Green building project: Broadway Tower, Portland

Assignment Brief

Case Study Assignment

A term paper and presentation in the form of a case study is the primary means of evaluating students’ learning in this course. The goal of the case study assignment is for each student to understand the opportunities, constraints and trade-offs involved in a green building project. Both the specific systems and the team structure that contributed to the project should be discussed. To the greatest extent possible, case studies must include original research, such as interviews with project team members, review of post-occupancy data, etc.

In particular, the following questions and topics should be addressed. The approximate weighting that each will be given in grading is also listed.

Provide a general description of the project: the function(s) of building(s), context: urban/suburban/rural, size, location, etc.	5
Who was involved in the project? Identify the development team and financial backers, the complete design team, the contractor and major sub-contractors, and key tenants - and describe the contribution of each.	5
What factors led to the project attempting green goals? Was it mandated, the result of a strong individual vision, or other factors? Who advocated for green strategies, and what information did they bring forward to persuade the rest of the team, if necessary? To what degree did the project team attain an integrated design process? Was the full team brought in early to set strategy? Did the design process facilitate innovative solutions?	5
Describe in detail the key green building design considerations that addressed energy, water, site ecology, materials selection, transportation impacts, and building durability. In particular, describe how thermal comfort is provided [heating, cooling if used] – how it is produced and distributed to users [i.e., central v. distributed, fuel source, distribution medium - water? air?, etc.], and how green goals affected this element. Describe the building ‘envelope’: Types of insulation in major systems [typical roof & wall, R-values], types of glazing, etc.	20
Describe and discuss the economic model of the project: what types of funding sources were included? What assumptions for the model differed from a conventional (i.e. non- green) project of similar scope? Specifically, address any incentives that were leveraged by green building strategies and systems [tax credits, utility or ETO funds, grants, technical assistance programs, etc.] What was the overall project cost? Break down ‘hard’ & ‘soft costs’, and comment on any cost evaluation studies [system life-cycle costing, etc.] that were conducted for the project.	15
Did the project pursue a third-party review, such as a LEED program or EarthAdvantage? Were other measures of success were used? Describe. Does the project have post-occupancy data and if so, what does that data reveal about the design’s success? If not, include occupant interviews in the research and provide anecdotal review of the project from those sources.	10
The overall quality of the report will also be a factor in its evaluation, including clarity of writing, citing of sources, inclusion of appropriate graphics to communicate the project and particular systems, etc.

Sample Answer

Summarising the Research Process and Comparing Data Collection Methods

Research is a disciplined journey aimed at uncovering knowledge, solving problems, or addressing questions in a logical and systematic way. The process typically unfolds in several key stages, each critical to ensuring the integrity and usefulness of the findings.

It begins with clearly defining the research problem or question. This initial step sets the direction and scope of the investigation, preventing the project from becoming unfocused. Following this, a thorough review of existing literature is essential. This stage allows the researcher to understand what has already been explored, identify theoretical frameworks, and highlight gaps that the new research can address.

With a well-defined gap in mind, the researcher proceeds to design the study. This involves choosing an appropriate methodology, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods, and planning the logistics of sampling, data collection, and ethical considerations. A robust research design ensures that the data gathered will be relevant and reliable.

Data collection is the next critical stage, during which the researcher implements the chosen methods, whether through surveys, interviews, observation, or experiments, with strict adherence to ethical protocols, such as informed consent and confidentiality. Once data is gathered, it is subjected to analysis. Quantitative data are analysed statistically to detect patterns or correlations, while qualitative data are often interpreted through coding and thematic analysis to uncover deeper meanings.

After analysis, the researcher draws conclusions that directly address the original research question, evaluates limitations, and considers how findings align with or challenge existing knowledge. The final stage is reporting, where insights are presented to the intended audience, through written reports, presentations, or visual summaries, always accompanied by reflection on the study’s scope, strengths, and avenues for future investigation.

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