enial farmhouse PRELIMINARY CONCEPT
PERSPECTIVE SKETCH
RESIDENTIAL PROCESS
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
01
our approach: we’re different
ACCELERATING CHANGE
Precipitate is shifting the paradigm of architectural practice towards
integrative and inclusive design processes that lead to holistic
and regenerative design outcomes. Our team brings a combined
45+ years of professional experience in planning, architecture,
construction management, and owners representation to our work.
Today we engage in high performance architecture, planning for
carbon-neutrality, consulting, research, education and advocacy.
We are changemakers forging a path for climate action in the AEC
industry and our communities.
INTEGRATIVE PROCESS
Empathy is critical to successful sustainable design outcomes. We
don’t ask ‘how can we change a client’s mind?,’ we ask ‘what do
our client’s care about?’ and build a strategy around those beliefs.
A cookie-cutter process that delivers efficiency for the architect
often ignores the specific conditions and goals of the client,
which ultimately is why you’ll hear from inexperienced teams that
‘sustainable design just isn’t possible.’ We make it possible. An
integrative process developing relationships with all stakeholders,
including users, contractors, and engineers, is key to our success.
EARLY PLANNING IMPROVES RESULTS
If sustainability is just an add-on to a standard code building, it will
not be cost-effective or ultimately achieve your goals. We help from
day one to coordinate and align design, systems, materials, and
budget. We ask first what your goals should be, and then how can
we best achieve them. We lead a collaborative design process with
key workshops that are not only educational, but an opportunity
for design team members to explore appropriate project-specific
solutions. We optimize performance and cost, while ensuring
appropriate budget is allocated for all project phases. Ultimately
this upfront alignment effort significantly reduces changes and
frustrations later on when costs are highest.
VISION
Precipitate responds nimbly to the pressing social, economic,
and ecological justice issues of today through deep listening
and engagement, leading to thoughtful design at the
intersection of architecture, research, and education.
SERVICES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PHIUS+ Passive House Consulting (CPHC)
Modeling: Energy, Daylight, Water, Embodied Carbon
Design team assistance for high-performance buildings
(materials, energy/water flows, details, process)
Charrette Facilitation: Sustainable Design / Integrative
Process
Rating Systems Consulting: Passive House Consulting
(PHIUS), B3, LEED, Living Building Challenge
Planning: Carbon Neutrality, Resilience, Master Facilities
Stakeholder Engagement
Full architectural services for small projects ($0.5 - $10
million budget)
CERTIFICATIONS
•
•
Precipitate is registered through MnCUP, CERT, and the
Minnesota Department of Administration as a Small and
Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (S/WBE)
Precipitate has three Certified Passive House
Consultants (CPHCs) on staff
SHIFTING EFFORT EARLIER
IMPACT
OF CHANGE
TRADITIONAL
PROCESS
INTEGRATIVE
PROCESS
COST
PREDESIGN
SCHEMATIC
DESIGN
• performance goals • envelope
& targets
• mechanical
• location & massing
systems
for optimal solar
• daylight initial
gain & control
exploration
• appropriate budget
& team
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT
• dial in building
component
performance
values
• key intersection
thermal bridge
avoidance
CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTATION
• product
specifications
• PV system sizing
• daylight review
BIDDING &
CONSTRUCTION
OCCUPANCY
• substitution request
• energy monitoring
• & change order review • sharing the project
• preconstruction
story
meeting
• site visits
• certification
paperwork
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
our methodology: passive building
BENEFITS OF PASSIVE DESIGN APPROACH
COMFORT
COST
While there is still a higher up-front investment for passive design
in Minnesota (4-15%), other markets that have been supporting
passive projects longer report a $/SF cost that is on par or lower
than standard construction. This initial investment sees reductions
in cost in two key phases:
•
First Cost
•
Secure funding by standing out in a crowded applicant pool
•
Ability to receive special grants (Minneapolis program
offering $90k per certified unit)
•
More cost-effective way to meet required performance
targets such as SB2030 (passive vs. expensive equipment)
•
Higher utility rebates
•
Upfront planning reduces problems during construction
•
Operations & Maintenance
•
Utility bills are lower than code baseline buildings by as
much as 60-85% depending on fuel source
•
Bills are also more predictable as they vary less with
fluctuations in weather
•
Durable envelope leads to reduced maintenance
COLLABORATION
Collaboration with our clients and project team is critical to
achieving cost-effective high performance in our projects:
•
We align the project team with goals upfront: everyone has a
seat at the table, empowered to produce the best building
•
Ideally, we would join your team early as you’re exploring site
locations, but we realize that’s not always possible; we have
successfully pre-certified projects joining in later phases
CLIMATE
Passive design is the most efficient and affordable solution to the
climate crisis:
•
Buildings consume less energy, meaning it takes far less
renewables to reach net zero with a passive building
•
Efficiency is built in to the very building envelope, which lasts
for the lifetime of the building rather than needing to be
replaced in 20-30 years
•
Passive buildings are built to last longer than traditional
construction, so they contribute less to landfills and require
less maintenance down the road
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
AIRTIGHT CONSTRUCTION
THERMAL BRIDGE-FREE
COST
Buildings designed to passive house standards are more
comfortable and have the following advantages:
•
Continuous ventilation with energy recovery means a higher
volume of fresh air that requires less energy to heat / cool than
code baseline (and more folks now understand the health
benefits of fresh air— thanks, COVID-19!)
•
Buildings are naturally warmer in winter and cooler in summer,
and the thermostat can be set lower as more even space
conditioning reduces drafts and iced-over windows
•
Envelope is designed to stay dry (eliminating condensation in
the wall itself ), reducing moisture problems and degradation
of the wall assembly
•
Focus on a well-insulated, air-tight envelope also results in a
quieter interior environment
PASSIVE STRATEGIES
SUPER INSULATED ENVELOPE
OPTIMIZED WINDOWS & DOORS
ACTIVE STRATEGIES
ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATION
SMALLER, EFFICIENT
MECHANICAL SYSTEM
CERTIFICATION
Certification through PHIUS is more impactful and less costly
than rating systems you may be familiar with. PHIUS provides
QA/QC for the energy model and building design and can
offer advice based on best practices on other projects.
Verification during the construction phase means that you
know your building is built to perform to high standards.
PHIUS certification is not just jumping through hoops—
we’re actually making a better building.
n
our work: strawbale passive
UPTOWN STRAWHOUSE Minneapolis, MN (2020-2021)
ARCHITECT & CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANTS
Katie and Peter are a car-free couple working in the energy sector
in Minneapolis. So when it came time to design their dream home,
they knew they wanted it to be highly energy-efficient, powered
entirely by on-site solar, and as low in embodied carbon as possible.
As the design evolved, that led to the decision to build a strawbale
home that also employed passive strategies and pursued PHIUS+
2018 compliance as much as possible.
Main Perspective
SCHEMATIC DESIGN - NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
07/08/2020
ANNUAL ENERGY USE COMPARISON
(KBTU/SF YR)
Precipitate collaborated heavily throughout the design process with
our client, structural engineer MBJ, contractor Andrew Nelson, and
strawbale building expert Andrew Morrison. This integrative approach
was crucial to achieve high performance while minimizing design
time and difficulties during construction. It was a particular challenge
to design with both passive house and strawbale construction best
practices, but ultimately pursing both strategies led to a better
overall building. The design team also worked to minimized the
use of petroleum products where long-term safety and stability
did not demand alternatives. Adding to the challenge, this home
will replace a garage on a lot with an existing triplex, requiring the
project to navigate the Planned Development Review and Cluster
Development process. The project was ultimately a study of the
connections between operational and embodied energy, operational
and embodied carbon, and why building materials matter.
The Uptown
Strawhouse
will begin construction in spring 2021
CODE
BASELINE
and include an opportunity to join in a community strawbale build.
Follow the design / build process - and sign up to join the build - at
Katie & Peter’s blog.
EUI 52
70%
ENERGY REDUCTION
energy equation
ergy equation
70%
ENERGY
ENERGY REDUCTION
CODE BASELINE
EUI 52
70%
EUI 16
C
EUI 52
32
NET +
UPTOWN STRAWHOUSE
ENERGY REDUCTION
0
32
+
NET
ENERGY
NET
ENERGY
32
NET +
ENERGY
U
EUI 16
0
NET
ENERGY
ASSIVE
UPTOWN STRAWHOUSE
EUI 16
0
NET
ENERGY
UPTOWN STRAWHOUSE
Katie Jones & Peter Schmitt
AIA Minnesota A’20 Conference / October 2020
LOW-CARBON HOME: MINNEAPOLIS STRAWBALE PASSIVE
Sectional Perspective North South
SCHEMATIC DESIGN - NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
07/08/2020
our work: passive cabin
APPLE RIVER CABIN WI (2021-2022)
ARCHITECT & CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANTS
When CC’s owner purchased a lot along a watershed in Wisconsin, they knew they wanted it to be highly efficient, extraordinarily
comfortable. and able to flexibly host gatherings of friends from afar. They hired Precipitate to bring the dream to life - a clandestine
home-away-from-home at the intersection of peak-efficiency, beautiful architecture, and affordable modern living.
With affordability in mind, Precipitate engaged the local building community to find a partner excited about building efficiently on a
sensitive site. Panelized construction and careful siting will minimize site disturbance, while paying mind to existing significant trees.
Working with builders early to create a ballpark estimate is a unique approach, and tells us if we are headed in the right direction
from a budget perspective or whether we need to change course. The project is currently in Design Development and will begin
construction officially in 2022.
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
our work: small farmstead
MILLENNIAL FARMHOUSE Milaca, MN (2018)
ARCHITECT & CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANTS
Precipitate worked with young farmers to design their dream home, connected to their land and open and welcoming to visitors while
preserving a clear sense of privacy. Our process included visiting their farm for dinner and design discussion, ultimately leading to a
document that outlined their vision and goals for the project. We then created three floorplans that met the design criteria, combining
the best of these plans into one final design. When an opportunity arose to obtain free existing windows, we created a window pattern
that made use of these windows, best captured southern sunlight, and was aesthetically pleasing. While they ultimately made the
decision to live in a tiny home for the first phase of their life on the farm, the visioning process we had gone through meant they
were able to make quick decisions as a couple and get into their new home by winter as their goals and preference were clear. We
hope to work with them to build their home in the future!
2
A102
1
A102
Open Office / Library
3' - 6"
Entry
7' - 8 1/2"
1
A102
Storage
Bookshelf
Storage Shelves
Storage
22' - 0"
13' - 3"
4' - 7 1/2"
Queen Bed
Double Bed
Pellet
Stove
8' - 0"
1
Level 1
1/4" = 1'-0"
Millenial Farmhouse
Eric Sannerud
Water
Heater
2
5' - 6"
3' - 3"
3' - 0"
3' - 6"
10' - 6"
8' - 0"
Gas
Record
Player
12' - 0"
2' - 0"
5' - 6 1/2"
2
A102
5' - 2 1/2"
22' - 0"
11' - 3"
Level 2
1/4" = 1'-0"
Prairie Square - Floor Plans
November 8, 2017
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
our work: affordable passive homes
TILT-TURN CUBE HOUSE Minneapolis, MN (2022)
ARCHITECT & CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANTS
Precipitate has the humbling opportunity to work with incredible clients that share our vision of melding good design, affordable
homes and Passive House efficiency. The Tilt-Turn Cube House is a Minneapolis Homes collaboration between Precipitate and an
established affordable housing developer. Pending funding receipt, six of these smartly-designed, Certified Passive Houses will begin
construction in 2022 and made available for families with low incomes. The Tilt-Turn concept is designed so that floorplans and most
design elements can stay the same and be properly oriented to the sun, with only the porch and entry changing to respond to lot
layout.
2
North
1/8" = 1'-0"
1
East
1/8" = 1'-0"
3
South
1/8" = 1'-0"
4
West
1/8" = 1'-0"
Tilt Turn Cube House
Northside Homes
SCHEMATIC DESIGN - NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
ELEVATIONS
MINNEAPOLIS HOMES
CONCEPT PLANS
EXTERIOR
ELEVATIONS
Northside Home: 917 31st (811 31st & 1000 30th2021.02.15
similar)
February 17, 2021
our work: passive cohousing
MONTEREY EAST COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION Minneapolis, MN (2020)
879
885
880
890
ARCHITECT & CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANTS
895
904
0
895
895
90
5
0
91
6
89
5
91
Precipitate is honored to work with Monterey Cohousing on their third
and final phase of expansion adding townhome units to the east side
of the property. Our team worked with a group of ‘builder’ families to
collaboratively design their future homes via a participatory design
process. We enjoyed learning more about decision making processes
employed by cohousing, including sociocracy and consensus building,
and putting these techniques to use as much as possible in our work.
With a goal of being a low-carbon and inclusive community, the
project is aiming for certification under PHIUS+. We collaborated
with Élan Design Lab, Inc. on the site design and worked with officials
at the City of St. Louis Park to explore potential arrangements of
townhomes on a tight existing site.
92
0
issues & opportunities
880
5
92
896
0
5
92
890
92
6
934
93
6
92
5
933
0
93
2
ADDRESS EXISTING MOCOCO NEEDS
• 3 parking spaces to replace existing garage
• bike storage & maintenance
• general storage
• fenced community garden
• trees / fruit trees
• dining room
• dog run / fenced areas
UNDERUTILIZED SPACES
• south lawn
• community spaces in main building
• 3-car garage / storage / driveway
ACCESSIBILITY
• entrance into building
• elevator / connections within building
• traversing site
SITE & BUILDING CONNECTIVITY
SENSE OF ENTRY / ‘FRONT DOOR’
WOODS & VIEWS BELOVED ASSET
895
1
93
90
5
0
91
0
3
5
92
92
926
0
928
Monterey Cohousing Community is a unique, small, collaborative
cohousing community located on two acres of wooded land in St.
Louis Park, just outside of Minneapolis. Members choose cohousing
because they want to know their neighbors and value a growing
community that works together through shared experience. Their
existing buildings include a Main House originally built in 1924 with
8 private residences with 6000 square feet of common space. Phase
2, the building of seven townhomes, began in 1995 with the owners
moving into the units in 1996.
5
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SITE
mococo site meeting
919
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BUILDING
CODE
920
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2
930
9
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928
0
MECA
BUILDERS
UNITS
909
918
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4
CITY
REGULATIONS
2
924
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*
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process
* **
*
* *
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879
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900
DYNAMIC
HOMES
CONCEPT EXPLORATION
Monterey Cohousing Community
March 7, 2020
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
our research: affordability case study
HILLCREST VILLAGE Northfield, MN (2020)
Community Action Center of Northfield
CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT
DESIGN CHALLENGE
The City of Northfield is committed to 100% carbon-free electricity
by 2030, and further, being a 100% carbon-free community by
2040. Their Climate Action Plan calls for community net-zero pilot
projects. When the Community Action Center of Northfield (CAC)
decided to embark on a new townhome development, board
members saw it as an excellent opportunity to explore costeffective approaches to net-zero.
GOOD | BETTER | BEST ENERGY MODELS
Precipitate collaborated with the Center for Sustainable Building
Research to assess pathways to Net-Zero Energy for the affordable
townhomes. The consultant project team worked collaboratively
with owners, community members, design team, and contractor
to model the anticipated energy consumption of the proposed
designs in WUFI Passive. Precipitate compared three scenarios to
achieve net zero: good (standard code-baseline construction),
better (energy efficient construction), and best (passive house
best practice). Precipitate shared best practices for design and
construction with project stakeholders for major building systems,
comparing standard practice to passive best practice. The wall
assemblies at right show the iterative aproach improved envelope.
WALL ASSEMBLY EXPLORATION
GOOD
BETTER
BEST
COST-OPTIMIZED HYBRID SOLUTION
Precipitate led workshops with the design team, including
contractor, to develop a hybrid solution taking elements from the
best and better categories to develop a cost-optimized hybrid
design that resulted in a high performing building that would meet
their budget. In the end, the hybrid option meets the requirements
for PHIUS+ 2018 certification at an additional initial cost of about
$10,000 per unit, or 4.3% of construction costs, which was the most
cost effective way to achieve net zero. While the initial cost of the
‘good’ scenario would be low, to meet the client’s goal of Net Zero
it would require more solar panels than would fit on the project
site and have higher operational maintenance costs over higher
performing options.
LESSONS LEARNED
•
•
•
•
•
We have powerful tools to employ building science to achieve
cost-effective, net zero-ready construction
Coordination and integrative process overcomes paralysis
when diverting from standard design processes that have been
followed for decades
Current standard practices can lead to dangerous moisture and
durability issues that are currently ignored
Standard energy models are a blunt tool primarily for
equipment sizing, not modeling critical components like air
infiltration and thermal bridging for envelope design
Passive House can be achieved affordably in cold climates like
6A where this project is located
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
ENERGY USE INTENSITY (KBTU/SFYEAR)
54
energy reduction
54%
65%
62%
26
19
21
our work: affordable passive housing
Image copyright Bayview Foundation
BAYVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER Madison, WI (2020)
CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT
As Bayview Foundation rebuilds a city block to replace and add
affordable housing, a community center will provide centralized
services and community building for residents and the surrounding
neighborhood. Precipitate was hired by the Bayview Foundation
to collaborate with COTE Top Ten award-winning architects,
TKWA, to explore optimal paths toward PHIUS+ 2018 certification.
Working with the commercial PHIUS framework requires a careful
consideration of internal heat gain balanced with appropriate
window performance values and shading and heat gain / losses
from windows.
BAYVIEW TOWNHOMES Madison, WI (2020)
CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT
Image copyright Bayview Foundation
Precipitate is supporting the Bayview Foundation in achieving
PHIUS+ 2018 certification for new townhomes within a large
affordable housing community development. Early modeling found
that the initial townhome on the site did not receive enough sun
to cost-effectively meet passive standards, so we worked to select
a different townhome with better solar access and collaborated
with the architect to modify the design to more efficiently meet
certification targets. A series of passive building workshops with
the integrated design team were critical to achieving optimal
efficiency and cost reduction for both first costs and ongoing
operational and maintenance costs.
WEST SIDE FLATS IIIB Saint Paul, MN (2019)
CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT
Image copyright Kaas Wilson Architects
Image copyright Newport Midwest
Precipitate was hired by the City of Saint Paul to serve as the
Certified Passive House Consultant for the West Side Flats IIIB, 82
units of affordable housing. The project achieved pre-certification
under the PHIUS+2018 standard and construction began summer
2020. Precipitate stepped in to the project during the Construction
Documentation stage, working with Kaas Wilson Architects to
gather project information, lead in-person workshops, conduct
energy models, and coordinate submission and required revisions
with the PHIUS rating organization. We are currently supporting
developer Sherman Associates in navigating the construction and
final certification process, including modeling change requests.
HOOK & LADDER Minneapolis, MN (2017)
CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE CONSULTANT
Precipitate served as the Certified Passive House Consultant for the
Hook & Ladder Apartments, 59 affordable housing units developed
by Newport Midwest which opened in October 2019. In April 2018,
the project became the first Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)
multifamily housing project pre-certified in the state of Minnesota,
and in the entire climate zone 6A. Energy targets for Hook &
Ladder were frequently reviewed with the project team (including
architects LHB, engineers Steen, and contractor Frerichs). Ultimately,
an efficent envelope with triple pane windows, whole-building VRF
and energy recovery ventilation, and solar PV production enabled
the project to achieve pre-certification.
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
schedule & architectural phases
PD
PHIUS REVIEW
SD
1
DD
2
CD
3
4
FINANCING
BIDDING
REG. REVIEW
CONSTRUCTION START
DESIGN SERVICES
PD: SITE/CODE ANALYSIS (PREDESIGN)
•
•
•
•
Site selection consulting as needed
Gather site information (applicable codes, site survey)
Visit and document existing site conditions
Assess site opportunities/constraints
SD: SCHEMATIC DESIGN
•
•
•
•
•
•
Conduct goal-setting meetings (programmatic needs, visual
preferences, energy performance criteria)
Create 2-3 floor plans that meet desired goals and work with
client to select one to further develop
Create concept site plan (in consultation with civil engineer
recommended)
Create energy model in WUFI Passive to determine envelope
performance values required to achieve
Initiate PHIUS certification process
Conduct view/daylighting studies
PRE-CONSTRUCTION
FINANCING
•
Provide documentation to loan officers as requested
BIDDING
•
•
•
Assist client in interviewing contractors
Package construction documents for bid
by invited contractors
Review/analyze bids
CITY REVIEW
•
•
Support client in application for zoning
review
Provide documentation to contractor for
building permit application
DD: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
•
•
•
•
•
Develop design drawings
Select building materials and systems
Develop elevations (exterior and interior)
Coordinate with consultants and sub-consultants
Preliminary Ballpark Pricing Exercise
CD: CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION
•
•
•
Refine drawings based on feedback
Develop design and construction details
Coordinate with consultants and sub-consultants
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
•
•
•
Conduct site visits to observe work
Advocate for client in negotiations with
contractor
Complete paperwork for change orders/
certificate of payments/etc
scope & fee: residential architecture
We are delighted to provide architecture and planning services
for your new passive home. These services are offered as both
hourly and fixed fee based on phase of project as outlined below.
Note that additional design professionals such as engineers may
be brought on board for this project outside the scope of the
architect - client contract.
The scale and time frame of this project type allows us to
experiment with process: getting lost in the woods exploring
your site, creating a tactical design kit for you to explore initial
layout concepts, and creating spaces that enable to live your
ideal lifestyle. We love supporting families in their goals to live
net-positive and more resilient lifestyles.
HOURLY RATES BY TITLE
RATE
Architect & Certified Passive House Consultant
$150
Certified Passive House Consultant
$135
Architect
$125
Sustainable Design Associate
$100
Sustainable Design Intern
0 - PREDESIGN [PD]
$65
HOURLY, ‘NOT TO EXCEED’
As this phase of the project is highly dependent on client
-driven preferences and process, we prefer to charge for actual
hours worked. Some clients come with a clear visions and
quickly arrive at consensus while others enjoy engaging in an
iterative explorative process. Clear communication is of utmost
importance to us, and we are happy to work with you to set
guardrails for this phase to meet your expectations and your
budget, including providing a cost development worksheet
to guide in budgeting and site selection.
1- 3 - SCHEM. DESGN. - CONSTRUCTION DOCS [SD, DD, CD] 12-15% OF CONST. BUDGET
In Design Development, we will solicit pricing information
from a contractor partner. Architecture services in this phases
can be determined based on a preliminary pricing exercise if
a builder partner is selected early. A fixed scope and fee based
on percent of construction budget will be negotiated with
you and agreed upon in writing upon completion of a pricing
exercise by builder partner. Percent will be based upon the
complexity of the plan determined in Schematic Design and
general construction direction.
4 - CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION [CA]
HOURLY
When your project is under construction, we will serve as your
advocate and expert ‘eyes on the ground’ as we assist in any
inevitable construction issues or design tweaks that arise.
5 - PHIUS+ 2018 CERTIFICATION COORDINATION
$3000
Serve as liaison with Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)
•
Assemble supporting documentation
•
Submit documentation to PHIUS to achieve precertification in up to four rounds of review
•
Complete PHIUS-requested revisions to
documentation, model, and design strategy
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
project team
JANNEKE SCHAAP Associate AIA
Janneke brings twelve seasoned years of applied residential sustainability,
design and consulting expertise to the table with a focus on resource
efficiency, designing beautifully for energy optimization, and using
green building and passive house standards as creative design tools.
Janneke is a passionate advocate for sustainable lifestyles; she is driven
to create buildings that solve the built environment’s role in climate
change that connect to and celebrate the vibrancy around us. Janneke
is passionate about people, process, and community, and thrives when
leading teams to raise their sustainability and performance bars while
navigating complex project requirements. She gained deep working
knowledge of how design, construction and sustainability intersect
while evaluating incoming projects for compliance with the premier local
green building standard, GreenStar. Her education in Architecture and
Sustainability Studies included research of LEED for Homes, GreenStar
and Passive House certification programs, and she works with the state
of Minnesota’s B3 Sustainable Building Guidelines as a project consultant
and guide.
SELECT EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN
BACHELOR OF DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
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Pursuing PHIUS+2021: Passive Drifless Ridge House, Viola WI
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Passive StrawHouse, Minneapolis, MN
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Apple River Cabin, WI
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Monterey Cohousing Expansion, St.
Louis Park, MN
Lexington Parkway Passive House, Saint Paul, MN*
Urbanyi-Bradley EnerPHit, Columbus, OH*
Sweet Tree Passive House, Minnetonka, MN*
Tanner Windows, Passive House Details*
RESIDENTIAL SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
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Walsh GreenStar Main Level + Addition: Minneapolis, 2016*
Powell - McCartan MidCentury: Minneapolis, MN, 2015*
Griffin Deep Energy Retrofit: St. Louis Park, 2015*
Widmeyer - Voll Attic + Systems Update: Minneapolis, 2015*
Kaveh Holistic Second Floor Suite: Minneapolis, 2014*
Gustin - Horne Sustainable Kitchen: Minneapolis, MN 2014*
SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTING
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City of Perham, Community Center, B3 Consulting
PHIUS+ 2018 Precertified, Passive House Consulting, West
Side Flats IIIB Affordable Housing Apartments, Saint Paul, MN
Oertel Architects, LEED Consulting, National Guard Vehicle
Maintenance Facility, New Ulm, MN
Minneapolis Public Housing, Elliot Tower Affordable Housing
EnerPHit Support, Minneapolis, MN*
Hook & Ladder Affordable Housing Apartments, Passive
House Support, Minneapolis, MN*
2000 Watt Society, Framework Plan Support, Minneapolis,
MN*
Pine City Rail Car, GreenStar Certification, Pine City, MN*
GreenStar, Beta + Program Technical Project Review*
*©work
completed
Precipitate,
PLLCprior
2021 to Precipitate
ENGAGEMENT
Passive House Minnesota, a NAPHN affiliate 2017
– present
•
organize community meetings, events & tours
to promote the world’s leading standard;
Continuing education
2000-Watt Society
2018 – 2019
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host events & stakeholder meetings
promoting local grassroots energy & climate
action
Grease Rag Ride & Wrench
2012 – 2017
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facilitate free & open bicycle skill-share for
femme, trans & women-identified individuals
Lowry Avenue NE Corridor Plan Community
Advisory Team
2014 – 2015
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HNIA & cycling representative for the updated
corridor plan & implementation framework
Holland Neighborhood Improvement Assoc. 2012
– 2016
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board of directors 2012-2014, participate in
the Small Area Planning process
project team
ELIZABETH TURNER AIA
Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC)
Elizabeth is an architect with passion for finding synergies to create
thriving, equitable communities that depend less on the purchase of
energy. She founded Precipitate in 2017 to explore emerging methods of
holistically integrated design at the intersection of architecture, research,
and education. She is a Certified Passive House Consultant through the
Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) and teaches the capstone project
class for the Sustainability Studies minor at the University of Minnesota,
connecting students in support of communities. Elizabeth volunteers
extensively with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Minnesota,
advocating for public policy with a focus on equity and inclusion toward
truly sustainable communities for all. She is a 2020 recipient of the Energy
News Network’s 40 under 40 recognizing her leadership in the transition
to a clean energy economy.
SELECT EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
PASSIVE ARCHITECTURE
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
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Pursuing PHIUS+2021: Passive Drifless Ridge House, Viola WI
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Passive StrawHouse, Minneapolis, MN
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Apple River Cabin, WI
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Monterey Cohousing Expansion, St.
Louis Park, MN
Millennial Farmhouse, Milaca, MN
Single Family Home, Minneapolis, MN
SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTING
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PHIUS+ 2018 Precertified: City of Saint Paul, Passive
House Consulting, West Side Flats IIIB Affordable Housing
Apartments, Saint Paul, MN
PHIUS+ 2015 Precertified: LHB, Passive House Consulting,
Hook & Ladder Apartments, Mpls, MN
PHIUS+ 2018 Feasibility: Community Action Center of
Northfield, MN
PHIUS+ 2018: Bayview Aff. Townhomes, Madison, WI
Gensler, Minneapolis City Hall MBC MECH/LS & City Tenant
Improvements, Minneapolis, MN
City of Perham, Community Center, B3 Consulting
Oertel Architects, National Guard Vehicle Maintenance
Facility, LEED Consulting, New Ulm, MN
Sedgewick & Ferweda Architects, Crossover Downtown
Outreach Ministries, Flint, MI
HIGHER EDUCATION
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Climate Action & Resilience Plan, Bemidji State University,
Bemidji, MN
South Campus Plan, Hastings College, Hastings, NE
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
BACHELOR OF ARTS
ST. OLAF COLLEGE
ENGAGEMENT
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Co-Chair, AIA MN Government Affairs
Member, AIA MN Committee on Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion and Culture Change
Resource Team
Member, Minneapolis Energy Vision Advisory
Committee
Member, Midwest Building Decarbonization
Coalition
Instructor, University of Minnesota, SUST4004:
Sustainable Communities
Practice Innovation Lab, AIA National
Presenter at multiple conferences, including:
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North American Passive House Conf.
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Minnesota Energy Expo
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Energy Design Conference
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Sustainable Building Symposium
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Association for the Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
•
National Association for College and
University Business Officers (NACUBO)
© Precipitate, PLLC 2021
project team
ABBY MEUSER-HERR AIA
Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC)
Abby thrives on creating elegant and integrated solutions for everyday
design problems. She connects big ideas and a collaborative approach to
promote the advancement of sustainable design practices in the building
industry. Recent work investigates topics such as synergies between
rainwater harvesting and waste heat recovery, and zero-energy planning
and design at both the neighborhood and building scale. Of particular
interest to Abby is the use of BIM technology to optimize building design
through daylighting and energy analysis, a process first explored over 10
years ago on a small passive solar residence. Today this interest extends
into building operations through the evaluation of performance metrics.
Abby excels at synthesizing BIM modeling, sustainability analysis, and
project visualization to create graphics that effectively communicate
both project performance and appearance to clients.
SELECT EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
PASSIVE ARCHITECTURE
COURSEWORK COMPLETED FOR
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
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Pigeon Lake Passive Solar: Westerose, Alberta CA
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Monterey Cohousing Expansion, St.
Louis Park, MN
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Passive StrawHouse, Minneapolis, MN
Pursuing PHIUS+ 2018: Apple River Cabin, WI
SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTING
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PHIUS+ 2018 Feasibility: Community Action Center of
Northfield, MN
PHIUS+ 2018: Bayview Aff. Townhomes, Madison, WI
Water Cycle and Energy Research, Focus Arts, Seward
Redesign, Minneapolis, MN
Gensler, Minneapolis City Hall MBC MECH/LS & City Tenant
Improvements, Minneapolis, MN
Oertel Architects, National Guard Vehicle Maintenance
Facility, New Ulm, MN
Sedgewick & Ferweda Architects, Crossover Downtown
Outreach Ministries, Flint, MI
Beyond Zero: Net-Zero Energy Office/Warehouse Feasibility
Study and Conceptual Design, St. Paul Port Authority, St. Paul,
MN*
Railroad Island Net-Zero Energy District Feasibility Study,
Daytons Bluff Neighborhood Housing Assoc., St. Paul, MN*
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
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Manor Homes of Edina Recladding, Edina, MN
CommonBond Communities Portfolio, Critical Needs
Assessment and Facility Upgrades, Minneapolis, MN*
©
Precipitate,
PLLCprior
2021 to Precipitate
* work
completed
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
BACHELOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
ENGAGEMENT
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Presenter, Passive House National
Presenter
Presenter, XCEL Energy 2017 Energy Efficiency
Expo
Presenter, AIA Minnesota Convention & Expo
Guest Reviewer, College of Design, University
of Minnesota
PUBLICATION
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•
“Building Opportunity: A Strategy for
Sustainable Development” featured in
Architect: Journal of the American Institute of
Architects (January 2013, 124- 125).
“Minnesota Students in Haiti” featured on POV
The Metropolis Blog (April 22, 2011, www.
our team: ready to collaborate
RUWEYDA MOHAMED Sustainable Design Intern
Ruweyda is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota. She
obtained a bachelor degree in Architecture with a minor in Interior
Environments. She has background in research related to structure and
aesthetics. She will be attending the University of Minnesota’s Masters
of Architecture program in the fall. Her plan is become a licensed
architect and practice in a residential firm focused on sustainable and
regenerative design, become a passive house consultant, and work with
underrepresented communities. Ruweyda also has a deep love for Islamic
architecture as it relates to her upbringing. From minarets to arabesque
styles, she reads about this type of architecture and finds it fascinating!
Outside of school and work, Ruweyda has a passion for traveling, painting,
observing nature, and photography.
SELECT EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
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Research Assistant - Digital Design
Student Services Support
ENGAGEMENT
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Volunteer Award - August 2016
Deans List - December 2015, June 2016
Student Coordinator Award - July 2017
Student Services Support
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Design in Architecture
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES
IMANI MOSHER Sustainable Design Intern
Imani is a Sustainable Design Intern with an emphasis
on climate justice and advocacy work at Precipitate. She
is recent graduate from St. Olaf college with a Bachelor
of Arts in Political Science and a concentration in
Environmental Studies. She is also an experienced climate
activist and organizer, who played an integral role in the
recent divestment from fossil fuels at St. Olaf College.
Imani recognizes the powerful role sustainable design
plays in addressing and reversing the effects of climate
change, as such she is committed to learning alongside,
and supporting the team at Precipitate. At Precipitate
she collaborates with the team to expand Precipitates
capacity to engage with broader sustainability and
resiliency efforts through research and policy.
SELECT EXPERIENCE
SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTING
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Carbon Neutrality Consulting: Leo A. Daly,
Confidential Industrial Client, Minneapolis, MN
RESEARCH
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The Market for Passive House Multifamily Projects
in Minnesota: Center for Sustainable Building
Research, Department of Commerce CARD Grant
COVID-19 Impact Study: Women in Architecture
Research Fund
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
ST. OLAF COLLEGE
ENGAGEMENT
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Member, Midwest Building Decarbonization
* work completed prior to Precipitate
Coalition
St. Olaf College student Government
© President
Precipitate, PLLC 2021
•
Student Body Vice
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Chair of Student Senate