Den is a unique company.
We are carbon neutral, uncommon
among architecture firms.

The environmental costs of excessive printed material are a primary factor in the graphic design of our stationary. We have carefully selected a letterpress shop that produces exquisitely crafted hand-made work, minimizing the use of carbon-emitting energy while giving an inimitable hand-made touch to our presentation materials. The logo is purposefully inkless, while the remaining text is small in size and very thin in terms of the selected typeface. The paper specified for our stationary is made of 100% recovered cotton, with not a single splinter of wood.

The energy to run, support, and maintain the web site you are now browsing is all produced directly from the sun. It is 100% natural, renewable, pollution-free, and unlimited. Our web-hosting company prides itself, as much as we do, in being on the cutting edge of sustainability. Our website design facilitates navigation and reduces browsing time since you will find what you want right away, and won't spend countless carbon-emitting hours doing so.

The carbon emissions from this office are 100% offset by Green-E certified renewable energy credits (RECs) and verified emissions reductions (VERs) from wind, biomass, small hydro-electric, and geothermal sources. In the office, we coordinate all work with our 100% LEED acredited staff via email, internet conferencing, and spontaneous physical meetings, all without the need to commute, waste paper, or expend resources unnecessarily. We find this to be a very efficient way to work, since it reduces all sorts of redundancies in space, equipment, and personnel. In addition, we outfitted our office with recycled furniture and supplies.

Our office is carbon neutral, and that includes our designs too. Project per project, we calculate approximately how much energy is used and we offset that with the purchase of renewable energy credits. We make it a point to design projects with local building materials. Of course, this isn't always possible, but we do our best to research the availability of local sources. We consider the area's climate before we design - it makes buildings more habitable. Helping us along the way are some of the best environmental engineers in the world. These are the guys that bridge the gap between science and architecture, and they are our friends. They allow us to confirm our preliminary assumptions and tweak our designs to make them more efficient and comfortable. In our previous professional experience, we've had the pleasure to work with Büro Happold (New York City), Battle McCarthy (London), RWDI (Guelph), and Busby & Associates (Vancouver).

A minimum of 1% of the firm's yearly income is donated to carefully selected A+ top-rated non-profit organizations. These charities represent the principles within the triple bottom line theory, which refers to a balance of ecological, social, and financial factors for a sustainable future.

Rainforest Alliance is dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity within the world’s rainforests by transforming land use laws, business practices and consumer behavior.

Conservation International focuses on the preservation of high-value ecological hotspots around the globe, including partnerships with indigenous tribes and local non-profits.

Oceana promotes the health and sustainability of our oceans through focused, strategic campaigns against destructive fishing practices, water-borne pollution, and the demise of endangered marine species.

The Hunger Project is committed to ending world hunger. The organization mobilizes grass root communities in developing countries though health, education and advocacy programs.

We partner with like-minded businesses, third-party certification providers, and government organizations to promote our common environmental values. The least we can do is share our thoughts and feelings about the planet. Together, we can build a brighter future.

The US Green Building Council is the certifying organization that invented the LEED rating system to promote sustainability through green design, construction, and operation of buildings.

Renewable Energy Choice is a company dedicated to distributing renewable energy options in the form of renewable energy credits and verifiable emissions reductions to business and individuals.

The 2030 Challenge is a voluntary promise from the architecture community to reduce building-related carbon emissions to zero by the year 2030 through the use of sustainable design strategies and renewable energy.

The Living Building Challenge is an advanced certification process by which architecture, through transformative design, creates a future that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.

Aiso is a web-hosting business that utilizes 100% solar energy to power its facilities, administrative offices, and computer servers. In the process, it helps fight pollution and conserve our natural resources.

The Designers Accord is an international alliance of designers, educators, researchers, engineers, and corporate leaders that work in unison to create a positive environmental and social impact.