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Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability

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At RRM, we believe it is our obligation and mission to create a vibrant, healthy and sustainable future in all things we do. Cognizant of our duty, we’ve instilled within our company the fundamental principle of being steadfast stewards of the environment. The built environment is responsible for about 42% of annual global CO2 emissions and RRM is dedicated to taking steps to mitigate and reduce our impact. We’ve developed an internal committee to focus on reducing emissions and improving sustainability company wide in a comprehensive approach that targets firm operations, education and training, design and approach, evaluation and reporting, and outreach and advocacy. The Environmental Stewardship Committee subsequently formulated a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan delineating specific objectives, devising corresponding action strategies, and establishing a structured timeline for their achievement. At the heart of our corporate ethos lies an unwavering commitment to sustainability, driven by a fervent belief in our responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations. Through relentless innovation, collaboration, and unwavering dedication, we pledge to pioneer transformative initiatives that mitigate environmental impact, conserve precious resources, and foster a more harmonious relationship between humanity and the Earth. Our mission isn’t just about profit—it’s about purpose, propelled by the urgent need to enact meaningful change and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship that resonates far beyond our company’s walls. At RRM, we are committed this noble journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.

– Dayna Lake,
Chair of RRM’s Environmental Stewardship Committee 

RRM’s Environmental Stewardship Committee Pilars

Design and Approach

The Design and Approach subcommittee is focused on integrating sustainable practices into our standard design process across disciplines. Our goal is to continually review and supplement our design checklists, client coordination checklists, standard specifications, standard details, modeling processes, and documentation workflow from a sustainability lens.

Firm Operations

The Firm Operations subcommittee tracks energy and consumable resource use across all RRM offices. By doing so, we aim to inform and develop policies, practices, and opportunities to facilitate in-office reuse and recycling, reduction of waste, and use of alternative modes of transportation from home to office. Our overarching goals are to foster a sustainable mindset, a culture of sharing, and environmental stewardship in Employee Owners.

Education and Training

To foster a culture of sustainability at RRM, the Education and Training subcommittee seeks to make sustainability learning resources available throughout the firm. By providing each employee with access to the knowledge and tools, we can transform our offices and projects. We envision a workforce that not only understands but actively contributes to environmentally conscious practices.

Design and Approach

The Design and Approach subcommittee is focused on integrating sustainable practices into our standard design process across disciplines. Our goal is to continually review and supplement our design checklists, client coordination checklists, standard specifications, standard details, modeling processes, and documentation workflow from a sustainability lens.

Firm Operations

The Firm Operations subcommittee tracks energy and consumable resource use across all RRM offices. By doing so, we aim to inform and develop policies, practices, and opportunities to facilitate in-office reuse and recycling, reduction of waste, and use of alternative modes of transportation from home to office. Our overarching goals are to foster a sustainable mindset, a culture of sharing, and environmental stewardship in Employee Owners.

Education and Training

To foster a culture of sustainability at RRM, the Education and Training subcommittee seeks to make sustainability learning resources available throughout the firm. By providing each employee with access to the knowledge and tools, we can transform our offices and projects. We envision a workforce that not only understands but actively contributes to environmentally conscious practices.

Featured Projects

Las Positas Multiuse Pathway

Santa Barbara, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Cuyama Fire Station #27

New Cuyama, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crestview Terrace Apartments

San Bernardino, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Cruz Rail Trail Segment #7

Santa Cruz, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Barbara Emergency Operations & Fire Communicaions Center

Santa Barbara, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ideas + Observations from our Professional Team and Partners

Beyond the Buzzwords: Design That Listens

What do you think of when you hear the word “sustainability”? Perhaps you think of metal straws or recycling. In the context of the built environment, you might think of add-ons like solar panels, shading fins, or drought-resistant plants. Let’s redefine the often narrow interpretations of sustainability and remember what true, sustainable design is at its core.

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Stormwater & Sustainability

Prior to the 2000s, stormwater design primarily involved moving rainwater into pipes and channels then sending it to the ocean (or lakes for the inland audience); essentially, transporting the stormwater away from our homes and businesses.  Today, stormwater is much more complex and touches a variety of engineering, environmental, ecological, and economic topics.

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Passive House: Building for Today, Tomorrow, and the Future

What is Passive House? In this interview-style article, you’ll learn more about the concept of Passive House, its history, the five core principles there are to developing housing in this manner, as well as its sustainable impacts for the future of home development.

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Modular Architecture: An Interview with Modular Consultant, Prefab Logic

One mantra we have at RRM is that you can never stop learning. With that in mind, we are always on the lookout for ways in which we can bring better value to our clients, whether that be lowering costs, increasing sustainable metrics, or shortening construction timelines. With modular construction, we saw opportunities to do all three. Recently we’ve partnered with PrefabLogic to deliver a modular affordable senior housing project in Ventura County, CA.

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The Itegrative Design Process

As designers, we sell our time to the clients and in return, they expect that we use that time to produce concepts and ideas that lead to project development, approval, and eventually construction. Often times the route to construction is complicated, can take a different turn, and sometimes lead to some of the best ideas getting removed. What if there was a process that evaluated the project development system as a whole, gave designers a framework to understand project relationships, and to see a project through cohesively and justly?

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