CETANA PROOF - Flipbook - Page 9
FORWARD
STATE OF
THE MARKET
THE NEW KID
ON THE BLOCK
THE PROJECT
OVERCOMING
CHALLENGES
construction projects that are considered “green” (the report
defines green buildings as those that are designed to be
energy-efficient, use sustainable materials, conserve water, and
provide healthy indoor environments) is projected to increase
from 27% today in 2020 to 51% by 2025.
CONCLUSION
Our observation at Cetana Group is that change is still
happening on a small scale - single buildings, single
developments, single showcase projects. And the change that
is happening is driven by narrow definitions of success. While
certifications and performance based targets have moved us
in the right direction for design and accountability, there are
aspects of our built environment that simply cannot and should
not have to be measured or justified to be included in our
spaces. Design considerations such as universal accessibility,
aging in place, and access to communal and green spaces may
not be governed or measured against any metrics, but they
have intrinsic value that is often not accounted for in decision
making. We’ve stopped designing for people. What we really
need is holistic systems thinking that reevaluates how our built
environment is designed in the first place. Buildings are not
products, they are homes and places of commerce. Highways
and public transit are not opportunities for job creation, they
are what connects us to neighbouring communities, family
and friends. In many ways, it appears that the design and
construction industry has forgotten its purpose.
9
