Protective Design and Sustainability—Synergies and Conflicts

In the wake of recent calamitous events at home and abroad, private and public facility owners and operators are increasingly interested in protective design measures that are not prescribed by typical building codes. At the same time, global understanding is increasing of the impacts of climate change, and the related need to integrate sustainable strategies into facility design. The primary goal of protective design is to protect human life, property, and operations by developing specific measures that reduce risk exposure and vulnerabilities while improving resiliency and recovery following an undesirable event. Sustainable design prioritizes resiliency as well, along with environmental, health and wellness, social equity, and economic vitality considerations, to create sustainable environments for current and future generations. This article will discuss the synergies and conflicts between protective design and sustainability, highlighting where they contradict each other and where they might converge towards a shared successful outcome. A typical, conventional USA Federal facility and site will be used as a model to highlight the discussion points in this article. The assessment will start at the site perimeter (the first line of defense), the site design around the facility, the facility enclosures and facade, and finally the facility design.