ABSTRACT
Sustainable building design is a multidisciplinary practice that includes the integration of social, economic, cultural and environmentally related aspects. Understanding sustainable building design involves recognizing how these pillars form a critical nexus that must be addressed simultaneously to create more equitable and productive urban spaces. A large body of civil engineering and architecture scholarly literature emphasizes practicing environmental and economic sustainability within building design. While reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy sources at the building scale is paramount to fostering healthier societies, there is a growing need to understand that social and cultural sustainability are equally important in cultivating productive and resilient communities. This chapter investigates the building scale by exploring the practice of sustainable building design and the principles that contribute to making a sustainable building.
