--- title: How To Implement A Design Charrette description: The history and value of using a design charrette or an eco charrette as part of a sustainable design project. image: https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/file-1524988281-png/images/sustainable-building-charlotte-resized-600.png --- [![carbon 2022 logo](https://www.carbonae.com/hubfs/carbon-ae-horizontal-logo-2.svg "carbon 2022 logo")](https://www.carbonae.com) ![Sustainable design blog for progressive architecture](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gallery/1366_x_500_blog_cover.png?width=1366&name=1366_x_500_blog_cover.png "Sustainable design blog for progressive architecture") # The Sustainable Design Blog ### For the love of beauty, functionality, and the planet Earth ## [How To Implement A Design Charrette](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/bid/112804/how-to-implement-a-design-charrette) Posted by [Carbon Design](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/author/carbon-design) on Wed, Aug 27, 2014 ![](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/hubfs/C%20Mark-3.png?width=35&name=C%20Mark-3.png) Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-design-architecture) # How An Eco Design Charrette Is Used In A Sustainable Design Project. ![sustainable design charrette](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/file-1524988281-png/images/sustainable-building-charlotte-resized-600.png?width=175&height=117&name=sustainable-building-charlotte-resized-600.png)One of the tools we use at [Carlson Studio Architecture](https://www.carbonae.com/) to design high performance sustainable buildings is the Eco Design Charette.  This is an intense half day or longer where all participants of a project focus on design ideas for efficient use energy, water and resources in the new sustainable design building project. A **Charrette** is a French word meaning “little cart”.  In the Beaux Arts in Paris in the 19th century, proctors would collect the work of all the apprentices at the deadline hour with their little carts.  **The word conveys a sence of an intense effort to finish a task before the deadline.** Today a Charrette can be called a workshop, a planning session, a collaborative meeting, a high performance design tool, an integrated sustainable design process, an intensive interaction of all the players on the project.  The charrette is a tool for moving the project through phases of discovery and design quickly and efficiently.  The focus is on creativity within a structured framework.  **A charrette brings the right people, with the necessary skills, together to make decisions in a short period of time.** - Goals are created and refined.   - Measurable objectives are established. A typical Charrette agenda may look like this: Introductions- All self-introduce Who you are, what your role is. ![Sustainable construction resized 600](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/file-1525093796-png/images/sustainable-construction-resized-600.png?width=93&height=93&name=sustainable-construction-resized-600.png)**Roles and responsibilities:** Facilitator:  A facilitator is “a neutral servant of the people who focuses on guiding without direction, bringing about actions without disruption, helping people self-discover new approaches and solutions to problems, knocking down walls, while preserving structures of value, and above all, appreciating people as people.”  **Definition by Bob Kelsch, [The Art of Facilitation.](http://www.valueadding.com/index.php/commercials/our-services/facilitation)**[**The Art of Facilitation.**](http://www.valueadding.com/index.php/commercials/our-services/facilitation) The facilitator sets the stage, ground rules, and record the ideas.  Charrette attendees provide the content. **Ground Rules for a successful Charrette:** **•    Dignify others** **•    Be open and honest** **•    Eve****ryone participates** **•    All perspectives are of value** **•    One conversation at a time** **•    Focus on ideas and issues, not individuals and behaviors** **•    Seek to understand and then to be understood** **Building Consensus** **Consensus means- Everyone agrees- RIGHT????  NO, it means….** **•    I had the opportunity to share my opinions** **•    I agree that the decision was arrived at fairly and openly** **•    I will support the decision (even if it is not my preferred choice)** Once everyone gets on the same page and know the ground rules, the Integrated Design process can begin in earnest.  Steps may include: 1. Review of project design parameters 2. Site features, project size, budget, and schedule 3. Establish project’s fundamental goals **SWOT analysis**                              Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats Establish Design Criteria         -     List up to 10, prioritize and rate criteria -     Objective, subjective, qualitative, quantitative Identify High performance design strategies and review LEED checklist as a tool to lead the discussion.  Review: 1. Sustainable Site 2. Water 3. Energy & Atmosphere 4. Material and Resources 5. Indoor Environment Quality 6. Regional Priorities 7. Innovation  8. Recap LEED checklist Break out groups to dive in deeper to specific topics **Final Report/Summary at end of Charrette, including                ** **1.    Action Items / Next steps** **2.    Evaluate the day** **3.    Celebration** ## For more information:                         [![Ask An Expert](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/42364/f52571df-81a0-410e-9976-3f6301c4ab8c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/42364/f52571df-81a0-410e-9976-3f6301c4ab8c)                           Carlson Studio Architecture in Sarasota Florida was selected to design the “[2009 HGTV Green Home](http://www.carlsonstudio.org/projects/---public/hgtv-2009-green-home/)” which was toured by thousands and viewed by millions on TV and the Web. Carlson Studio Architecture has sought out to design sustainable projects throughout the United States and currently celebrates one of the highest numbers of LEED certified projects in the region. We are truely an expert resource at your disposal and encourage all non-profit and other organizations researching sustainable design or a LEED accredited architect to connect. Topics: [Eco Charrette](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/eco-charrette) ## CELEBRATING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH DESIGN Welcome to the Carlson Studio Architecture blog - built for design enthusiasts and lovers of our planet. ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [LEED (55)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed) - [green (42)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green) - [carlson (38)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/carlson) - [usgbc (34)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/usgbc) - [sarasota (31)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sarasota) - [architecture (29)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/architecture) - [Michael (20)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/michael) - [award (16)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/award) - [Green Design (14)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green-design) - [Sustainable (13)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sustainable) - [Sustainable Design (13)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sustainable-design) - 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