The triple bottom line is a way for organizations, policy makers, or, in this case, building projects, to measure their success by not only their profitability, but also their impact on people and the planet. Sometimes referred to as the three P’s, the triple bottom line approach is a way to adopt strategies that go above and beyond to ensure sustainable growth while creating lasting value for communities and the planet.
Designing socially just or “people” focused building environments through architecture could include implementing biophilic design elements or even including different workspaces that allow users to choose spaces that fit their needs. To create a positive impact on the planet, architects may choose low-carbon building materials or reuse pre-existing building materials to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible. Prioritizing profitability in buildings may lead to selecting durable materials that require little maintenance or installing solar panels to reduce operational costs. Combined, these architectural strategies contribute to a building's triple bottom line.
The City of Iowa City here in Iowa pushed to ensure this holistic approach was applied to its Iowa City Public Works (ICPW) building. Maintaining a low-budget, sustainable building that’s welcoming to work in was the goal. This article will look at some of the strategies used in that project.
How Iowa City Public Works Prioritized the Triple Bottom Line
People
At the previous Iowa City Public Works space, employees resided in small, dimly lit spaces. Their new space, on the other hand, was built just the opposite, with employee well-being at the forefront of the design. For example, appropriate lighting, flexible shops, adaptable work environments, and safety measures were incorporated all throughout the building. By implementing measures that give employees more flexibility, choice, and safety, the new ICPW space offers a fresh space for all workers to thrive.
Planet
Another big goal of the space was to align with Iowa City’s goals in its Climate Action Plan. Solutions that would reduce the city’s carbon footprint, minimize resource consumption, and reduce operational and maintenance costs were explored throughout the design process. Even during construction, this mindset was maintained, with 87% of waste diverted from the landfill.
The site includes low-flow, high-efficiency water fixtures and a vehicle wash bay that uses a reclamation system capturing gray water. In addition to efficient water fixtures, the site also has efficient heating and cooling via the building’s volumetric aspect ratio. Outside of the building, 3,400 native and adaptive plantings were included in the landscaping, with all plantings increasing the site's planted areas by 95%. Regarding building materials, 44 of them contain an environmental product declaration, which is a third-party verification documenting the product's entire lifecycle.
Profit
With the ICPW’s low budget, lots of iterations and ideas were exchanged to ensure the building achieved its high goals within budget. To start off, this space was built using a right-sizing method, meaning that the space was designed to be intentional, to optimize space for actual use, and to remove extra space, ultimately reducing extra costs. Additionally, the ICPW design prioritized highly durable material choices that will require little maintenance over time and that are also cost-effective. The materials are long-lasting, require minimal maintenance, and are modular, making replacement, repair, and expansion easier, with little disruption.
Bringing the Triple Bottom Line to Life
The Iowa City Public Works building demonstrates how the triple bottom line approach can create spaces that support people, the planet, and long-term financial performance. Through thoughtful financial strategies, intentional sustainability choices, and a people-centered design, ICPW balances the three P’s to achieve its project goals while delivering a resilient facility that continues to invest in the community.
The Iowa City Public Works space is just one example of a building that highlights the triple bottom line. Consider reading about how the UIHC North Liberty Campus also prioritizes the triple bottom line.