits.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Regenerative design aims to create built environments that serve as integral, active components of their respective socio-ecological communities. Whole-systems thinking, landscape integration, and the adoption of circular economic strategies are just a few of the core principles behind regenerative design.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Standard LEED certification reviews are completed within 20 to 25 days after submission. Expedited LEED Certification reviews—available for an additional fee—are typically completed within 10 to 12 days following submission. Projects attempting to achieve LEED certification before the end of February 2025 must submit for an expedited final review by February 11. In our modern age, LEED certification is one of the foremost ways to showcase a building’s commitment to sustainability.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Sustainable manufacturers like Aquafil specialize in reclaiming and reusing existing materials in their products. Operational transparency is central to the sustainability efforts of manufacturers like Autex Acoustics, GCP Applied Technologies, and Kimberly-Clark Professional. Companies like Guardian Glass and Patagonia recognize that ecological conservation initiatives play an important role in sustainable manufacturing.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Community and user engagement during the planning and design stages is central to LEED’s inclusivity strategies. Other LEED inclusivity strategies include improving physical access beyond the required minimums, providing diverse and easy-to-use wayfinding tools, incorporating assistive technologies where necessary, bolstering emotional health, and creating inclusive spaces.
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2 months ago | 
gbdmagazine.com | Andrew Biro
Story at a glance:Many emotional health strategies are rooted in biophilia, or the idea that nature is just as important as food and water to ensuring a healthy, meaningful existence. Daylighting and inclusion of indoor vegetation are two tried and true strategies for improving emotional health. Providing occupants with direct access to the outdoors is one of the most impactful strategies for improving emotional health and well-being.
