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Climate change is real. Architects have solutions.

Credible scientists give us ten years to be well on our way toward global greenhouse gas emissions reductions in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. Fifty percent of those emissions can be traced to buildings. With proper tools and training, architects can make a difference.

In response to the threat of climate change, Architecture 2030, a non-partisan, national not-for-profit started by architect Ed Mazria AIA, has issued the 2030 Challenge asking the global architecture and building community to reach the goal of carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.
       
The BSA welcomes the AIA+2030 Professional Series, pioneered by sister chapter AIA Seattle, which confronts this challenge and provides tangible steps toward reaching the goal. This ten-part series of intermediate-level professional development courses provides specific ways to make our built environment energy-efficient. The courses include Waste Heat Recovery, Energy Modeling and Active Solar Systems, and cover a variety of techniques and strategies specific to creating the type of buildings we need to be creating in the future.

The AIA+2030 Professional Education Series is approved by Architecture 2030 and by the national American Institute of Architects.

Registration for the series is $1650 ($900 for BSA and AIA members).

Early registration pricing: 10% off until 2/24. $1488; $810 for members.

If you'd prefer to send a check, print and mail a registration form.

 

Series moderator Jim Stanislaski AIA, LEED AP is a senior architect with Gensler, a global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm. After receiving his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University, Jim spent four years in the US Air Force working on major building, environmental and infrastructure projects around the world. Jim’s broad range of sustainable project experience includes intermodal transportation centers, museums, schools, offices and visitor centers. Jim has led several National Park Service projects, including two major adaptive reuse building projects in urban parks. He has served on two National Academies research panels on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction strategies at airports and has spoken at multiple national conferences on airport design and renewable energy. He is currently the Co-chair of the Boston Society of Architects Committee on the Environment.

Sponsored by:

 

Schedule

All sessions are held on Fridays at BSA Space, 290 Congress Street, Boston.

Session I
The 2030 Challenge:
Setting and achieving energy goals with integrated design

March 16
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Integrated design is an important element in the creation of next-generation 2030 Challenge compliant buildings. In this session, we will explore the Integrated Design Process (IDP) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). We will explore collaborative strategies that can achieve the targets outlined in the 2030 Challenge, and how this process can be used as a roadmap throughout the design process. In particular, we will examine the utility of IDP in defining core, early design decisions such as building form and orientation.
   
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • explain how the Integrated Design Process differs from traditional design

  • identify specific characteristics of Integrated Design and its implications building energy performance

  • summarize the potential benefits gained by employing the Integrated Design Process

Session speaker Chad Reilly AIA is an associate principal at CBT and has 17 years of experience in architectural design. He has worked on a number of CBT’s large-scale civic projects including the renovation of the John Adams Courthouse and the expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in association with Foster + Partners of London. Chad is a prominent force behind CBT’s integration of energy modeling and BIM software into the firm’s work, and has been instrumental in integrating the use of innovative software such as IES (Integrated Environmental Software) and Ecotect into CBT’s design process. He is currently overseeing the Science Facility Modernization and Expansion project at Fitchburg State University done entirely in BIM and presented the project’s unique Building Performance Modeling process at Tradeline’s 2011 College and University Science Facilities conference. Chad serves on the Boston Society of Architects’ Committee on the Environment and Integrated Project Delivery Committee, as well as the Town of Needham’s Design Review Board. He received a Master of Architecture from University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts of Harvard University.

 

Session II
Getting to 60:
The power of targets and load reduction

April 13
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

The goal of the 2030 Challenge® is to create buildings that are designed to meet a fossil fuel, greenhouse gas emitting, energy performance standard of 60% less than the regional (or national) average for that building type now, with the standard rising to a 70% reduction in 2015 and incrementally increasing 10% in efficiency every five years until 2030, when the goal of zero emissions is met. One of the more compelling aspects of dramatic energy reductions is the mounting evidence that if done well, such ambitious goals can actually be done with little or no added costs. This session will explore the use of EPA’s Target Finder (ENERGY STAR) to establish design targets and metrics, such as Energy Use Intensity (EUI). The session will include multiple examples of projects that have achieved exemplary energy performance, offer approaches for incorporating targets into the design process, and explore how providing targeting and EUI information can be a value-added service for design firms.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • describe the energy/carbon objectives of the 2030 Challenge
  • use the Energy Star Target Finder tool to set an Energy Use Intensity target for a project
  • summarize the concept of Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and describe why it is an important tool for setting energy targets

Elizabeth Galloway is a civil engineer and energy efficiency specialist with seven years of experience and a member of SMMA’s sustainable design core team. Her focus is to create sustainable development through an integrative architecture and  engineering design process. She is also directly involved with energy modeling, research, and LEED project support. Elizabeth holds a master’s degree in Atmosphere and Energy from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Stanford University. Her graduate studies focused on sustainability in the built environment including energy efficient buildings, integrated building design, renewable power systems, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

WSP Flack + Kurtz Senior Vice President Allan Montpellier PE, LEED AP is managing director and principal-in-charge of the Boston office, where he is responsible for managing day to day operations, contractual matters, and ensuring that quality control standards are met. Allan is a mechanical engineer and a champion for sustainability, with a focus on integrated systems, innovative alternatives and sustainable design strategies. He has been involved in the design of mechanical systems for academic, historical, commercial, hotel/hospitality, residential, cultural, retail and government facilities. Allan was the Principal-in-Charge for the Tacoma Center for Urban Waters project, which includes water sample trace testing laboratories and office support space designed to meet high energy and water conservation standards and LEED Platinum requirements.

 

Session III
Accentuate the positive:
Climate responsive design

May 11
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Conventional building design presumes that a building’s energy will be imported in the form of electricity and fuel. Integrated design accounts for on-site resources, as well as minimizing unwanted environmental conditions. In this session, we’ll explore using climate data and site characteristics to conduct a Site Resource Inventory to inform building design and lower building energy loads. This will set the stage for future sessions that will address specific strategies in more detail.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • identify building form and orientation strategies
  • implement climate responsive design and identify building energy loads
  • understand site and climate factors as it relates to building performance

 

Marcus Springer RIBA LEED AP BD+C is an architect with over twenty years experience in the design of institutional, commercial and residential buildings. He is the co-founder and owner of Springer Architects, an international design firm, and Linnean Solutions, a consulting firm focusing on performance data-driven financial and environmental efficiency strategies for institutional and commercial building portfolio owners.  He specializes in environmentally responsible and energy efficient design and construction.  He is a LEED Accredited Professional and is a Registered Architect in the U.K.

 

Session IV
Skins:
The importance of the thermal envelope

June 8
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

The building skin is the critical interface between occupant comfort and outdoor climatic conditions. A high performance building requires a high performance envelope, one that responds to exterior environmental impacts at various times of the year. This session will explore design, material and technology approaches to wall and window assemblies, from straightforward low cost methods to advanced double skinned wall applications. We will also address moisture issues associated with various wall insulation approaches.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • identify critical elements of the thermal envelope responsible for building energy consumption
  • specify strategies for minimizing thermal bridging
  • understand the architectural elements, materials, and construction opportunities for designing a high performance thermal envelope

Joseph Lstiburek, B.A.Sc., M.Eng., Ph.D., P.Eng., a principal of Building Science Corporation and adjunct professor of building science at the University of Toronto, is a building scientist investigating building failures and an internationally recognized authority on moisture-related building problems and indoor air quality. He is also an ASHRAE Fellow. He is a noted authority on energy-efficient construction techniques and heads one of four Building America program teams for the U.S. Department of Energy. He developed the Air Drywall Approach to air barriers (ADA) and is a former director of research of the Housing and Urban Development Association of Canada. He has written numerous books and technical papers on building construction and has conducted forensic investigations and served as an expert witness on building failures all over the U.S. He is an expert in the areas of rain penetration, air barriers, vapor barriers, air quality, durability and construction technology.

Dr. Lstiburek received an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s degree in civil engineering and a doctorate in building science at the University of Toronto. He has been a licensed Professional Engineer since 1982.

 

Session V
Aggressively passive:
Employing passive systems for load reduction

July 13
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Properly designed, a building captures existing resources such as light, wind, and solar radiation to provide for the comfort and needs of occupants. Passive systems work in concert to allow the building to manage energy demand through design. This session will build on the concepts introduced in Sessions 3 and 4 to flesh out a holistic strategy to designing passive systems.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • define passive systems and identify specific elements of a passive design
  • appraise the effectiveness of various passive strategies based on a site’s available resources
  • determine which of a suite of strategies will be most likely to be successful on a particular site

Matthew Payne leads the East Coast practice of Built Ecology, WSP Flack + Kurtz's specialist sustainable design service. Built Ecology focuses on high performance building design in the areas of comfort, energy and water. Matthew achieves exceptional performance through innovative application of existing and emerging technologies, enhancing the outcomes of architectural and engineering systems. Central to his work is the identification of ecologically sustainable design opportunities. Matthew provides project design guidance, detailed performance analysis and design integration advice. He has led large mixed-use developments through environmental design and optimization to integrate world-class sustainable design into highly acclaimed projects, such as Central Park in Sydney. Matthew has also led climate change adaptation research and analysis in the U.K. for heritage-listed buildings and Great Ormond Street Hospital. He has presented his work in a number of forums including the Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference (PLEA) in Geneva and the Green Building and Design Conference in Melbourne.

Session VI
Illuminating savings:
Daylighting and integrated lighting strategies

August 10
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Lighting constitutes 29 percent of a typical American office building’s energy load. Proper lighting is also critical to occupant comfort and productivity—and an exploration of daylighting and efficient artificial lighting is and of itself an exploration of integrated design. This session will explore the nature of natural light as part of a site’s resource inventory, and identify strategies for maximizing access to beneficial light while controlling for glare and unwanted heat gain. It will couple this discussion with the latest research and application of artificial lighting choices designed to meet residual lighting needs.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • evaluate various building forms and orientations for optimal daylighting potential
  • compare competing designs to determine the most effective approach to daylighting
  • assess a lighting scheme for its compatibility with an accompanying daylighting design

 Chin Lin AIA, LEED AP has fueled a career focus on green design with keen personal interest in innovation and sustainability. He is committed to proving that green design can be practical and financially feasible for schools and public buildings, and that cutting edge sustainability can be achieved without disregarding the bottom line. His work has incorporated “big ticket” green technologies like photovoltaics and wind power to great success, and he has helped fund this work through over $2.5 million in grants and utility rebates to clients including the Mary E. Baker School in Brockton, an MTC Green Schools Grant recipient and one of the first schools to attain MassCHPS certification. Chin understands that sustainable design is as much about fine-tuning details to achieve maximum efficiency as it is about employing the most current technology. His careful calibration of Brookline Town Hall’s award-winning interior lighting system required no additional equipment investment, but reduces the building’s energy use by 12-14% for the life of the building.

 

Session VII
Right-sized:
Equipment and controls for super-efficient building system

September 7   
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

After designing for maximum passive use of site resources and mitigating energy loads, the next step to a breakthrough building is properly sized equipment and employment of advanced controls. This session will explore the concept and application of designing and specifying equipment and controls for buildings that are already designed to take care of themselves, and need mechanical intervention only during periods of peak demand. Systems such as hybrid natural-mechanical ventilation systems and other approaches to engineer the mechanical system to be as small (efficient) and effective as possible will be explored.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • describe and apply right-sizing as it pertains to passive energy conservation strategies
  • utilize controls to optimizing the efficiency of equipment
  • incorporate energy efficient strategies to maintain occupant comfort

Chris Schaffner, PE, LEED is a Leed Fellow and founder and principal at The Green Engineer.

  

Session VIII
Site power:
Renewable energy opportunities

October 12     
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

The ultimate goal of the 2030 Challenge is fossil fuel free buildings by the year 2030. As buildings approach zero for their carbon footprint, on-site renewable energy sources become a key element to the strategy. As the lower up-front cost conservation and efficiency measures are exhausted, renewable energy emerges as the final step to reaching aggressive carbon elimination goals. This session will explore the relationship between conservation and renewable energy, and explore current renewable energy opportunities, both onsite and offsite systems, such as combined heat and power and local district energy (valuable for load sharing).

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • describe the technology behind major on-site renewable energy strategies for buildings
  • propose an appropriate renewable energy strategy based on site characteristics and resources
  • enumerate the life cycle costs and benefits of on-site renewable energy
  • understand how district energy can provide thermal and electric services and balance neighborhood loads

Luke McKneally AIA, LEED AP is a senior project manager at Solar Design Associates with over 18 years of design experience. He specializes in energy-efficient, environmentally responsive design and the use of renewable energy in buildings. Luke is currently coordinating the solar engineering on two of the first Zero Net Energy Buildings for the state of Massachusetts, the North Shore Community College Allied Health Building and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Headquarters.

Steven J. Strong, Solar Design Associates president and founder, leads a group of architects and engineers dedicated to designing environmentally responsive buildings and pioneering integrated renewable energy systems--especially solar electricity. Steven has represented the U.S. on the International Energy Agency’s Solar Electricity in the Built Environment expert working group for eight years and has served as an advisor on energy and environmental issues to five governors, eight U.S. senators and four presidential candidates and many electric utilities. Steven designed and directed installation for three White House solar energy systems and a ‘solar skin’ for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. He is currently working on multi-megawatt solar projects at U.S. embassies in Africa, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, as well as providing engineering solutions for zero net energy projects such as the Allied Health Building at North Shore Community College in Danvers.

Mark Walsh-Cooke PE, LEED AP BD+C is principal and group leader for the Boston office of international engineering firm Arup. He brings twenty-five years of experience in mechanical engineering design, analysis and construction, and has particular experience in sustainable and environmentally responsible design including low energy design, renewable energy systems, natural ventilation and thermal performance of buildings. In addition to being a member of several professional associations, Mark is an elected Overseer of the Boston Architectural College and a member of the Massachusetts Zero Net Energy Buildings Advisory Council.

 

Session IX
The hand-off and staying in shape:
Operations, maintenance and education

November 9
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Design intent is important, but at the end of the day, how the building actually performs is really what matters. The closer the match between predicted and observed performance, the more likely a client will be happy. This session will explore the tools available to an architect to help match performance with expectations, including building commissioning, maintenance staff and occupant training, and building performance monitoring. Using building performance data to validate and improve on design and construction decisions will also be explored—providing a strong tool for iterative learning and innovation.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • explain the benefits of monitoring, evaluation, and education to design firms, clients, and building occupants
  • explain and advocate for commissioning on projects
  • instruct building maintenance and operations staff on optimizing building performance

 

Session X
Putting it all together:
Achieving 2030 goals on the project and at the office

December 14 
8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Success with advanced energy performance projects requires not only a detailed understanding of the individual strategies involved, but also a strategic understanding of the architect’s role in the design and construction process and how to orchestrate an already dauntingly complex process. This session revisits the integrated design and target creating process, and then looks outward to contextualize the architect in the larger environment of the project and—equally important—the firm. Key to the success of the 2030 Challenge is movement from learning to action. This session will examine the movement from in-class exercise to on-site implementation. Additionally, the session will provide tools for helping your firm institutionalize the creation of high-performance buildings and becoming a change agent within your community.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:

  • set energy performance targets early to inform design objectives
  • justify the inclusion of integrated energy efficiency strategies in projects
  • teach other design professionals in their firm and community about advanced energy efficiency strategies for buildings

Michael R. Davis FAIA, LEED AP is a principal and vice president at Bergmeyer Associates, Inc. He is the 2013 President of the Boston Society of Architects and former BSA Public Policy Commissioner and Co-Chair of the AIA Massachusetts Government Affairs Committee. Mike has served on Boston Mayor Menino’s Green Building Task Force and Massachusetts Governor Patrick’s Net Zero Energy Building Task Force, and advises the Boston Redevelopment Authority as Acting Chair of the Boston Civic Design Commission. He is currently an overseer and member of the Faculty of the Boston Architectural College and is on the advisory boards of the Boston Foundation for Architecture and the Green Roundtable. His recent projects include a new LEED-registered facility for Hostelling International Boston in an adaptively-reused historic building, and a deep-energy retrofit of public housing units for the Boston Housing Authority at the Cathedral Family Development. He blogs about his firm’s first year of AIA 2030 Commitment compliance reporting at mikedavisfaia.wordpress.com.

 Donald Watson FAIA is an architect and author. His current focus is community and regional planning for climate risk preparedness and resilience. He was Visiting Professor at Yale School of Architecture, where he was Chair of the Environmental Design Program (1970-1990) and Professor and Dean of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1990-2000). He received the 2008 Leadership Award U.S. Green Building Council as a AIA/COTE founder and the 2002 Distinguished Professor Award Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. Among many books, he is editor of Time-Saver Standards for Urban Design, McGraw-Hill (2002) and co-author with Michele Adams, P.E. of Design for Flooding: Architecture, Landscape and Urban Design for Resilience to Climate Change.

 

All sessions are held on Fridays at BSA Space, 290 Congress Street, Boston.

 

Registration for the series is $1650 ($900 for BSA and AIA members).

If you'd prefer to send a check, print and mail a registration form.