Program: The Business of Architecture

Discarded plastic is piling up around the world and pooling in the ocean drawing increased attention from global corporations, NGOs and consumers. From campaigns & commitments to use less plastic (especially single-use and hard-to-recycle plastic) to initiatives for Building Product manufacturers to make products differently and create better recycling streams, there are many efforts underway to find new solutions that improve the lives of people and our ecosystems. Academic and manufacturing / recycler points of view will showcase the life cycle of plastic building products and explore opportunities for organizations of all sizes to be part of the solution. Presenters will explore and discuss opportunities to develop new business models, innovations & multi-stakeholder approaches.

Program: The Business of Architecture

This course is an in-depth case study starting with the entry of certified wood into the retail market in 1994, fast forwarding to the crescendo of the activist campaigns in 1999 and ending with the 2018 cleaning chemicals policy. Learners will hear the strategic planning and decision making process on proactive sustainable sourcing. The course begins with a brief overview of how a retailer manages scores of sustainability concerns, what are considered to be material issues and how those considerations are prioritized. Additionally, learners will hear how instead of waiting for codes or laws, retailers can set purchasing boundaries for product standards in order that they would have less of an environmental impact than standard products.

Program: Architecture, Design and Building Science

Since organizations like Architecture 2030, AIA, and USGBC have traditionally focused on reducing operational carbon emissions, shifting some of our focus to address the more immediate challenge of embodied carbon requires wide-spread education on the emerging toolbox available to industry professionals.

Program: Architecture, Design and Building Science

This course is a review of current building product transparency schemes and a discussion of how they can be used for environmental and health impact reduction.  In addition, presenters will review key partnerships and important tools related to embodied carbon reduction.

Program: Architecture, Design and Building Science

Elevators are a critical part of urban density. However, as buildings increase in height, the elevator core grows to accommodate the number of elevators required, reducing floor area ratio in a building. Recent innovations in vertical transportation revolve around how many elevators can be in a shaft and how we can dispatch those elevators intelligently. Dual-car systems optimize the elevator core area, while offering the flexibility of independently moving cars. Multidirectional elevators take this paradigm even further, as multiple carriages can be consolidated into fewer shafts, reducing the elevator’s footprint by up to 50%. 

Program: Architecture, Design and Building Science

This course recognizes the flush toilet as one of the biggest users of water and discusses how toilet design is pushing flush technology to develop ways for homes and commercial buildings to conserve water without sacrificing the performance of the toilet. Industry testing protocols and the water-saving capabilities of different technologies are evaluated. Today—as climate change, population growth, and record droughts present an unprecedented strain on our water supply—conservation technology is building awareness to the importance of having the most water-efficient fixtures in a home or business.