Sustainable Building Design to Be Focus of Workshop

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The construction and operation of commercial and residential buildings is a costly endeavor, in environmental as well as economic terms. However, a small but growing group of architects and other professionals in the industry are beginning to strive toward environmental sustainability in their buildings and projects.

On April 26-28, both technical and nontechnical issues of this quiet revolution will be explored at the University at Buffalo in "Building for the Future: Sustainable Building Design and Construction Training Workshop."

Sponsored by UB and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), it will be held in the Center for Tomorrow on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Geared toward a broad audience, the conference will be useful for professionals in the field, such as architects, designers, planners, engineers, developers, builders and building-code officials, as well as for community leaders and anyone interested in reducing the impact of the built environment on the natural environment.

One of the first conferences of its kind in the state, "Building for the Future" will feature national experts in sustainable design from Steven Winter Associates of Norwalk, Conn., and Washington D.C. SWA has been involved in many nationally recognized commercial and institutional buildings, including the Four Times Square Tower in New York City, which uses many sustainable design principles.

Also presenting will be Hillary Brown, assistant commissioner, New York City Department of Design and Construction, and Craig Kneeland, project manager for green buildings at NYSERDA.

Walter Simpson, UB energy officer, will describe the university's efforts in the areas of environmental stewardship and building design and retrofit.

The conference will offer instruction in how to apply "green" building strategies, including site selection, building orientation, daylighting and other solar resources, environmentally friendly building materials and ways to create healthy indoor environments.

Participants also will learn about some of the unexpected benefits of sustainable design, such as market performance, reduced costs and resource consumption, higher productivity and improved human health. Also to be discussed will be New York State's proposed tax credit for green design of buildings.

New software programs that enhance the ability to design and evaluate energy-efficient buildings also will be demonstrated.

In conjunction with the workshop, a free panel discussion on "The House of the Future," hosted by the UB School of Architecture and Planning, will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. April 27 in 301 Crosby Hall on the UB South (Main Street) Campus.

According to Simpson, the conference developed from UB's own experience instituting energy conservation and applying green principles in its campus operations.

"We know from our own experience that sustainable design principles can make a huge difference," Simpson explained. "New construction is very resource-intensive and building-design decisions affect operating costs and environmental impacts for decades to come. Now, we have a chance to share some of our knowledge and that of national experts with the rest of the community."

The conference was made possible by NYSERDA's co-sponsorship with UB and by support from 50 other local and statewide organizations.

For information and registration, contact Simpson at 716-829-3535 or 829-2704 (fax) or ecala@facilities.buffalo.edu .

Information and registration information is available at wings.buffalo.edu/services/fac/designworkshop.