Page 042 - with others to explore synergies and trade-offs.
Source section: Section 3 - Sustainable Thinking at Work - New Processes for Building Green PDF page: 42 Guide page: 35 OCR quality: high (465 words)
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same way—perhaps by asking how they might approach a problem. Sometimes the iterative process involves looking deeply at why or how a specific idea would work; at other times the team will compare one strategy with others to explore synergies and trade-offs. Defining critical milestones, assigning champions, and clarifying goals up front will enable projects of all sizes and types to incorporate sustainability more effectively. Over the course of a project, especially along and complex one, goals and targets evolve. Through the iterative process, a team can be ready to address changes and make deliberate decisions by using information from smaller group meetings. An experienced facilitator can encourage people to voice their thoughts. A facilitator assists the team in expressing new ideas and ensuring that varying perspectives are valued. Additionally, this person brings the group back to explore how proposals will either further or hinder achievement of the project goals. Careful documentation helps capture the lessons learned on the project so that they can be applied in the future—either within the timeline of that project or on subsequent green building projects. Many different types of meetings may be useful in an iterative process. Although approaches will vary based on the specific project and team, the process often includes charrettes, team meetings, small task groups, and stakeholder meetings. Charrettes are an important tool in an iterative process. Named after the carts that carried French architecture students’ models to their final review (often as the students frantically completed their work en route with the help of friends), charrettes are intense workshops designed to produce specific deliverables. Acharrette brings together the project team with stakeholders and outside experts as needed for creative thinking and collaboration. Generally held at the beginning of the project, charrettes assist in establishing goals. These sessions can also be held throughout the project at major milestones for focused, integrated problem solving. They energize the group and promote trust through productive dialogue. Additionally, they ensure alignment around goals, objectives, and actions. Although we typically think of “design charrettes,” charrettes can be used for all types of building projects. STAKEHOLDERS The term stakeholder encompasses more than just decision makers and includes those who must live with the decisions and those who must carry them out. This cross-section of perspectives depends on the type of project. Participants ina design-build project might include the building owner, developer, client, design team members, facility managers, community representatives, local regulatory agencies, local environmental groups, ecologists, and tenants or other building users. Building operations projects might also include cleaning contractors waste management contractors, landscape contractors, local real estate and leasing specialists, and salvage and resale companies Charrettes derive their value from the collaboration of people from different disciplines and perspectives. When setting up charrettes, then, include all relevant stakeholders and experts. Those outside the project 2 4 35