For Hafsa Burt, the pioneering Studio Head of the Bay Area architecture design studio hb+a Architects, sustainability is as essential to architecture and design as function, form, and structure. The work her San Francisco architecture design firm does for clients, which seeks the perfect blend of aesthetic and functionality, is always mindful of conservation, reduction, and the preservation of resources. She sees sustainability as an obligation those in her field cannot ignore.

“Given the existential crisis of our times, in which biomes are declining and our ecosystems are at risk, we must be focused on regenerating our planet through our work, both individually and collectively,” asserts Burt. “As an architect, I work in a profession that has a considerable impact on global greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, it is a moral obligation for me and my colleagues to pursue solutions that leave a better planet for future generations.”

While “healthy buildings” and “green building design” have recently become popular buzzwords in the architecture and design industries, Burt’s commitment to sustainability is not new. She has been a trailblazer in this area, committing to sustainable practices like zero-energy building design long before they were en vogue. “The cautionary tale of the impact humans have had on the planet has been evident for decades,” she says. “Some of us who care about the future of our planet have been on this path for a long time.”

Recognized as a Global Advocate for Sustainability

Burt’s commitment to sustainability and affordable green architecture has not gone unnoticed in her field. In 2023, she was recognized as a LEED Fellow by the US Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc., identifying her as one of the most committed and successful green building professionals in her industry. LEED Fellows are known not only for their sustainable public space design and building practices, but also for their commitment to mentoring others in sustainability.

The 2023 Metropolis Planet Positive Awards named Burt’s Box Factory design as the top single-family home design for the year. Planet Positive Awards recognizes outstanding firms committed to designs that address climate change, ecosystem health, human health, and equity. Burt’s single-family home design merges sustainability and functionality in a project designed to exist in harmony with the natural ecosystem.

Seeking Solutions Through Experimental Design

Meeting the ever-evolving needs of sustainability requires constant innovation. Burt and her firm have been able to deliver consistently in this area by adopting an experimental approach to projects. “I believe there is always more than one solution to a problem,” Burt shares. “Experimentation allows you to explore a wide variety of solutions instead of settling on what is the easiest, most obvious, or considered best practice. Experimentation empowers the discovery of the best possible solution, encourages careful study of all aspects of the problem, and forces design out of the routines that result in the same old results. It is where innovation — including urban development innovation — happens.”

Burt also believes the best solutions emerge when firms commit themselves to more than just “design services.” Her firm offers a full spectrum of services that encompass all aspects of healthy building design and development. This approach has led to an excellent track record of getting projects entitled and “shovel ready.” “Early in my career, someone told me that architects are problem solvers first,” Burt recalls. “Our profession is complex, but design in its express terms can sometimes be limited to simple project aesthetics. Even straightforward projects have complex problems that must be addressed, things like floodplain planning, stormwater management, energy utilization, and managing materials to reduce the embodied carbon impact. Our full spectrum of services takes all of those factors and more into consideration, ensuring that designs go beyond aesthetics and deliver the best solutions.”

Zero-carbon design is one of the many sustainability services hb+a Architects offers to clients. By selecting low-carbon materials, emphasizing energy efficiency, and reducing waste, zero-carbon design minimizes the environmental impact of construction and day-to-day carbon emissions. Zero-carbon design contributes to carbon neutrality, which the United Nations has described as “the world’s most urgent mission.” Burt’s firm also provides clients with ecological design services. This involves designing buildings to work in harmony with their local ecology, even mimicking the environment’s functionality to achieve higher levels of sustainability.

Meeting Today’s Most Urgent Design Needs

The work Burt and hb+a Architects are doing to promote and support greater sustainability is an essential part of the global effort to address climate change. Buildings generate 42 percent of global carbon emissions, which means improvements in that industry have the potential to generate significant gains. “We have a huge ethical responsibility to be part of solving this crisis, especially considering the role that our industry has played in triggering it,” Burt says. “We can’t continue with business as usual. We need to make a conscious effort — backed by data and not just speculative claims — to reverse the global impact and contribute to a regenerative planet.”