Sustainability Practices

For over 75 years, Martin Simmons Sweers has helped shape the built form throughout Waterloo Region. Many buildings designed by the firm in its early career are still in use today—a testament to the high standards of sustainable design that we strive for.

We believe that quality architecture and durable construction are essential for creating a sustainable, climate-positive built environment that people are proud to live, work, and play in, and that can be maintained for future generations.

We understand that there are no universal solutions to building sustainability and every project has unique goals, requirements, and constraints. Throughout a project lifespan, we carefully consider all options, giving our clients a thoughtful and realistic approach to determining which design solutions will generate the most value, for the project and the planet.

Every project has unique goals, requirements, and constraints that create opportunities for sustainable design.

Sustainability
Philosophy

At MSS, we believe that sustainability and good design must go hand-in-hand; you can't have one without the other. This principle is inherently part of our work process and seamlessly integrates into everything we do.

Our Sustainability Commitment

As a studio, and as individuals, we are committed to:

  • Environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic viability
  • Creating lasting, positive impacts on the environment and society
  • Integrating local culture, history, and community values into sustainable practices
  • Considering the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and economic systems

Sustainable Design Principles

Our design processes incorporate a range of sustainable design principles, including:

Site Strategies
  • Environmental siting studies to help inform decisions that minimize environmental harm, optimize resource use, enhance climate resilience, and promote community well-being
  • Encouraging the adaptive reuse of existing buildings to reduce the need for new construction and preserve historical structures
  • Maximizing natural daylighting to reduce the need for artificial lighting and improve occupant well-being
  • Partnering with Landscape Architects who prioritize native and drought-resistant plant species to reduce irrigation needs, designing green roofs and living walls to enhance biodiversity and provide insulation, and creating outdoor spaces that support local ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
Enclosure/Exteriors
  • Rigorous exterior envelope strategies for longevity, air tightness, thermal efficiency, moisture control, and good indoor air quality (IAQ)
  • Encouraging the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials
  • Encouraging the use of durable, long-lasting materials to reduce the frequency of replacements and repairs
  • Encouraging energy efficient building systems like high performance HVAC and windows and LED lighting systems
  • Energy modeling to demonstrate the energy efficiency of different proposed solutions or to qualify the build for labeling programs like LEED®, Passive House, etc.
  • Choosing construction materials with carbon neutral profiles
Interiors
  • Designing flexible spaces that can be easily reconfigured to meet changing needs and uses over time
  • Encouraging the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials
  • Encouraging the use of durable, long-lasting materials to reduce the frequency of replacements and repairs
  • Choosing materials with low carbon intensities and low-VOC for our interior design work
Mechanicals
  • Encouraging energy efficient building systems like high performance HVAC and windows and LED lighting systems
  • Energy modeling to demonstrate the energy efficiency of different proposed solutions or to qualify the build for labeling programs like LEED®, Passive House, etc.
  • Incorporating effective ventilation systems to maintain healthy indoor environments.

How do we operate our own studio with sustainability in mind?

Our Studio: Goals and Practices

Certifications and Standards

Many of our team are well-versed in sustainable building practices, and we also have members who are certified:

LEED® AP

Patrick Simmons, B.ARCH, M.ARCH.U.D, OAA, RAIC, LEED® AP - Partner

Passive House Designers / Consultants

Greg Piccini, CPHD - Senior Associate, Senior Project Architect

Kristin Schreiner, CPHD - Associate, Senior Project Designer / Design Lead

Sustainable Projects Portfolio

While not every project falls under a labeling program or category, most of our builds incorporate high performance elements in order to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

MSS has completed several large adaptive reuse projects in the region, as well as many LEED-certified buildings, including Canada's first triple-platinum office building.

Blackberry Northfield Campus

Size: 400,000 sq. ft. | Type: New Build

Energy model and report: Yes

Label or standard achieved: LEED Silver

Sustainability/efficiency project goals: Improve energy efficiency through controlled ventilation and daylight optimization.

Sustainable building materials: Argon-filled Low-E windows with thermally broken frames.

Sustainable/high performance mechanicals:

  • Occupancy and daylight sensors
  • HVAC with heat recovery
  • Demand-Controlled Ventilation linked to CO2 sensors, reducing excessive ventilation

Relevant building science applications: High Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) roof membrane. Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) of 45% to optimize energy efficiency.

Embodied/operational carbon reduction strategies: Efficient lighting control through sensors minimizes power consumption. The modest WWR reduces heating and cooling loads by concentrating windows in areas that need daylight the most.

Team members: Patrick Simmons, Jason Martin, Alex Moore, Kevin Drehmer, Mike Cofell, Jesse French, Craig Gill (Design); Grant Taylor, Ashley Feenie, Tara Ostic, Lindey Caves (CA)

Additional notes: The campus is transit-accessible, with bike storage and shower facilities to encourage sustainable commuting.

View full project
Breithaupt III

Size: 329,500 sq. ft. | Type: New Build

Energy model and report: Yes

Label or standard achieved: LEED Gold

Sustainability/efficiency project goals: Achieve 17-21% energy performance improvement over ASHRAE 90.1-2010 standards.

Sustainable building materials: Triple-glazed curtain walls on upper storeys. Interior materials selected for low emissions, enhancing indoor air quality.

Sustainable/high performance mechanicals:

  • Indoor air quality monitoring
  • Ventilation systems

Relevant building science applications: High-efficiency glazing and air quality management.

Embodied/operational carbon reduction strategies: Energy performance improvement, refrigerant management, and offset electricity and gas consumption with carbon offsets.

Team members: Jason Martin, Andraz Kavcic, Andrew Vanner, Greg Piccini

Additional notes: Located in a walkable, transit-oriented downtown area. Indoor water use reduced by 40%.

View full project
Parkwood Mennonite Homes

Size: 90,000 sq. ft. | Type: New Build

Energy model and report: Yes

Label or standard achieved: CMHC National Housing Co-Investment Fund

Sustainability/efficiency project goals: Achieve a 26%-40% reduction in energy consumption and GHG emissions compared to baseline models.

Sustainable building materials: Insulated concrete form (ICF) walls provide continuous insulation.

Sustainable/high performance mechanicals:

  • Compartmentalized energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems
  • Low-flow fixtures
  • Condensing domestic hot water (DHW) boiler
  • LED lighting

Relevant building science applications: Advanced envelope insulation for energy efficiency.

Embodied/operational carbon reduction strategies: Enhanced insulation and efficient mechanical systems significantly reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Team members: Jason Martin, Greg Piccini, Brian Harvey, Adam Grasso, Brendan Lacy

View full project
The Bright Building

Size: 222,912 sq. ft. | Type: New Build

Energy model and report: Yes

Label or standard achieved: Achieve energy efficiency per ASHRAE 90.1-2013 and SB-10 standards. Achieved a 12.2% reduction in energy use, with an EUI of 285.8 kWh/m²/year.

Sustainable/high performance mechanicals:

  • VRF fan coils with external condensers in each suite
  • Energy recovery ventilators (ERV) provide ventilation
  • LED lighting used throughout
  • Instantaneous electric water heaters for domestic hot water
  • Electric rooftop unit for building makeup air

Relevant building science applications: Energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems.

Embodied/operational carbon reduction strategies: Fully electric systems eliminate onsite gas combustion for heating, reducing carbon emissions.

Team members: Jason Sweers, Brian Harvey

View full project

Sustainability Team

We’d like to recognize and thank the team members who lead the studio’s sustainability efforts:

Jason Martin, Partner

Greg Piccini, Senior Associate, Senior Project Architect

Mark Buckley, Associate, Senior Project Architect

Jesse French, Associate, Senior Project Manager / Contract Administrator

Andrew Vlcek, Associate, Project Architect

Brendan Lacy, Designer

“It’s satisfying to look around the region and see the direct impact we’ve had on good city building.”

Jason Martin
Partner-in-Charge, Martin Simmons Sweers Architects
Purpose and Vision
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