Chapter Member: Sanyog Rathod, AIA
Bio:
Sanyog founded Sol design + consulting in 2006 with the intention of creating a firm which could integrate environmental and social issues into economic decision-making of building projects. Since then, the firm has been dedicated to helping clients achieve their sustainability and social goals. Sanyog has devoted his advocacy towards affordable housing, green-historic preservation, and green building programs. His active involvement in the profession, academia and the community has led to the following awards: the Over-the-Rhine Infill Design Award; Cincinnati Preservation Association Award; Habitat for Humanity Recognition for Service; Cincinnati Business Courier’s Top 20 People to Know in Green Business.
What does Sol design + consulting do?
Sol design + consulting is a leader in sustainable design, green affordable housing, and high-performance retrofits. We provide sustainability consulting and green building certification services for a wide variety of projects, from large commercial to multifamily to historic renovations.
We have certified over 30,000 residential units and over 500 projects; certified the first multifamily Passive House project in Ohio in 2019; completed the largest LEED for Homes project in the world, comprising of 615 single-family homes, in 2017; and certified the first LEED for Homes Midrise Platinum housing for the Homeless in the US in 2010.
How does Sol respond to the changing certification landscape?
We always strive to stay at the forefront of sustainability. Recently, this has included becoming a WELL Performance Testing Organization and beginning to offer performance testing services to projects pursuing WELL Certification. We hope to leverage this expertise to help organizations, developers, and building owners understand how their spaces are performing from an occupant health and well-being perspective.
We plan to use these capabilities to help our clients assess the actual performance of their buildings, utilize this data to drive decisions that improve health and wellness outcomes, and pursue WELL Certification as appropriate. In addition, we are dedicated to incorporating the philosophy of wellness throughout its own business—including pursuing WELL Health and Safety Certification for our Cincinnati headquarters.
What does WELL Performance Testing involve?
WELL Performance Testing includes on-site evaluation of 67 distinct performance indicators. This involves over 20 types of tests using at least 10 types of specialized equipment that measure performance aspects such as air quality, lighting quality, and acoustics. With three WELL Performance Testing Agents on staff, Sol design + consulting is among a small group of leading firms that are dedicated to supporting human health and well-being in the built environment.
The WELL Building Standard is focused exclusively on the ways that buildings and communities can improve occupant comfort, drive better choices, and generally enhance rather than compromise health and wellness. Performance verification ensures that a space is not only designed for health, but that it is actually performing as intended.
To learn more about Sol design + consulting’s commitment to health and wellness in the built environment, visit www.solconsults.com. For more information about the WELL Building Standard, visit www.wellcertified.com.