Preparing for What’s Next: A Tiered Approach to Resilient Design

Sustainability has been a central topic in the AEC industry for decades, with conversations driven by climate-related issues like climbing temperatures, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. However, alongside sustainability, another key concept has gained traction in the global conversation in recent years: Resilience. 

At its core, resilience is “the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events.” Unfortunately, we’ve certainly seen these types of events happen more frequently in recent years. In 2024 alone, Ohio experienced a record number of tornadoes, historic drought conditions, extreme heat, and widespread power outages affecting more than 900,000 customers. Across the country, similar patterns are unfolding: stronger storms, longer heat waves, and increasing energy needs. 

These trends raise urgent questions for the future of the built environment: Are the facilities we are building today prepared to withstand a catastrophic event tomorrow? Can they remain operational and continue serving our communities in the aftermath? And if not, what strategies can be implemented to ensure that they can? 

At SHP, our response to these pressing questions is action; specifically, we have begun integrating a practical, tiered framework that allows building owners to align resilience strategies with their goals and constraints. We recognize that not every project requires the same level of investment or intervention, but by asking the right questions and scaling our approach, we can help new buildings weather adverse conditions in the future.

In our 125 years of continuous operation, we’ve learned that a “one size fits all” approach to design is rarely the best. Every building project has its own distinct scope, budget, operational demands, and risk profile; that’s why resilient design must be scalable. At SHP, we integrate resilience into our projects based on client interest and risk factors. 

Level 1: Baseline Resilience  

When it comes to designing a new school or library, “resilience” is rarely a headline goal. Most building owners have enough on their plates without the threat of a catastrophic weather event or energy grid failure. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t integrate practical, future-focused resilience strategies into every design. 

It’s this understanding that underpins our “baseline resilience,” the bottom tier of our scalable approach. Even if clients are not explicitly seeking out resilience in their facilities, we will always meet all code requirements for safety, as well as include ”no regrets” best practices that can protect the building’s performance. Some of these measures include:

• Locating building pads and critical systems above flood-prone areas
• Increasing structural wind resistance where appropriate and practical
• Designing for good thermal performance, including insulation and air tightness
• Using envelope assemblies that better manage moisture and reduce leak risk
• Protecting mechanical systems from flooding or freezing
• Incorporating daylight and operable windows to support limited functionality during outages

These strategies often add little or no cost, yet significantly improve long-term durability and survivability.  

Level 2: Enhanced Resilience

For clients who are concerned about the effects of severe weather or disasters, or for those who have sustainability or climate goals that overlap with resilience, we can have a more deliberate conversation around how to design a building that meets their needs. Enhanced resilience focuses on high-impact, budget-conscious strategies, including:

• Designing beyond the 100-year storm threshold
• Using landscape to mitigate wind, prevent snow drift, and shade parking and other key structures
• Structurally hardening a corridor or room to serve as a safe room
• Planning short-term backup power for critical functions
• Improving passive survivability through high-performance envelopes
• Selecting mold-resistant and water-tolerant materials in vulnerable areas

Importantly, this level also involves transparent communication, including sharing hazard data, discussing risk profiles, and offering data-backed options without alarmism.

Level 3: Advanced Resilience  

A smaller percentage of projects will require comprehensive resilience strategies. These may include school districts, libraries, or other organizations that expect their facilities to serve as emergency shelters or critical infrastructure following an adverse event. At this level, we are intentional about embedding resilience at every stage of the design. Strategies may include:

• Integrating ICC 500-compliant storm shelters
• Designing to higher structural importance factors
• Install sensors and alarms for water intrusion
• Providing comprehensive emergency power systems capable of extended operation
• Incorporating renewable energy and battery storage
• Designing for rapid damage assessment and recovery

These strategies can ensure that a building won’t just survive a catastrophic event,  but can actively support the community in the aftermath. More than that, they can become beacons of resilience for others, showcasing what proactive design can achieve.

In an era of increasing climate volatility, resilience should no longer be considered a specialty feature–rather, it’s just smart planning. Many of our projects (like schools and libraries) are long-term public investments that are expected to serve communities for decades into the future; for these institutions, resilience should be considered a financial and operational strategy. In fact, industry research shows that every $1 invested in disaster mitigation can save approximately $6 in future losses. With this scalable approach, our team can embed essential protections in every project while advocating for more comprehensive measures within the facilities that demand them most.