Sustainability Report

Embodied carbon considerations focused on durability, regional sourcing, and responsible material selection due to the building’s remote location and harsh environmental conditions. The project also incorporates salvaged and recycled interior materials, including reclaimed wood and weathering steel components, which can be recycled again at the end of the building’s lifecycle.

Material strategies included:

• Regional sourcing: 29% of materials were sourced within 500 miles of the project site, reducing transportation emissions.

• Recycled content: 21% of materials contain recycled content.

• Certified wood: 98% of wood used in the project is Forest Stewardship Council certified.

• Red List compliance: All materials comply with Living Building Challenge Red List requirements.

• Long-life materials: Natural materials such as stone, integrally colored concrete, and weathering steel were selected for their durability and ability to withstand extreme environmental exposure without applied coatings.

• Material testing: Materials were tested for a year at the summit to confirm performance under intense UV radiation, wind-driven sediment, and freeze-thaw conditions.

Operational emissions were significantly reduced through passive design strategies and electrified building systems.

Key strategies include:

Passive solar design

• The building is oriented south to maximize solar gain at high altitude.

• Extensive daylight harvesting reduces lighting demand.

Thermal performance

• A highly insulated concrete shell reduces heat loss.

• Thermal mass from the concrete structure, stone cladding, and reclaimed fill under the slab stabilizes interior temperatures.

• In-floor radiant heating distributes heat efficiently.

Permafrost protection

• Foundations are highly insulated and separated from the tundra by gravel layers to prevent heat transfer that could thaw permafrost.

All-electric building systems

• The facility avoids fossil fuel combustion except for an emergency generator.

• Heating is provided by a high-efficiency electric boiler integrated with the building’s thermal mass.

Off-site renewable energy

• Because on-site solar was not feasible at the summit due to environmental restrictions, the project funded a photovoltaic installation in Colorado Springs that offsets 105% of the building’s annual energy demand, achieving net positive energy.

Service and maintenance emissions were reduced by prioritizing extreme durability and long building lifespan. The new water management system reduces water transport by 350,000 gallons per year, significantly lowering transportation-related emissions.

Key strategies include:

• 100-year design life to avoid frequent reconstruction in a sensitive alpine environment.

• Exterior materials such as stone, integrally colored concrete, and weathering steel that weather naturally without coatings.

• Hurricane-rated glazing and protective shutters designed to withstand severe wind and debris.

• Materials selected to resist wind-driven sediment abrasion and intense UV exposure.

• Reduced water transport through on-site treatment systems, decreasing truck trips to deliver water and remove wastewater.