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“We have to think of buildings as material depots,” says Thomas Rau, a Dutch architect who has been working to develop a public database of materials in existing buildings and their potential for reuse. [...] “Waste is simply material without an identity,” he says. “If we track the provenance and performance of every element of a building, giving it an identity, we can eliminate waste.” — The Guardian
In an opinion piece, Oliver Wainwright writes on how more architecture firms across Europe are exploring methods on preserving, adapting, and reusing existing buildings instead of demolishing them, which hugely create CO2 emissions. But it'll take more than a few progressive architects and... View full entry
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Upstate New York has named Dennis Shelden as the new director for the school's Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE). According to a press release announcing the selection, Shelden will head "a boundary-pushing organization at a critical... View full entry
The University of Oregon is currently seeking applicants for its latest cohort of Visiting Faculty Fellowships in Design for Spatial Justice. The initiative, according to a listing currently featured on the Archinect Jobs board, “will award up to six faculty fellowships in... View full entry
This post is brought to you by LafargeHolcim Foundation Entries in the 6th International LafargeHolcim Awards for Sustainable Construction will close on February 25, 2020. The competition seeks projects by professionals as well as bold ideas from the Next Generation that combine sustainable... View full entry
Now that 2020 is here, many are looking to the new year with optimism and initiative to face the world's pressing issue of climate change. Amid the constant reminders of the globe's current climate crisis, a December editorial piece and report from Nature.com elicits a reason to reflect... View full entry
In Silver Spring, Maryland, the 135,000 square foot building pushes the boundaries of a net-zero building. With its completion in 2018, the building was built in collaboration with United Therapeutics, a biotech company, and Whiting-Turner Contracting. Unisphere. Image © EwingCole... View full entry
Greenhouse gases are still rising globally. Some advocacy groups are demanding that these emissions be eliminated entirely within a decade, requiring a scale of industrial and political mobilization matching or exceeding that of World War II. — The New York Times
In order to clean up the electricity grid by 2030, the scale of construction programs required would be a "national project on an immense scale," The New York Times reports. American workers would need to build about 120,000 new wind turbines and around 44,000 large solar power plants to accompany... View full entry
In an effort to explore the architectural possibilities in addressing sustainability and population density, Luca Curci Architects have imagined Vertical City, a conceptual project proposal for a vertical "city-building" settled in a body of water. The group began by analyzing the... View full entry
Last week the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and its partners released the Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0 which seeks to accelerate the deployment of zero-emissions electric cars, buses and trucks, and charging stations across Los Angeles. "Our Roadmap 2.0 charts a course... View full entry
Although concrete is common building material that's readily available and easy to use, the environmental impact it generates is a costly one, specifically with regards to how it is manufactured. Estimates indicate that every pound of cement produces one pound of CO2 emissions, for example, a fact... View full entry
The Pacific Northwest has become a region many architects and designers are drawn to thanks to its amazing nature, ever-growing tech economy, and its penchant for low-impact and sustainable design practices. Continuing from our regional Spotlight on Seattle coverage Archinect has curated... View full entry
Students may soon have the opportunity to grow plants on top of Schoonover Center, once construction of the green roof is completed...The green roof, which furthers Ohio University’s commitment to sustainability, will serve three purposes: research, education and outreach, all through a cross-disciplinary lens. — The Post
The idea for the project began with Kim Thompson, an assistant professor of instruction in the department of environmental and plant biology, reports The Post. Currently, more than 50 students, faculty members, and other individuals are involved in the project.Natalie Kruse Daniels, associate... View full entry
At the recent Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Atlanta, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) unveiled its vision for the new LEED Positive initiative, a vision that embraces a series of subtle changes to the group's approach to building certification... View full entry
This is by far the busiest road in Dubai, the site of frequent, epic traffic jams that are infamous among commuters...But an ambitious new proposal would see a stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road transformed into an "urban living room" with fumes and congestion giving way to a green, pedestrianized oasis. — CNN
The project, titled X-Space was designed by architects Mouaz Abouzaid and Dima Faraj, and recently won the World Architecture Festival's (WAF) top prize in the Smart Cities category, reports CNN. The two-level project seeks to expand area for pedestrians while reducing area for... View full entry
The Nolla Cabin is a sustainable summer cottage developed by Neste and envisioned by designer Robin Falck. The project is a part of Neste's Journey to Zero initiative that aims to push the world closer to a carbon-neutral existence. The A-frame prototype of the cabin was built in 2018 on... View full entry
