With elevated construction costs, development teams are forced to weigh the sustainability features that get added to their new multifamily projects. However, leaders at DAHLIN Architecture | Planning | Interiors say it’s key to look beyond the costs and consider the return on investment around resident quality of life and retention.
“Don’t just consider the costs, but consider the potential returns and value,” says Sean Whitacre, principal and senior architect at DAHLIN. “We’re trying to get smarter on quantifying value related to sustainability and looking at life cycle costs to make a tangible case.”
DAHLIN recently partnered with MainStreet Property Group, based in Kirkland, Washington, on two developments that prioritize sustainable and healthy living. DAHLIN served as the architect on The Pine in Kirkland and the interior designer of The Spoke in Redmond, Washington. Many of these developments’ sustainable features are among the latest trends being seen in the industry.
“MainStreet Property Group is committed to sustainability. All of their projects get LEED certified,” notes Whitacre. “You get the measurable sustainable features that come with LEED, but you also get natural light and biophilia that are beneficial to health.”He adds that general health and well-being have become even more important to residents.
“There’s a tangible value to the owner,” he says. “What that looks like is natural ventilation, views to open space, and private open space that is well planned.”
The Pine, a 140-unit development that was completed last year and received LEED gold certification, embraces its forest surroundings to create a serene space close to the urban core. It boasts a high level of energy and water efficiency.
Whitacre says the focus was put on efficient systems.
“The heating systems are all-electric, with the only gas used for the central water heater and some of the amenity spaces,” he says. “The biggest thing from the past couple of years is the shift to all-electric buildings.”
He adds The Pine includes ample bike parking spaces and electric vehicle charging.
The development, which was designed during COVID, also incorporates a workspace into every unit, has a biophilic-themed lobby, and a rooftop deck with views of Lake Washington.
Jennifer Bien, director of interior design at DAHLIN, worked on the interiors at The Spoke, a 211-unit transit-oriented development.The development, which was completed earlier this year, received LEED platinum and Fitwel certification. It boasts eco-friendly materials and advanced energy features, such as low-carbon concrete construction, a rooftop solar array, and energy-efficient building systems.
Bien says the development tells a story that relates to its natural surroundings and the nearby Marymoor Park. It has a courtyard with sculptures of animals and different forest features that DAHLIN brought into the interior spaces.
She notes that a lot of the fabrics and finishes were either recycled content or reused in some way. For example, on the Tree of Life installation in the main lobby, one of the key features are leaves that were created from recycled materials from the DAHLIN library and woven into the branches.
“That was one of our major focuses, to incorporate sustainability,” she says.
Like these two developments, Bien shares that she’s seeing biophilia being incorporated into more projects, such as more indoor planters that aren’t always live plants.
“Just seeing greenery helps improve people’s lives, and it can be a combination of live and silk,” she says.
Bien also notes the importance of weighing the costs with the benefits.
“Cost is important, but really take a look at it from a human impact perspective of how it makes everyone in the building—residents and the staff who work there—feel,” she adds.
