earthstudio

Committed to creating
A REGENERATIVE FUTURE
that supports the health and well-being of
all generations to come.

Introducing DES' Earth Studio...

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environment

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architecture

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resilience

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technology

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health

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environment

We endeavor to create spaces that are beneficial to and respectful of the local and regional ecosystems. In doing so, we employ techniques to mitigate environmental damage due to human activity, restore the local ecosystems, protect water, and air quality, and create designs that embody a net-positive impact on the environment and surroundings.

We are deeply committed to evaluating carbon impact of buildings and develop approaches to minimize the carbon, both operational and embodied, emitted by the built environment. Our sustainability practitioners are familiar with the current tools and databases and are also engaged in research and analytics to improve the outcomes of our design process.
3045 Park outdoor collaborative space

3045 Park Blvd

"We have been a signatory to the AIA 2030 commitment since 2019. In 2020, our projects reported energy savings equivalent to carbon emissions that would be sequestered by more than 84,147 acres of forest in one year."

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architecture

Working in close collaboration with the entire design team, we have an unique approach of combining aesthetics, function, sustainability, and wellness goals while defining the basic architecture of our projects. To inspire this process, our Sustainability and Energy Specialists champion the integration of following building simulation analysis as a design driver:

• Climate Analysis
• Solar/Shading Analysis
• Lighting and Glare Analysis
• Thermal Comfort Analysis

"With this approach, we have established an impressive track record of 6 million square feet of LEED Platinum & Gold certified buildings and campuses. Our projects have been recognized for their sustainability features including the Design Tech High School in Redwood City and Gilead 309 Velocity in Foster City."

Skyline College floor to ceiling windows

Skyline

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resilience

We understand the rapidly changing environment and climate risks that would ultimately impact our projects and communities. Together with our integrated engineering and master planning teams, we focus on helping our clients to identify these risks and create resilient design solutions that allow the projects to respond and adapt to changes.
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Sustainable site and master planning
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Site ecology, vegetation and water use optimization study
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Sea-level rise adaptation strategies
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On-site renewable energy generation storage analysis
The Cove exterior view

The Cove

"We have designed over 5.2 million square feet of office, life science and educational campuses along the San Francisco waterfront, with publicly accessible amenities, bay trails and bay-friendly vegetation. Our design not only created inspiring "destinations" on the bay, but also enabled the building projects and public shoreline to be resilient and adaptive to the foreseeable sea-level rise."

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technology

We have built a strong partnership between engineering and design professionals. Today, this collaboration continues to evolve and focus on delivering cost-effective and evidence-based design solutions to meet tomorrow's environmental challenges. Our team's expertise in automated, parametric building modeling and climate analytical tools helps our clients to understand their buildings' performance, carbon impacts and alternate design opportunities.
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Early design and massing solar study
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Building façade optimization study
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Life-cycle assessment study
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LEED and Energy code compliance study

"We set our goals high of pursuing design innovation and construction technologies to create the next generation of buildings that meet the needs of the future."

Southline Building Exterior

Southline

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health

We are committed to health focused building design that enables occupants to feel comfortable and relaxed which can in turn improve their productivity and concentration. Our design strategies for promoting health focused outcomes include:
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Biophilic Design that focuses on creating a closer connection to nature via: Restorative indoor and outdoor spaces and access to views and improved daylighting with glare control to reinforce circadian rhythms
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Focus on acoustics comfort for enhanced wellbeing
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Use of Healthy Materials
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Design that fosters inclusion
Gilead Science Building harbor view

Gilead Science

"Our most recent tech office and life science building and campus projects have achieved and continue to target Health and Wellness focused certifications. We have also pledged to practice Health and Wellness in our daily operations. DES is a certificated member of the California Green Business network and a strong advocate of community sustainability initiatives."

team

Kenny Hung Portrait

Kenny Hung

AIA, LEED AP BD + C, Fitwel, WELL AP
Senior Associate
Director of Sustainable Design

During his two-decade professional career, Kenny has designed over 150 acres of community-sensitive office and life science campuses, with his focus on responding to the site and climate context, enhancing building envelope performance and user experience, as well as creating open space and public amenities connecting to the San Francisco Bay. A recipient of AIA San Mateo County Emerging Professional in 2014 and having won the AIASMC / Sustainable San Mateo County Green Building Award for the Design Tech High School in 2018, Kenny has often collaborated with educators, designers, and engineers in sustainable design fields. He has hosted numerous seminars and presentations on Net Zero Building, Carbon Neutral and Climate-responsive design and projects. With a passion for a greener and sustainable future, Kenny has taken on the leadership of the firm’s sustainable design group and co-founded Earth Studio.
Reema Nagpal Portrait

Reema Nagpal

LEED AP BD + C, WELL AP
Living Future Ambassador
Wellness Practice Lead

As a champion of innovative sustainable design, Reema has applied her 12 years of experience to a wide range of projects in Asia and United States. She is passionate about sustainability and strives to develop high quality sustainability programs to support positive environmental and economic outcomes of projects that she works on. Reema has worked on several Net Zero Energy & Carbon projects and LEED projects covering over ten million square feet of commercial spaces. She is a healthy materials advocate and worked on the first WELL certified office campus in India which, in addition to sustainability, also addressed initiatives related to health and wellbeing. Serving as an in-house LEED and WELL advisor, Reema leads Earth Studio’s performance analysis efforts focusing on energy (both operational and embodied), water and waste efficiency opportunities for DES projects.
Dawn Jedkins portrait

Dawn Jedkins

LEED AP
Associate Principal
Sustainability Partner

Brent Takahashi portrait

Brent Takahashi

LEED AP, Fitwel
Associate Principal
Sustainability Partner

© 2023
earth studio