Whitney Architecture provides design, permit, and construction documents for a wide range of residential and commercial projects from small kitchen remodels to multi-unit, mixed use buildings.

We remain available and responsive during the construction process for all projects. Quality of design, regardless of the scope of the project, is a top priority to ensure longevity, functionality, and minimal maintenance, while always keeping budget in mind. From the initial meeting to project completion, our goal is to enrich our clients’ lives through thoughtful and inspired consideration of space, lifestyle, and quality.

 

Sustainability

Environmental responsibility is also very important to us. We incorporate Passive House, Built Green, and LEED principles for sustainability in our designs. We are secure in our knowledge of sustainable design and building practices and this sensibility transfers to all aspects of our business.

 

Passive House

Whitney architect and expert in sustainable design, Markus Kolb, is a founder of the Passive House Northwest organization and a Certified Passive House Consultant.

Passive House is the world’s leading standard for energy efficient construction, with the promise of slashing the heating energy consumption of buildings by an amazing 90%!  It combines building enclosure efficiency and passive solar strategies in a system for designing and building cost effective, comfortable, energy efficient buildings.   A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc.

The major components are:

-Super-insulated envelope

-Ultra-high-performance windows

-Airtight construction (0.6 air changes /hr at 50 Pascals)

-Eliminating or reducing thermal bridging

-Heat-recovery ventilation

-Using passive heat sources (solar of course, but also equipment, lighting, and occupants).

Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in projects in every climate zone around the world, ranging from single family homes to very large commercial and institutional structures. More than 20,000 examples have been completed worldwide.

For more information, please visit:  www.passivehouse.us, or www.phnw.org/