future looking design
We look towards the future to create flexible designs
that can adapt to shifting needs, respond to local
climates and resources, and are considerate of the
plants, animals, and waterways within our project sites.
energy efficiency
At Cover, we endeavour to be ahead of the curve when it comes to the energy efficiency of the buildings we design and are committed to improving the built, and protecting the natural, environment.
On various project types we have successfully achieved some of the most energy efficient building design standards, through Passive House certification, as well as BC Energy Step Code 5 (and beyond) to minimize the life cycle energy use of our projects.
embodied carbon
We believe that sustainable design starts at the earliest phase of a project’s life cycle. With more recent developments towards low carbon and life cycle analysis, we understand that energy efficiency is just one part of creating truly sustainable buildings.
Embodied carbon has a massive impact at a global scale, something we work closely with our clients to reduce the impact of whenever possible. Oftentimes, this means we need to carefully balance the selection and sourcing of materials to reduce carbon emissions that arise from resource extraction, manufacturing, transport, and construction.
To simplify this process, Cover has been developing an ethical materials library that selects low embodied carbon, and ethically sourced, materials and products to use in our designs.
adaptive reuse
In our experience, the best way to reduce carbon emissions is by renovating existing buildings!
Renovations are an opportunity to extend a building’s lifespan, both by improving the building’s envelope and mechanical systems, but also by adapting the interior for new uses. This process of adaptive reuse revives old or neglected spaces within our communities and reduces the environmental impact of construction – especially when compared to the process of demolishing and building anew.
Our team has a breadth of expertise working on complex renovations, including deep energy retrofits, building envelope upgrades, and modifications to registered heritage buildings.