Innovative Building Design Research Project – Student Handout

Summary

Student Handout: Innovative Building Design Research Project

This student handout guides students through a complete research-to-design project focused on how buildings can reduce environmental impact while improving life for the people who use them. Students start by researching a real COTE Top Ten award winning building and answering structured prompts that require evidence-based responses and citations whenever possible.

In Part 1, students document basic project information and analyze building strategies related to integration across systems, equity and community access, ecosystems and biodiversity, water reduction, economic planning, energy use, well-being, and resource conservation. In Part 2, students apply what they learned by designing their own building concept for their local community, explaining the purpose of the building and justifying their design choices across the same categories. In Part 3, students create an architectural sketch or digital model that includes labeled features, layout, surrounding grounds, and natural elements like trees or gardens.

This handout includes clear submission requirements and rubric categories so students understand expectations before they begin. Teachers can use it as a culminating project in environmental science or as an applied learning activity connected to units on energy use, efficiency, environmental impacts, and human-built systems. For best results, students should complete this handout alongside the full lesson page and teacher guide, which provide pacing support and classroom implementation notes.