Utah’s GSBS Architects named among top green design firms

The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Aug 21 2012 08:51 am • Last Updated Nov 30 2012 11:33 pm

Engineering News-Record, a McGraw-Hill publication that covers the construction industry, has announced its Top 10 Green Design Firms, which for the first time includes GSBS Architects of Salt Lake City.

According to the ENR article in its July issue, GSBS earned 48 percent of its revenue last year in green design, which was certified by groups that include the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED-certified buildings.

"This recognition validates our commitment to sustainability in architecture," said David Brems, GSBS principal. The company has 90 employees.

Brems said there has been an evolution in the field of sustainable architecture practices over the past 10 years with the emphasis on sustainable design having moved from being "environmentally friendly" to real, measurable efficiency.

GSBS, which was No. 98 on ENR list, is the architect of record for the new Public Safety Building, which will open next year as a "net zero" building, which means it will produce enough energy annually to meet 100 percent of its needs. The firm also has designed other well recognized low energy building in Utah, including the Olympic Ice Oval, the new Utah Natural History Museum, Hillside Middle School and the Jordan Valley Water Conservation District Education Center.

ENR noted that as a group, the Top 100 firms generated some $4.5 billion in design revenue in 2011, up 20.4 percent over the $3.74 billion generated in 2010.

Domestically, green design revenue rose 19.4 percent, to $3.91 billion, in 2011 from $3.30 billion in 2010. The Top 100 had $589.6 million in revenue from green projects outside the U.S. in 2011, up 33.1 percent from $442.9 million in 2010, ENR reported.

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