Every building sits inside a climate envelope that's shifting. The site you choose, the orientation you set, the grading you approve. All of those decisions carry climate risk that didn't exist when most current codes were written. For PPD, this topic sits squarely inside Objective 1.1: determining the location of building and site improvements based on site analysis, including vulnerabilities and risks associated with climate change.

Climate adaptation in preliminary design means two things. First, you assess what threats a site faces, both current and projected, across the building's intended service life. Second, you select design responses that reduce vulnerability without blowing the budget. That's the core cycle: assess, then mitigate.

Vulnerability assessment starts with data. Local hazard mitigation plans, FEMA flood maps, climate projection tools like the Climate Explorer, and emissions scenario models all feed into a risk profile. Mitigation follows with decisions about building placement, elevation strategies, material selection, and site grading. The architect's role isn't to predict the future. It's to present credible climate data to the client, document the discussion, and make design decisions that account for projected conditions. The standard of care around climate risk is evolving fast, and PPD candidates need to understand where the profession stands right now.