Takenaka Corporation is among Japan’s oldest and largest general contractors with a storied history. Rich in tradition spanning over 400 years, Takenaka’s legacy includes creating many of Japan’s prominent architectural landmarks. In response to climate change, Takenaka identified the need to prioritize zero-energy and zero-carbon performance in its work. To do this, they have set a path to rapidly evolve their practice to serve the needs of a changing market in Japan and globally. With nearly 7,600 employees worldwide (including 2,400 architects), the scale presented challenge to realize as well as an opportunity to create meaningful impact. How could Takenaka maintain its legacy and commitment to superior design while also leading the industry to address pressing environmental concerns?

In developing a collaboration with Takenaka, Loisos + Ubbelohde brought a wide range of experience relevant to Takenaka’s challenge. Our portfolio include more than 20 years of projects at the forefront of sustainable design. We also had experience bringing this knowledge to a variety of audiences and organizations, from higher education to professional development to working with large organizations, including universities, develop programs in sustainable design. Recently we helped the University of Hawai’i at Manoa develop a comprehensive set of sustainability standards for campus building development. The Hawai’i Building Design and Performance Standards are an example of how a guideline for sustainability can be based on a specific institutional design/delivery process, including owners, designers, engineers, and contractors, to deliver a more sustainable campus for the future. In early 2020, Takenaka commissioned L+U to create a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) Design Guide and assist in other organizational efforts to shift their practice toward delivery zero energy and zero carbon architecture.

SERVICES

A zero-energy building uses less energy over a year than it can generate and both certification organizations (such as USGBC) and State energy codes are beginning to mandate a zero-energy performance in the US and internationally. There are many variations in the definition and terminology, some grid-connected buildings are described as “zero-net-energy” buildings, buildings that are designed to be powered by on-site renewables but have not yet installed the site energy production are described as “zero-energy-ready”, etc. We assist the design team and client to establish a goal and then help design the building and renewable energy systems to achieve that goal. We use a wide range of the methods and tools described in our services to achieve the goal.
L+U has significant experience in offering workshops and education on sustainable design, zero-energy and carbon-zero design and performance, lighting design, daylighting and resilience. We introduce advanced concepts of zero energy building and occupant comfort using architectural approaches to design and simulation rather than an engineering framework. Our experience includes: • Week-long workshops focused on design of zero-energy, zero-carbon for practicing architects • Teaching half-day or single-day workshops on focused topics such as low-energy lighting design, the use of HDRI in evaluating visual comfort • Using hands-on sensing devices to understand and internalize the metrics used in zero-energy design • Using current project form an architect’s practice to develop design alternatives and quantify the performance

We used a multi-pronged approach to help Takenaka achieve this significant shift in their design and delivery process. The Zero Energy Building (ZEB) Design Guide formalized their design process to formally include zero energy performance goals, knowledge, design methods and techniques. The Guide addresses the full range of a project life, from predesign phase through commissioning and post-occupancy, in terms of the energy and carbon impacts of design decisions. To support the use and integration of the ZEB Design Guide, L+U also assisted Takenaka in the development of supporting analysis tools, documentation, reference materials, and management best practices.

The collaboration launched in 2020, simultaneously with the pandemic. It included a series of workshops (virtual and in-person), peer review of material developed by L+U and Takenaka, and a “Road Test” of the ZEB Design Guide to validate and improve processes in the Guide. The project achieved several important outcomes, including the establishment of an ongoing trans-Pacific collaboration, the rapid development of Takenaka sustainable design capabilities, and the release of The ZEB Design Guide across the Takenaka organization in April, 2023.

The collaboration uses both virtual and in-person formats, achieving efficiency of online collaboration as well as the rapport earned through face-to-face meeting.