Resiliency Over Sustainability
The concept of resilient building design is gaining prominence, often seen as equally or even more important than sustainability in contemporary architectural and engineering discussions.
TL:DR - In terms of buildings and structures, the words resiliency and sustainability mean very different things. Cyberplex opts to pursue resilience over sustainability.
Sustainability is about using resources today in a way that doesn't stop future generations from meeting their needs. It has three main parts: economy (making money), environment (protecting nature), and society (looking after people).
Resiliency, however, is about making sure things don't fall apart during tough times, like extreme weather. It's about keeping things running positively, even when conditions are tough. For example, buildings near the water are designed to handle flooding without ruining important equipment, and they can keep working even if there's a power outage. This kind of planning helps communities and businesses recover quickly after challenging events.
The concept of resilient building design is gaining prominence, often seen as equally or even more important than sustainability in contemporary architectural and engineering discussions. This shift in focus towards resilience is driven by a recognition of the need for buildings and infrastructure to withstand and adapt to a range of challenges, including natural disasters and the effects of climate change.
Resilient design encompasses several key components: resistance, absorption, restoration, and adaptive capacities. (RARA 🙌 for those who like acronyms) These elements ensure that structures can not only withstand disasters but also recover from them efficiently and adapt to future risks. The traditional focus on code compliance and cost minimization in building design, often at the expense of resilience, is increasingly viewed as inadequate in the face of escalating natural hazards and climate change impacts. Modern design practices need to integrate resilience into their core, considering not just the safety of structural elements but also the resilience of supporting systems and services like energy, water, and food supplies. This integrated approach ensures that buildings can continue to function and support communities even in the aftermath of disasters​​.
The differentiation between sustainability and resilience is crucial
While both aim to reduce the environmental impact of buildings (which account for a significant portion of energy consumption and emissions), resilience focuses more on the building's ability to remain habitable and functional during and after emergencies like floods, earthquakes, and power outages. Resilient design principles include using low carbon-input materials, designing for energy efficiency, optimizing natural lighting, and considering the local environment's specific challenges, such as the likelihood of hurricanes or earthquakes​​.
Furthermore, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) emphasizes the role of resilient building design in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A resilient built environment is seen as a key strategy in combating climate change, promoting human health and equity, and driving a circular, regenerative economy. Initiatives like the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, the BUILD UPON2 project, and the Cities Climate Action Project reflect efforts to integrate resilience into sustainable building practices, demonstrating how these concepts can work synergistically for a more sustainable and resilient future​​.
This shift is driven by the growing need to ensure that buildings and infrastructure can withstand and adapt to an array of environmental and social challenges, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and secure future. In short, if you build for resiliency, you get sustainability as a by-product!
The importance of resilient building design, the kind we use here at Cyberplex, is underscored by the increasing prevalence of natural and human-caused disasters. A resilient building incorporates a robust structural system capable of withstanding extreme hazards, both natural and man-made. This involves a comprehensive design strategy that considers various aspects of resilience, including structural robustness, flexibility in use, and rapid recovery in the event of a disaster.
Implementing key components of a resilient building framework means we are laser-focused on robustness, redundancy, integrity, and ductility of the structure; the building envelope. Robustness, in this context, means our Cyberhouse, for instance, need to be strong enough to prevent disproportionate collapse under local failures, which is critical in the face of extreme events like earthquakes or explosions. The use of UHPC wall panels puts emphasis on structural resilience, which is supported by current research in the field.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) emphasizes the importance of developing performance metrics for structural robustness, which involves examining the collapse limit states of various structural systems to quantify their reserve capacities. This aligns with the Cyberplex's focus on robust and durable construction, which is designed to withstand a variety of adverse conditions.
Another important aspect of resilient design, as reflected in the Cyberplex building designs, is the integration of cybersecurity measures. Given our growing reliance on technology, cybersecurity has become a vital component of resilience in building design. Cyber-attacks can have far-reaching impacts on critical infrastructural systems that support buildings, including power, water, and gas utilities. Many of our design options include ways to mitigate cyber risk, from grid de-coupling, to satellite internet, to whole-room Faraday cages.
Furthermore, the design of indoor spaces plays a significant role in resilience, especially in the context of public health threats. Modern design responses must include both active and passive strategies to address environmental threats, which range from pathogen transmission to chemical off-gassing from manufactured furnishings. This is particularly relevant in light of recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has heightened awareness of the health hazards in enclosed spaces.
The focus on structural robustness, cybersecurity, and adaptability to environmental and health threats are all essential components of a resilient building in today's context. Cyberplex designs not only addresses the traditional concerns of durability and structural integrity but also incorporates modern considerations such as cybersecurity and public health, making it a relevant and forward-thinking example of resilient architecture.
References:
"Resiliency Roadmap for 2023: Design Strategies for Resilient Buildings" - Leo A Daly (leoadaly.com).
"Emerging technologies for resilient infrastructure" - American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (asce.org).
"Measures of Building Resilience and Structural Robustness Project" - National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (nist.gov).