New construction at the individual building scale often gets the most attention for innovation in high performance. However, there are clear opportunities for high performance innovation in masterplans, campus approaches, and renovation of existing buildings. Such big picture planning and attention to existing resources can help one take a more holistic look at a project’s contextual opportunities, pertaining to incentives, embodied carbon analysis, triple bottomline analysis, etc. This presentation uses examples of one masterplan, one campus, and one renovation project to highlight unconventional opportunities and lessons learned for operational and embodied carbon.

This talk presents a study of the CoStar Richmond Corporate Campus, where energy modeling played a pivotal role in achieving performance, cost, and carbon goals for a large mixed-use building. The project’s complexity—ranging from high-glazing design to diverse energy demands—was matched by innovative modeling strategies. A key focus was the evaluation of local utility rate structures in conjunction with a 1030 kW photovoltaic system. The modeling team analyzed the financial and operational value of grid-interoperable design, helping the owner make informed decisions. This case illustrates how integrated modeling can support energy savings, carbon reduction, and long-term financial performance.

Ecoworks Studio was tasked with helping a university develop a comprehensive strategy to achieve Net-Zero status for their Student Center. As part of the university’s ongoing sustainability goals, energy modeling played a pivotal role in creating this plan. By calibrating the energy model to reflect the building’s existing energy consumption, the team was able to assess energy reduction opportunities across building operations, along with systems and equipment optimizations. Additionally, the model helped estimate the size of renewable energy systems required to reach Net-Zero targets.