Anni Tilt AIA and David Arkin AIA, LEED AP will present several of their residential projects, featuring a wide variety of alternative building systems. Foremost among these is straw-bale construction. Other examples include rammed earth and PISE (sprayed earth), watershed block (earth masonry units), lime and clay plasters, wood, hempcrete, and light straw clay. They will highlight the pros and cons of working with these systems, including the embodied carbon footprint of each. Integration of renewable energy systems, rainwater catchment and other sustainable techniques will be included as well. Presented as a part of the CRAN Symposium 2016. Arkin, Tilt Explore the 100+ year-old history of bale buildings and the ecological benefits of using straw bales for construction; Know the difference between straw and hay, and what key properties make bales appropriate for building; Understand several different low embodied carbon building systems options, and their pros and cons; Recognize the carbon sequestering potential of earth, wood and straw buildings for future project consideration.

Forest City and the Port of San Francisco have worked together in a public/private partnership through an extensive public participation process to develop a comprehensive plan for the 35-acre waterfront Pier 70 project. The process to date has included more than 50 events that attracted well over 10,000 participants, and produced a concept plan that provides extensive public open space and an innovative concept for a mixed-use, mixed income community. In 2014, the voters of San Francisco approved an increase in the height limit for the site by 73%, and Forest City is now working with urban designers SITELAB urban studio to develop the vision and design guidelines for the public space, streetscapes, and future architecture for the project. The project will provide extensive public benefits, and requires substantial infrastructure and sustainability investments to re-integrate it into the fabric of San Francisco. The presentation and discussion will focus on the team’s community engagement and design approach behind this vision to create a vibrant and active extension of the Dogpatch neighborhood that pays homage to the site’s industrial heritage. This course is provided by AIA San Francisco through a partnership with AIAU. Crescimano, Janos, Jones, Pretzer Inclusive Public Place Making: Develop understanding of suitable and desirable urban open space concepts for higher density communities that maximize public enjoyment of a broad array of active and passive activities and accommodate the full spectrum of the population, especially children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Urban Mixed Use Design: Learn about both the challenges and the benefits of creating mixtures of retail, office, residential, and entertainment or cultural facilities within close proximity to one another to foster a vibrant “24-7” neighborhood.    Be exposed to the precinct, block, and individual building typologies and urban open space precedents that serve as suitable models for designing new mixed use, higher density urban developments. Public Benefits and Participation Methods: Learn about participatory methods and stakeholder influences that shape larger scale urban multi-block developments, and how project developers and their professional planning and design teams manage the process and respond to evolving ideas and influences, with a particular focus on meeting citizen and policymaker expectations concerning public benefits such as open space, cultural amenities, preservation, inclusion of affordable housing, and locally owned businesses. Sustainable Design Methods: Identify methods and techniques used in multi-block higher density mixed-use developments to achieve long term sustainability goals, especially for balancing housing and jobs, reducing dependency on non-renewable resources, and managing storm water in an urban setting.

A building’s design is more than function; it can also convey ideas and affect the mental and emotional state of occupants. Using the example of the new family courthouse in San Jose, California, this course examines how designers can look beyond tradition and trends to create timeless designs. Join us for: • An overview of the courthouse’s history and its need to be family-sensitive, stress-reducing, and enduring • A look at challenges in pricing and construction, involving lessons about planning, design, construction, and commission You will be able to reflect on the value of program-based design problem-solving through which complex institutional buildings are designed.   Baptista, Kilgour, Rothenberg Learn about how unified family court model became a complex building. Understand how the "inside-out" approach can lead to unique design solutions for all types of buildings. See how daylight and sustainable features were prioritized in the design. Observe interactions of a proven integrated client-architect team.

Explore a shining example of the 20th century Modern Movement in. Completed in 1961, Louis Kahn’s Richards Medical Research Laboratory was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 2008. In this session, we’ll examine Kahn’s concept that all architectural elements should be considered in relation to one another when renovating an existing historic building, and how this was applied to redesigning the HVAC systems. Upgrading and replacing the HVAC systems required a comprehensive understanding of the building’s exterior envelope, interior design, structure, and systems. The design solution—developed by a team of architects and engineers—not only meets the functional requirements of environmental control, but also retains the character-defining qualities of Kahn’s design. Chalifoux , Fixler Understand the design approach of the 20th century Modern Movement and how this impacted the design of buildings and engineered systems. Learn about Louis Kahn’s particular design ethos, how this was representative of the period, and how it was manifested in his projects, particularly the Richards Building Examine the importance of a fully integrated design team in the evaluation, design and implementation of a building renovation where architecture and engineering are interwoven as a single design. Investigate the assessment and evaluation tools that can be used to provide consistent data and information to the project team as the design is being developed to help guide the decision-making process regarding systems design, material selection and space planning.  

Water is precious in the Southwest. Throughout the region, past civilizations manipulated water sources to sustain life. Building for desert-based clients, we have repeatedly found inspiration and tectonic guidance in the celebration of water. In this course, we’ll share a history of water consciousness in the architecture of Jones Studio. We’ll then focus on three projects that utilized rainwater to achieve net-zero potable water use. Join us to learn: • How water harvesting technologies can be seamlessly integrated into architecture • How these pragmatic strategies transform buildings at a conceptual level • How to communicate the importance and benefits of investing and installing water harvesting systems Farling, Jones The learner will be able to: Understand that water harvesting can be integrated seamlessly into architecture. Describe the different water harvesting technologies available. Perform the basic calculations required to properly size a rainwater harvesting tank to offset potable water use in a desert landscape. Communicate to a client the importance and benefits of investing and installing water harvesting systems.

In coastal communities, the impacts of hurricanes and earthquakes are exacerbated by sea-level rise and aging infrastructures. This course looks at community actions designed to visualize future impacts, identify critical weaknesses, and identify mitigation measures. We'll explore solutions for building resilient communities. In reviewing case studies, you'll learn: • The pros and cons of hazard mitigation approaches in coastal communities • What qualifies a building or community as "resilient" • Best practices for critical decision-making on development, retrofits, and relocation by incorporating emerging knowledge into project planning The end result from the strategies presented? Resilient buildings and better protected coastal communities. Alvarez, Minnery Upon completion participants will be able to: Compare three specific classes of mitigation approaches to define design criteria and performance criteria for specific projects in the context of expected hazard impacts. Evaluate community-wide or regional issues of vulnerability and risk in order to identify site or project-specific design parameters. Assess community inter-dependencies to then define how the design of a specific project may impact the risk faced by surrounding buildings or facilities and vice versa, allowing them to incorporate appropriate mitigation. Participate in and contribute effectively to the current and growing demand for resiliency and adaptation solutions in coastal communities throughout the United States and abroad.

We all know green is good, but how do we quantify its impact with real metrics? The WorldGBC report, "The Business Case for Green Buildings," summarizes the research into the health, wellbeing, and productivity benefits of green buildings. Further work was needed to build a strong evidence base and present academic research for more-informed business decision-making. A new project was launched that focused on existing and new office buildings, with these key goals in mind: 1. Provide guidance and best practices on features that enhance health, wellbeing, and productivity. 2. Propose metrics for measuring health, wellbeing, and productivity in offices. 3. Scope the development of an online global resource hub for environment professionals. In this course, we'll explore the findings of this report to illuminate the link between smart design and business health. Carroon, Gray, Heider By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to: •    Identify building features that enhance health, wellbeing and productivity. •    Have a working knowledge of existing research into common metrics for measuring health, wellbeing and productivity in offices. •    Understand the global resources that facilitate design of buildings which create healthy productive workplaces. •    Act on the opportunities using metric and certification programs such as the Well Building Design Guide from the Well Building Institute.

The world is just beginning to feel the effects of climate change. Architects must prepare for a changing environment, with tools responding to the need for resilient design in urban and public spaces. Explore leading-edge principles to help you increase the impact and power of your projects on an environmental scale, using real-world projects including: • New Orleans: Low-lying neighborhood tied to architecture, flooding, and ecology • Silicon Valley: EcoDistrict linking downtown development, sea-level rise, and ecological infrastructure • Bangalore, India: Urban density, extreme income disparities, and wastewater • Qui Huang Dao, China: Waterfront brownfield restoration addressing sea-level rise, diminishing freshwater resources, and urban ecology You'll leave this course with a set of replicable tools, frameworks, and strategies for building resilient urban systems, incorporating scale and economics, and designing responsive, site-specific solutions. Barnes, Sarte, Stipsic, Sutto Participants will be able to: Engage in rich conversations with their peers, clients and colleagues around the broader deployment of resilient systems that extend to urban design and architecture. Cite key examples where resilient systems improve project viability. Describe the economic benefit of deploying resilient urban systems. Better collaborate with engineers and other designers to advance new concepts integrating resilience, infrastructure and public space.

Can your buildings stand up to floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters? Will they withstand climate changes and wear-and-tear over the years? Resilient design is about improving how structures respond to outside impacts, from major disturbances like Hurricane Sandy to more subtle, gradual influences. In this cutting-edge course, you'll: • Hear a perspectives from expert panelists. • Review real-world case studies. • Craft a comprehensive agenda centered on resilient design. This course will help you understand the complexities of resilient design so you can clearly communicate them to your clients, and gain the tools and knowledge you need to build structures that stand the test of time. Smith, Wilson Understand and be able to communicate to project teams, clients, and communities the diverse drivers for resilient design today. Be aware of quality resources currently available and under development on regional and national resilient design strategies, drivers, and case studies. Know who the leading authorities are in the different aspects of resilient design. Provide a process for design professionals to understand and address the multiple aspects of resilience in their work. Promote resilient design to become an area of distinction for architects in their work. Provide a framework for design professionals to prioritize their own measures related to resilience based on their region, client types, community and personal interests.

The “flipped curriculum” is shaping educational design/programming as technology and new methodologies of instruction are inverting traditional teaching processes. The "sage on stage” lecture style teaching is no longer the norm. Instead, collaborative, “hands on” learning-by-doing is becoming the standard by which 21st Century students are educated. This course will examine the role that these new strategies and technologies play in the “schools of the future,” and how they are manifested in K-12 and higher education learning environments. What types of spaces are needed to support these new paradigms in education? How can teaching environments support and facilitate a more active style of instruction? Bachmann, Kanda, Rolland, Syracuse •    Identify the key issues and trends that are driving the design of K-12 and higher education learning environments. •    Analyze key planning, design approaches, and best practices for creating cutting-edge environments that support the latest innovations in K-12 and higher education, facilitating hands on learning-by-doing. •    Review the methodology for creating a highly collaborative and inclusive planning and design process between the educators and the design team. •    Explore results – what’s worked, what hasn’t.

Health and green go hand in hand—and as an architect, you can make a real, positive difference in the wellness of the communities you serve through eco-friendly design. This exciting course will introduce you to the Green Communities Criteria. A holistic framework developed by Enterprise Green Communities in 2004, the criteria promotes smart growth, energy and water conservation, operational savings, sustainable practices, and public health. To date, the organization has supported the development of 40,000 green and affordable homes. In this session, you’ll review two case studies to find out how you can integrate affordable green initiatives into your practice and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable community. Demers, Runge •    Understand the emerging research base aimed to demonstrate the health benefit of comprehensive green strategies. •    Identify strategies aimed to create healthy and afforable homes that address issues of instability and negative health outcomes. •    Explore how best to utilize a health impact assessment process for afforable housing based on the Mariposa example. •    Identify ways to raise client awareness of the ways in which affordable housing redevelopment decisions impact health.

Hear the definitive history of the development of the garden suburb, a phenomenon that originated in England in the late eighteenth century, was quickly adopted in the United States and northern Europe, and gradually proliferated throughout the world. Today, the principles of the garden city movement are once again in play, as retrofitting the suburbs has become a central issue in planning. Strategies are emerging that reflect the goals of garden suburbs in creating metropolitan communities that embrace both the intensity of the city and the tranquility of nature.  Stern Participants will learn how a well-ordered suburban settlement should be entwined with nature to create a wholesome form of domestic life. Participants will learn about the sensitivity to the environment during the construction process. Participants will be able to discuss the reclamation of brownfields. Learn to identify key public agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders you commonly engage with on your projects that may have interest or capacity in partnering on health impact assessment work.

For many, the platonic form of a house is fixed early on – a gable roof, a front door, a chimney. But while the form and appearance of our dwellings have evolved over time, there is a decided continuity throughout that defines the idea of a ‘traditional’ house. Some homes are motivated by a sense of nostalgia, while other new houses are built in well-established neighborhoods responding to the surrounding strong architectural character. Traditional and familiar forms and materials continue to be both reliable and popular, and the climatic requirements of different regions have long suggested specific architectural responses. You will hear a variety of different perspectives as this roundtable discussion explores what it means to design a new traditional house. Appleton, Khoury-Vogt, Rybczynski, Schafer, III Learn what it is to create a new house informed by traditional examples; from inspiration to design to construction, and how it serves its occupants and its neighborhood. Study ways that the design and construction of a new traditional house can incorporate and be informed by the use of modern materials and methods. Consider the role of traditional design methodologies when renovating and expanding an existing structure. Explore how the design of new traditional houses can respond to local and regional contexts and conditions.

Le Corbusier famously said that ‘a house is a machine for living in.’ It is no surprise that as modern forms and materials have changed the face of our towns and cities, they have had a pronounced impact on the look of our houses as well. Changing lifestyles have produced a reassessment of how we live in our houses, just as concurrent advances in materials, systems, and construction methods have dramatically altered forms and design strategies. The new, innovative, and avante garde - all continue to hold significance in house design, while a new emphasis on local and global sustainability has further changed the composition of modern dwellings. You will hear different perspectives explored as this roundtable addresses what it means to design a new Modern house. Gorlin, Gurney, O'Herlihy, Snow Learn about the design and construction of new houses in Modern stylistic idioms; how they meet the needs of their owners and how they contribute to their environs. Explore ways that traditional forms and building materials can be used in new and innovative ways in a modern context. Examine how the renovation or expansion of an existing house can be transformed by the application of Modern design techniques. Study the role of pre-existing natural and built local conditions in informing the design of a new Modern house.