Myitha Action Plan
coLAB studio, llc
Myitha Action Plan (MAP) (Typically called a “Sustainability Action Plan”)
Updated 12.08.23
SECTION 0: Introduction
coLAB studio was established in 2004 as a dual-laboratory for art and architectural practice which works in collaboration with other individuals and companies to study and amplify nature and culture in the built environment. The firm exists at the intersection of analytical, practical, experiential, environmental, and participative practices.
We aim to be the most environmentally trailblazing studio in the State of Arizona. To achieve that, we must seek new ways of thinking and practicing. In order to continue to be on the forefront of small-studio environmentalism, coLAB studio must continually evolve to take on increasingly challenging stances within the built environment. We want to communicate this to the world to attract clients that are aligned with our environmental goals.
This “Myitha Action Plan” (MAP) is meant to assist the studio in communicating and practicing what we strive to achieve. It is also meant as a prompt for incremental change within the studio practice.
A note on nomenclature:
· “Sustainability”: This is an out-of-step term for what we aim to achieve. We feel that simply sustaining the environment is not enough; we must heal and improve the environment to allow it to thrive, grow, and evolve. Therefore, “sustainability” will not appear in this document. Instead, we utilize a defined term from a non-English source…
· In place of “Sustainability” we utilize Myitha, which we define as “providing good will towards the world and its inhabitants to constantly regenerate all living systems.” This includes aspects of Regenerative Development, meaning living systems that regenerate themselves as they evolve over time. An origin story of Myitha is provided in SECTION 6. A definition for Regenerative Design is provided in SECTION 1.
· As Matthew Salenger is from Hawai’i, it was considered to utilize a Hawai’ian phrase or word to replace “Sustainability,” which is expanded upon in SECTION 6.
SECTION 1: coLAB studio Myitha philosophy & vision
Inspiration Statement:
The problems are enormous; climate crisis, wildlife habitat and biodiversity loss, nitrogen cycle imbalance, global (national, local) inequality, growing authoritarianism, and more. We believe these problems are solvable and the solutions can work holistically across most issues. As artists and architects, we work in/with communities to help make potential solutions clearer and more hopeful.
Solutions for environmentally sound buildings must look for holistic solutions solving multiple issues simultaneously. For the past two decades coLAB studio has been pursuing those solutions with various projects. We seek to provide environmental leadership in the field of architecture. This requires continuing to provide benchmarks for our portfolio’s performance, and in a way that demonstrates our commitment and leadership. We will continue to utilize both a “custom” framework and standard benchmarks providing data that is comparable to the work of others in the field, including through the AIA’s 2030 Commitment, which we signed onto in 2023.
Beyond helping the environment thrive, our goal is to utilize the unique business model of coLAB studio to attract like-minded clients with like-minded goals regarding the environment in order to create boundary-pushing buildings.
We continue our commitment to following guidance provided by the International Living Futures Institute (ILFI), which includes the Living Building Challenge (LBC), JUST Label, and other certification criteria. While we rarely seek certifications, we do attempt to live up to the high standards of the LBC. We set a goal of having all of our projects be designed such that LBC Petal certification may be pursued starting in 2020, with full LBC certifications viable across our portfolio by 2030.
We are also committed to the AIA 2030 Commitment, with all buildings in our portfolio achieving net-zero energy by 2030. While we do view this as an excellent goal, other goals (increasing biohabitats, water-neutrality, carbon-neutrality, etc) will sometimes be more important based on project requirements.
Defining Carbon Neutrality, Regenerative Design, Resilient Design, and Equity:
Carbon Neutrality: All projects must account for the total embodied carbon emissions (tCO2e) from construction (including the energy consumed during construction), through the utilization of carbon-sequestering materials and/or through a one-time carbon offset purchase through an ILFI-approved carbon offset provider.
Regenerative Design: Often defined as providing more (water, habitat, energy, etc) for a project site than a project removes from the site- though that is an incomplete definition. True Regenerative Design requires an understanding of human and/or natural living systems to create resilient and equitable solutions allowing humans and nature to both thrive and evolve together over time. Regenerative Design and Development require applying whole systems thinking, knowledge of biological systems, along with community development processes.
Matthew Salenger of coLAB studio participated in Regenesis Institute’s The Regenerative Process Certification course in 2019 and continues to study regenerative methods for greater effectiveness through Regenesis’ courses and working with other practitioners. We strive to create truly regenerative projects with the notion of regenerating living systems is consistently in our design process. Yet we are aware that helping foster truly regenerative practices take a great deal of time to first (and constantly) evolve ourselves. Matthew is part of the Sonoran Collaborative; a group of regenerative practitioners of various levels.
Resilient Design: We aim to have every building we provide resiliency for the future. We design to include water collection, solar PV arrays, and Passive House building enclosures; all of which provide protection for the warming climate and intense weather events. The LBC states buildings must provide a resilience strategy to allow a building to be habitable for one week without collecting power from a grid (or otherwise participate in support for the local community in disaster, though the use of batteries, storage, etc.) For now, coLAB studio’s goal is for a building in the brutal Phoenix summers to be habitable for three days without power.
Equity/Inclusion: Inherent in the definition for Myitha is a sense of equity. Good will applies to equity; providing for others rather than excluding or harming them. The LBC has standards for achieving their Inclusion Imperative, which advocate for including diverse stakeholders from vulnerable or disadvantaged populations in the design, construction, and operations/maintenance phases. They encourage companies to utilize the ILFI’s JUST label for transparency and advocacy towards more diversity and equity. Unfortunately, the JUST label is not obtainable for companies as small as coLAB studio. coLAB studio’s short-term goal is to ensure inclusion of 1 JUST label from the design or construction team. We will determine how to increase the benchmark level over the next few years.
Communicating these values:
We hope this MAP works to communicate our stance and goals as it pertains to the environment. We plan to share this document and our philosophy on coLAB studio’s website, and provide our criteria for engaging in projects. We will utilize the information in other marketing material as well. We also plan to add language about our project criteria into our Owner-Architect Agreements so that agreed-upon criteria and goals are enshrined in each project from the start of project documentation.
Key Performance Indicators:
coLAB studio, llc utilizes a custom framework for performance monitoring, which is based on the Living Building Challenge 20 Imperatives plus our own three additional imperatives. These 23 imperatives additionally cover all items from the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
Myitha Project Framework:
We will strive to conduct energy modelling for projects with financial means to do so, and utilize (site) EUI derived for the AIA 2030 DDx, along with pEUI or a calculated equivalent, actual energy use data for a year after construction, and Lighting Power Density (LPD) for interior-only projects. We will utilize Design Energy Code for projects that use energy modelling. We will also produce design data on carbon-neutrality based on analysis by our collaborators at vali-homes when financially feasible.
Beyond our AIA 2030 commitment to have all projects achieve net-zero energy and carbon-neutral by 2030, our 10-year goals include eliminating red-list materials from our projects (which includes requiring Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) &/or Health Product Declarations (HPDs) on all projects) by 2033.
Project Process Roadmap:
As shown above, we have a project process set up, including a “toolkit” containing project start-up data, links, and our company’s Myitha Project Framework with 23 “imperatives” to consider for design.
However, we also do not pre-determine project processes beyond project basics. We design a custom process for each project based on its specific needs. We will engage in the Integrative Design Process on all projects in order to learn what is truly needed for the project to be a success, allowing that process to form a project-specific process roadmap and contract requirements.
Success based on this MAP means:
· Clients understand & are attracted by our MAP stance
· The MAP works to incrementally improve the Performance Indicators of the MAP
· coLAB studio is recognized as an important leader in environmentalism in Arizona and beyond
Change Management Approach:
We seek to constantly evolve over time, re-evaluating our situation, challenges, and achievements.
We will review our data and practices each December to evaluate the following:
· Key performance indicators on all projects for the current year
· Indicators of other local and national projects by others on the AIA 2030 DDX for comparison
· This MAP document for potential improvements; Each aspect will be evaluated for improvements and if we are reaching our goals and commitments.
· Project processes roadmaps will be evaluated for improvements
SECTION 2: Design & Approach
How to hit performance targets for next five years:
· Improve communication & IDP techniques to on-board clients and consultants
· Utilize frameworks
o coLAB studio’s Imperative Framework
§ Benchmarks provided for each item
o AIA Framework on Design Excellence
§ All projects to meet 75% of requirements by 2030
§ All projects to meet 100% of requirements by 2035
o AIA 2030 Commitment
§ All projects to meet 75% of requirements by 2026
§ All projects to meet 100% of requirements by 2030
o Each project to be assessed to meet these goals @ the end of each design phase
Project delivery methods & how they can support goals
· Integrative Design Process (IDP)
o This always helps a project team gain consensus around goals, find holistic solutions, and enables us to communicate the “why” behind the goals; we strive to utilize the IDP for all projects
· Design-Build & CM@R
o Commonly used by coLAB studio, particularly in partnership with 180 Degrees Design + Build
o Need to communicate coLAB studio’s goals with 180 Degrees to get them on-board as much as possible and so they can help communicate needs with Clients
· Design-Bid-Build:
o We have not engaged in this type of delivery system in several years, and have found them detrimental to achieving Myitha goals. Avoid if possible.
o If unavoidable, ensure environmentalism goals are spelled out in agreements and adherence to utilizing IDP
Energy modeling integrated into design & communicating expectations at various stages
· coLAB studio must locate an inexpensive & trustworthy service
· Communication on expectations are best completed during an IDP, but may instead be agreed to during contract discussions, with caveats for flexibility along the way
Certifications
As mentioned earlier in the MAP, we do not actively seek certification on projects unless a client specifically requires one.
· LEED: we find our project designs account for many/most/all LEED points
· LBC: while the “gold-standard” for certifications, LBC requires a very hefty fee for the consultant hours required. We prefer to utilize those funds and time towards higher environmental project goals
· WELL: very interested in this certification and are willing to attempt
Renewable energy (and water) strategies
· Energy: We incorporate solar EV arrays, or the pre-engineering and infrastructure for them, into nearly every project; we also consider battery back-up systems
· Water: We incorporate non-retention water collection, or the pre-engineering and infrastructure for it, into every project for watering landscaping and/or being filtered for other uses
Whole-building life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure embodied carbon
· We will engage in vali homes on each project that can afford their services (residential & commercial) in order to provide data on embodied carbon
SECTION 3: Goal Setting & Evaluation
How to measure project data
· Working with vali homes, we place data-collecting sensors in walls and spaces to track how our projects are behaving. This includes indoor air quality/health (temperature, humidity, CO2, VOCs, PM2.5), and moisture vapor levels in wall/roof cavities. Vali homes also pre-tests mock-up envelope systems with the same sensors so we can improve our buildings prior to construction.
· Other post-occupancy information we will collect
o Energy usage (power consumption annually)
o Water usage, annually if available
o Overall functional use and occupant happiness/productivity
o Building equipment function
o Sound levels
o Daylighting levels
· Moving into the future:
o we will seek energy modelling for our projects to see how they perform compared to our real-world buildings
o construction waste volume
· Our current portfolio appears to be on-track to meet the AIA 2030 Commitment for 2025 at a minimum
SECTION 4: In-House Governance & Reporting
Governance
coLAB studio should look into finding a consultancy or part-time individual that will seek out project data from our studio, clients, and consultants to match against benchmarks and format the data to include in our frameworks and the 2030 DDx. Alternatively, one of coLAB studio’s principles may conduct the work.
Benchmarks
Each of the measured data points should include a benchmark (minimum, and/or average for building type.) See the PROJECT FRAMEWORK GRAPHIC in SECTION 1.
Reporting
· AIA 2030 Commitment: At the end of every year, conduct audit of data and report to DDx each January
· Filling out data for each project during design, completion, and post-occupancy (1 year out)
· Continue to utilize graphic “dashboard” for each completed project to utilize on website and marketing materials
· Projects requiring reporting will consist of completed architectural projects ongoing from the previous calendar year
coLAB studio’s In-House Environmental Policy states how we operate as a studio relative to environmentalism.
SECTION 5: Outlook, Impact, & Education
Studio Operations
· Annual review of this MAP document for potential improvements
· Annual review of studio’s performance & ongoing project performance utilizing both the CSL Framework & the 2030 DDx report information
· Utilizing the Local First Arizona Green Building Framework, look for opportunities to further our in-studio environmental policies during the end-of-year review of the overall studio. Include this in our outreach; include that our studio’s building energy is 100% off-set by solar power, and our transportation is either by bike or electric vehicle
· Continue to look for policies and programs to further reduce carbon footprint such as for flights (including non-business flights), etc
· Update website for changes to the above items, prepare annual email (per next section)
· Annual review of our Intake Assessment Worksheet
Supporting Collaborators & Internal Marketing/Reporting Efforts
coLAB studio does not have employees, though we do have “repeat collaborators” we work with on a project-to-project basis. These are individuals and external companies/studios with specific skills required for our projects.
coLAB studio will send an annual report email to these collaborators in December or January to communicate changes in our status, our reporting data, and what we see in the year ahead. The aim of this action:
· To keep in contact with collaborators
· To inform/inspire collaborators to continue working with us
· To see if there are projects our collaborators need our services on for greater project success
coLAB studio will send the same annual report email to Clients at the same time, with similar aims.
coLAB studio will continue to seek out educational and advocacy opportunities within the community
· Tours of ongoing and completed projects
· Continue working with the Sonoran Collaborative, a regenerative group aiming to create regenerative change in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area and the larger Southwest Region; particularly by restarting the annual regenerative conference “Future Desert”
· Seeking speaking opportunities in the PHX area and beyond
SECTION 6: Miscellaneous
Intake Assessment Worksheet
coLAB studio will establish this in 2024
Culture and Core Values
coLAB studio has Art as our true core, with its mysterious and transitioning “Yin” energy (internalized,) while architecture is our studio’s “Yang”- the warm and active energy (externalized.)
We consider ourselves a laboratory of art & architecture. As an example, we actively think like artists (and landscape architects, engineers, community members, skeptics, etc) when producing architecture to push our ideas in less conventional avenues in order to take advantage of a wider set of opportunities. We constantly produce studio artwork to misalign our minds from typical architectural thought processes. We also develop theoretical architecture projects to push our own parameters on what is possible with architecture practice.
Our connective value across everything we do is Myitha, which compels us to work in the community while always considering the environment and all living systems.
Client Relationships
We believe Clients/Owners/Users (including all those that will utilize a project) are integral to the process of producing a project. Final products are really for them, not us (though we do vocally recognize our stake in the relationship.) We provide design and delivery processes to bond with Clients/Owners/Users early on to ensure a high level of two-way caritas (concern/caring/love) that extends past construction and occupation of a project.
We wish to keep in touch with Clients to ensure projects continue to support them as they evolve over time.
Structure / Consultant Relationship
An unusual business model allows the studio to be selective regarding projects we take on: limit the extent of “employees” to the two founders, Maria and Matthew Salenger, and draw from a freelance cohort of repeat collaborators on a per project-basis. The studio space built into Matthew & Maria’s home (and home built into the studio) keeps overhead extremely low, allowing generous time and financial resources dedicated to experimentation and community service.
The cohort includes a poet, visual artists, architects, building science specialists, environmental experts, planners, digital fabricators, builders, developers, builders, and engineers.
As with Clients, we work to create two-way caritas with collaborators that extends beyond work-based relationships.
Methodology (for Architecture)
We firmly believe the best way to produce a great work of architecture is to engage in an Integrative Design Process (even if the project is a single-occupancy house for one person.) Our IDP includes discussing the natural and human living systems affected by and affecting a project in order to acknowledge and design with such systems in mind, increasing complexity and levels of success over time. Clients (and other participants) express their enthusiasm for the IDP process.
Change Management
We seek to constantly evolve over time, re-evaluating our situation, challenges, and achievements.
We will review our data and practices each summer to evaluate the following:
· Key performance indicators
· Indicators of other local and national projects by others on the AIA 2030 DDX for comparison
· This MAP document for potential improvements
· Project processes Roadmap
· Each aspect will be evaluated for improvements and if we are reaching our goals and commitments
· Current events impacting the profession
The energetic Yin/Yang relationship of Matthew and Maria Salenger’s ongoing collaboration ensures a strong culture of internal questioning and accountability.
Alternative Considerations to Replace the Term “Sustainability”
· As Matthew Salenger is from Hawai’i, it was considered to utilize a Hawai’ian phrase or word to replace “Sustainability,” as discussed in Section 0. Our thought process included the following considerations:
· Aloha has become commonly used (and misunderstood) and does not directly relate to environmentalism. Hawai’ians (Kanaka Maoli) feel themselves as part of the land, even as they steward the environment; they are, in a sense, ‘indentured’ to the environment. The term Kuleana (responsibility) or Malama (to care for and protect) do not fully encompass the meaning of how Hawai’ians fit into their environment. The word Pono (righteousness and balance) clearly has some aspects of our sense of environmentalism, but is likewise not complete for our use. Kama’aina (children of the land) also does not have a direct definition that talks about a living and reciprocating relationship of the environment we are reaching for. An entire phrase such as Aloha ‘Aina Malama Pono could translate as “take care of yourself and the environment, guarding them righteously,” but is too long of a phrase to utilize in our service. Thus, for now we are not considering utilizing a Hawai’ian term to convey our sense of environmentalism at this time.
· The word Myitha (pronounced Mee-i-thah) and its definition were provided to Matthew Salenger by a student from Myanmar. coLAB studio has not verified its authenticity of spelling or definition- but, in a way, those aspects are of little importance because the sentiment of the provided definition is spot-on to our intent; even if the word does or did not exist in the Burmese language Myitha would still function for our purposes. Even a completely invented word would function. Our goal is to attach a definition to a word in the service of defining our philosophy, and that word should be unfamiliar to most people so they must seek its definition. Our chosen word is Myitha, which we define as “providing good will towards the world and its inhabitants to constantly regenerate all living systems.” This includes aspects of Regenerative Development, meaning living systems that regenerate themselves as they evolve over time