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OPN ARCHITECTS + CITY OF LITTLE CANADA 7 It is our belief that high-performance, beautifully daylit, sustainable facilities are a fundamental right for a community. Our approach to green design has proven impacts on the built environment. The clear, measurable human benefits from sustainably-designed facilities include a reduction in asthma and cold and flu cases, which results in an estimated savings of $12 per square foot, about four times the additional cost of sustainable construction. Access to natural light and views of the outdoors are key components in creating a space that is conducive to wellness. These attributes contribute to reduced stress (lowered blood pressure and heart rate), more positive emotional functioning, improved concentration and recovery rates and enhanced performance and mood (body temperature, heart rate, circadian system functioning). A high-performance facility reduces energy use, emissions, and operational costs. For our clients, we seek the least-cost path to high performance, in order to maximize a community's ability to invest in its residents. Understanding how design can maximize savings by lowering construction costs, reducing energy consumption, and lowering annual and total operation and maintenance costs has an invaluable impact on your bottom line. It’s taking a sustainable approach to maximize the building’s overall performance. It is knowing that the built environment impacts the quality of the experience — not only while attending activities within the facility, but the lasting impact while out in the community. Healthy & high-performing spaces don’t have to cost more High-performing and sustainable strategies are embedded in our design practice HEALTHY: Our buildings support the well-being of occupants, the surrounding community, and natural ecosystems. COST-EFFECTIVE: We incorporate high-performance building strategies to maximize every dollar of your budget. RESILIENT: We build environments that are forward-thinking and adapt to the future. We embrace high-performance strategies that are: Project Understanding & Approach Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that connects building occupants to nature through a variety of strategies from the obvious like natural light and outdoor spaces to subconscious such as patterns and materials. OPN's implementation of biophilic principles has a profound effect on well-being, including stress reduction and increased awareness and cognitive ability. The built environment can use the following biophilic principles to improve experiences for building users. Biophilic Design • Visual Connection with Nature • Non Visual Connection with Nature • Thermal and Airflow • Presence of Water • Connection with Natural Systems • Dynamic & Diffuse Light • Biomorphic Forms & Patterns • Material Connection with Nature • Complexity & Order • Prospect & Refuge