Sustainability, as applied to building structures, is an indefinite exercise. All too familiar are nonintegrated components such as efficient light bulbs, roof mounted solar thermal panels, and energy star appliances, but these are all just additions to buildings that were not designed with a sustainable strategy in mind. There are a myriad of considerations and responses to needs, available as components of a sustainable concept. The talents of a designer lie within their ability to assess the site, building program, client preferences, and budget as a basis for assembly of a sustainable program for the specific development project.

Architecture, J.A., Inc. has consistently been at the forefront of sustainable research. We believe in the importance of understanding the theories and concepts upon which systems are conceived and integrating them into building designs that do not sacrifice desired esthetic or function through implementation of successful sustainable strategy. In most cases the users of efficient buildings are aware of the functionality of spaces rather than the systems employed. Integrated sustainable building programs can be realized with relatively insignificant costs where paybacks can occur within a few years.