A Journey of Growth: Reflections on 25 Years of "Building Stewardship"

On behalf of my SHG colleagues, I wanted to share the launch of our new website which coincides with our 25th anniversary. Yes, for 25 years we have been practicing "building stewardship"  but most importantly we have enjoyed over 500 client relationships and our time on your campuses. We are honored by your faith and trust.  

We began with some durable principles, we learned a lot and grew during those first twenty-five years and we are bullish on the future. Here are some thoughts on the past, present, and future.
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25 Years Ago SHG believed that…

… The physical endowment is more valuable and complex to manage than the fiscal endowment

… Making space become place defines many organizations

… An underground (utility) master plan should exist to complement the above-ground facilities master plan

… Energy performance is a barometer of stewardship‍

                                                                   ... We can become "greener".

SHG has learned that… ‍

… Commissioning fundamentally enhances occupant comfort and building performance 

… The lessons from COVID will change the built environment

… Carbon accounting can help improve planning

 … Building envelope commissioning is also an important part of commissioning

… Our B Corp. Certified is a force for good

… The Inflation Reduction Act is powerful enough to incentivize  building better for less first and operating cost

… The levelized cost of renewable energy is lower than grid energy

… The grid is getting cleaner and operational carbon is being reduced

… Energy benchmarking is here to stay 

                                                        ... We can become more sustainable.

For the future SHG believes that…

… The prescriptive building certification ( e.g. LEED) movement will shift to performance-based programs

… The simple principles of solar orientation, proper insulation, biophilic attributes and efficient systems will return

… Indoor Environmental Quality will become a focal point

… Electrification will accelerate

… Reducing embodied carbon will be the next goal

… Artificial intelligence will indeed be transformative for the built environment and buildings will become smarter

… Smart buildings need balancing, retro and continuous commissioning even more than "dumb' buildings

… Indoor Air Quality will become the next frontier of benchmarking

… Carbon benchmarking is here to stay  

                                                               ... We can become regenerative.

And we believe that just as the built environment has evolved SHG will continue to evolve but that "building stewardship"  will still mean making the built environment better! See you on site.

Sincerely,