Officially opened in 2011, the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) at UBC was developed in response to the challenge of creating a more sustainable built environment. CIRS provides a case study to test decision-making frameworks and concepts, and through which further work can be undertaken in the field of sustainable design.
The IDEASS team completed an extensive retrospective study of CIRS that focused on the use of information in design decision-making for energy systems. The report (which can be downloaded here) describes the decision-making process that took place with regard to the energy systems design for CIRS, focusing on the period of time leading up to, including, and following the CIRS Energy Modeling Charrette (held July 4th, 2008 on UBC’s Vancouver campus).
The report looks at the following decision-making factors:
• decision-making venues (where and when?)
• decision-making leaders (who was present?)
• decision-making criteria (why this decision?)
• decision-making sources (with what information?)
How the CIRS Energy Charrette was analyzed: in terms of the decision-making factors ( decision leaders, criteria, sources, and venues) as well as in terms of its inputs and outputs.
The report also includes assessments of the design process, including:
• design breakthroughs
• design challenges
• lessons for future IDEASS projects
How the CIRS Energy Charrette fits in with the other scales and design phases that will be looked at in IDEASS.
Download the CIRS Retrospective Report.
Acknowledgements
- Student Involvement: Devon Miller M.Sc. (Planning) completed his capstone project on analyzing the CIRS energy system from a regenerative design lens.
- We were fortunate to benefit from the research efforts of others studying CIRS through the University Sustainability Initiative.
- The groups in attendance at the Energy Charrette included the representatives of the architects (Busby Perkins + Will), the mechanical and electrical design consultants (Stantec, BC Hydro, BCIT, Brooks Coming, Corix, Haworth), the controls consultant (Honeywell), and The University of British Columbia (Academic, Properties
Trust, Plant Operations, Sustainability Office, Utilities, Office of the AVP, and Campus and Community Planning).
