Event Description

Passive Building in Practice: Design is a core course for practitioners looking to deepen their expertise on high-performance projects. While many firms are pursuing Passive House, they may not need their entire staff to hold professional certifications. This course bridges that gap by focusing on the architect’s responsibility as the central coordinator of a Passive House project, helping you understand how to avoid common mistakes and drive cost-effective solutions. 

The curriculum illustrates how early design decisions–such as building form–directly impact mechanical requirements and project viability. Participants navigate an integrated design process where architectural, engineering, and construction workflows co-evolve to meet Passive House standards.  

Key topics include designing for airtightness, cost optimization, energy budgets, and complex building transitions. We also examine the architect’s vital role in delivering buildable construction documents and managing construction-phase quality control. This training provides a framework for navigating the specific architectural challenges of a successful Passive House delivery. 

Learning Objectives -

1. Define the architect’s specific responsibilities as the central coordinator within the integrated design, engineering, and construction workflows required to meet Passive House performance standards.
2. Evaluate the systemic impact of early-stage design decisions, such as building massing, on a project’s energy budget, mechanical system requirements, and overall cost optimization.
3. Identify strategies for maintaining control-layer continuity across complex architectural transitions and high-risk building penetrations, including podiums, shafts, and utility interfaces.
4. Analyze the shifts in documentation and construction-phase oversight necessary to ensure that certification targets and prescriptive specifications are accurately translated from the drawing set to the field.