Pre-design capital intelligence for architects. The data needed to make the case for responsible design has always existed — scattered across energy codes, certification programs, insurance schedules, and contract documents. Arch Datum connects it before the owner's decisions become expensive. Developed by Jeff Seabold, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, AIA National Board Director 2026–2028.
Three-column comparison of code minimum vs. high-performance vs. premium. Advanced framing cascade, HVAC right-sizing first-cost offset, certification-specific ROI, 5/10/15/20/25-year savings. Architect mode and owner mode. Solar sizing included. jsPDF architect-quality report export.
Open ROI Calculator →Zone-adjusted upgrade recommendations across 14 categories: site, foundation, envelope, MEP, resilience, regenerative design, biophilic, AIA 2030, and WELL. Relevance dims lower-priority strategies by climate zone. Owner benefit rows in plain language.
Open Design Strategies →Mass timber, bio-based materials, material health (HPD/Declare/C2C), embodied carbon reduction, sustainable sourcing, finish materials, insulation comparison, and LBC Materials Petal guidance. EC3 tool integration and Red List avoidance checklist.
Open Material Strategies →Existing conditions inputs (envelope R-values, HVAC SEER, panel size), building vintage auto-defaults, 12-month utility bill or estimated baseline. Full phased plan output: total scope, 3-tier, and 5-tier phases. Occupancy impact rating per phase. jsPDF report export. IRA §25C credits.
Open Residential Retrofit →ASHRAE Level 1/2/3 audit framework with measure gating by audit depth. EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager score as baseline. §179D commercial buildings deduction ($2.50–$5/sqft). CBECS baselines by building type and vintage. LEED EB:O+M certification path output.
Open Commercial Retrofit →Retrofit-specific strategies across 8 categories: envelope sequencing, HVAC upgrades, lighting and controls, water efficiency, electrical panel and EV, resilience hardening, regenerative additions, and existing-building certification paths. Zone relevance and owner benefit rows included.
Open Retrofit Strategies →Complete reference for LEED v5, FORTIFIED 2025, ENERGY STAR, DOE ZERH, NGBS, Phius, Living Building Challenge, ILFI Zero Carbon, and Wildfire Prepared Home — plus existing-building paths: LEED O+M, Phius EnerPHit, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, NGBS Remodeling, FORTIFIED Retrofit, WELL v2, and LBC Renovation. Insurance incentives by climate zone.
Open Certification Library →Construction classification impact on premiums, documented carrier discount ranges by upgrade type, and IBHS FORTIFIED program guidance. ISO ratings and state-mandated discount schedules by hazard type. Applies to both new construction and retrofit projects.
Open Insurance Tool →Eight-question decision tree recommending the right AIA contract documents for your project type, budget certainty, and delivery method. Sustainable project exhibits for certification projects. Arch Datum-specific negotiation watchpoints. Applicable to new construction and renovation projects. Not legal advice.
Open Contract Guidance →
The data needed to make the case for responsible design has always existed — but it lived in silos.
LEED requirements in one place. FORTIFIED incentives in another. RSMeans cost data locked behind a
paywall. AIA contracts in a separate document library. Manual J in a different software tool.
Insurance discount data buried in state statutes.
No single resource connected these pieces into a decision-support framework that an architect could
use at the beginning of a project to show an owner the real cost, the real return, and the right
contract structure.
Arch Datum is an attempt to build that bridge.
What it doesn't calculate: precise HVAC tonnage (use CoolCalc.com), HERS index (use HERS rater), ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager scores (use EPA), certified LEED points (use GBCI), or project-specific legal advice.