Selene R's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: The Three Bottom Line Concept applied to Sustainable Architecture BASIS Advisor: Miles Hansen Internship Location: University of Arizona Onsite Mentor: Dr. Sandra Bernal Cordova

Project Abstract

The environmental state of the world is a crisis we continue to endure on a daily basis. In general, there are multiple efforts being made to find ways to coexist with nature. When speaking on sustainability, all heads turn to companies and businesses. One of the many ways businesses have been trying to achieve sustainability is through the architectural structure of their buildings. Ideally making business buildings sustainable would tremendously aid the environment; however not all are able to incorporate sustainability.  Why is that? The word “sustainability” is often stigmatized as focusing solely on the planet. This mindset is often carried by many business owners when intending to turn their companies “sustainable”. Most businesses will prioritize profit over all else which often leaves sustainability neglected.  My research is based on the measures that should be taken in architectural design to equally guarantee profit and sustainability.  A concept which defines sustainability as more than the environmental factor and ensures a holistic perspective for each businesses sustainable needs would be the Triple Bottom Line Concept. By giving the business a definition of sustainability that focuses on the “Planet”, the “Profit” and the “People”, it allows accountability to be easily taken regarding the environment without having to sacrifice profit.  I will use the Triple Bottom Line Concept, to create a model of what a business might create when making a sustainable architectural design.