AGU: Net Zero Energy HQ

​In 2015, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) identified the need for a major headquarters renovation. Its mechanical and electrical systems had reached the end of their useful life. Beyond creating a modern, wellness-driven workplace, AGU sought to communicate its dedication to scientific advancement and reduce the facility’s carbon footprint, while actively engaging and educating the public. The result is Washington, DC’s first-ever net zero office renovation – a 62,000-SF landmark that reflects AGU’s mission and serves as a reminder of the built environment’s impact on the planet.

​Due to its location in a historic urban district and the site’s limited footprint, achieving AGU’s net zero energy goals proved highly complicated and involved close coordination across team members from inception. Together, the team navigated an extensive entitlement process, ultimately gaining approval from the local Board of Zoning, Historic Preservation Board, and ANC, with a design that respected and blended with the neighborhood fabric. The final product combines a custom mix of ten core sustainable solutions addressing four goals – reduce, reclaim, absorb, and generate – while delivering a modern workplace that supports employees, AGU’s members, and the community.

​Join Gui Almeida of Hickok Cole - the architecture firm behind the project - for a tour of AGU and hear about the highly collaborative and complex process behind transforming an aging building in a major US city to achieve this monumental feat. From navigating the entitlement process to identifying sustainable design strategies for a limited site plan, participants will walk away with unparalleled insight into the challenges and immense opportunities of high performance design.

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