Passive Building in Practice: Design

This is an introductory course for practitioners who have completed PH101: Introduction to Passive Building or already have some experience with Passive House. Moving beyond foundational building science, this session focuses on the architect’s practical responsibility as the central coordinator of a performance-based design.

This short course centers on the systemic interdependence required of passive building, illustrating how early decisions—such as building form—directly impact mechanical requirements and project viability. Participants will learn to navigate an integrated design process where architectural, engineering, and construction workflows co-evolve to meet Passive House standards. Key topics include airtightness requirements, cost optimization, energy budgets, and managing complex building transitions. We also examine the architect’s role in construction-phase quality control and the documentation shifts necessary to translate certification targets from the drawing set to the field. This training provides a framework for navigating the specific architectural challenges of successful Passive House delivery.

Learning Objectives

1. Define the architect’s specific responsibilities as the central coordinator within the integrated design, engineering, and construction workflows required to meet Passive House performance standards.
2. Evaluate the systemic impact of early-stage design decisions, such as building massing, on a project’s energy budget, mechanical system requirements, and overall cost optimization.
3. Identify strategies for maintaining control-layer continuity across complex architectural transitions and high-risk building penetrations, including podiums, shafts, and utility interfaces.
4. Analyze the shifts in documentation and construction-phase oversight necessary to ensure that certification targets and prescriptive specifications are accurately translated from the drawing set to the field.