McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners (MVE & Partners) - Architecture, Planning, Interiors, Graphics

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Sustainable Design

Corporate and Social Responsibility

MVE & Partners is committed to designing buildings and communities that are environmentally responsive and promote an improved quality of life by finding sustainable solutions which best meet our client's objectives.

As a firm employing highly qualified LEED™ Accredited Professionals, we are committed to practices that promote the well-being of the planet and user alike.

Read our LEED™ Case Studies »

Walking the Walk for Over Thirty Years

Although the "Green Movement" has become increasingly popular in the recent years, MVE & Partners has been incorporating sustainability into its designs for the past three decades. As pioneers in the sustainable design arena, MVE & Partners continues to design for our environment by incorporating sustainable design strategies including:

  • Mixed-Use Developments Mixed-use development refers to the practice of allowing more than one type of use in a building or set of buildings. In planning and zoning terms, this can mean some combination of residential, commercial, industrial, office, institutional or other land uses. A mixed-use community is ideally associated with public transit nodes, relieving many of the detrimental impacts on the natural environment.
  • Transit-Oriented Developments A transit-oriented development (TOD) is a mixed-use residential and/or commercial project designed to maximize access to mass public transportation, which reduces environmental impacts associated with sprawl, and dependence on the automobile.
  • Compact Neighborhoods Compact, livable urban neighborhoods foster an increased network for social activities, and attract people and businesses to the area. Within a compact urban neighborhood, it is common to see buildings with shops on the ground floor and a mix of offices and apartments on upper floors. Creating such neighborhoods is a critical element of reducing urban sprawl and protecting the climate.
  • Walkable Communities Walkability is the cornerstone and key to an urban area's efficient ground transportation network. Walking remains the cheapest form of transport for all people, and the construction of a walkable community provides the most affordable transportation system any community can plan, design, construct and maintain. Walkable communities also relieve stress on local infrastructure, as well as, significantly reduce many environmental impacts.
  • Subterranean Parking A subterranean parking garage is a vehicular parking area which is located below ground. Creating such structures eliminates the need for valuable land area to be used as surface parking lots, which have tremendous environmental impacts including the proliferation of heat island effects and detrimental storm water run-off characteristics.

Sustainable Office Culture

To educate our staff and bring sustainability to the forefront of our daily practices, MVE & Partners has infused sustainable design into its office culture through the implementation of in-house programs.

  • MVE & Partners Green Task Force MVE & Partners' Green Task Force is formulated by an ever expanding group of architects and planners who want to learn more about the natural environment and how to implement sustainable strategies. The task force participates in monthly meetings and focuses on various topics affecting our planet and assists staff with sustainable design challenges.
  • Continuing Green Education Events MVE & Partners hosts monthly Continuing Green Education Events for its office staff. The topics of the events are formulated and presented by various members of the Green Task Force and are intended to educate the entire office about sustainable design strategies and ways in which we can impact our natural environment on a daily basis.
  • On-Line Green Resource Library The Green Resource Library is an in-house database of regularly updated sustainable design resources and information which our staff uses to facilitate their project research and development efforts.
  • LEED™ Training and Incentives Programs MVE & Partners hosts in-house LEED™ Training Workshops for candidates who are committed to becoming LEED™ Accredited Professionals. MVE & Partners also provides incentives for individuals to benefit from corporate discounts, as well as financial assistance with LEED™ AP Exam Fees.
  • Sustainability Initiatives MVE & Partners continually analyzes its own business practices in order to maximize our in-house sustainability efforts. Sustainable office initiatives include reducing electrical consumption for lighting and computer systems and in-house recycling programs for glass, aluminum and paper products.

Sustainability Partnerships And Industry Association Links

Sustainability Highlights