The AIA+2030 Professional Series Goes National

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A new website and a national rollout for the AIA+2030 Professional Series™

Architecture 2030 and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Seattle have unveiled a nationwide program to prepare architects and designers for the new energy future.

The AIA+2030 Professional Series is coming to seven major AIA chapters across the country in 2011 in order to provide critical training for building design professionals on meeting the 2030 Challenge targets.

The program, which was developed by AIA Seattle and Architecture 2030 in partnership with BetterBricks and the City of Seattle, has already enjoyed enormous success in Seattle, with sold-out sessions in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, the series will be offered in Seattle again, along with Atlanta, Denver, Idaho, Houston, Portland, and Washington, D.C.

“Together we share a commitment to helping our members make a difference through good design. Nowhere is this more important than in the area of energy and greenhouse gas reduction.”
Lisa Richmond
Executive Director, AIA Seattle

The Series consists of 10, four-hour sessions taught by regional design professionals and educators, each exploring the various design strategies and technological applications needed to meet the 2030 Challenge targets and create environmentally resilient buildings. Professionals leave with practical information on designing next-generation buildings, which in turn provides firms with the skills needed to compete for federal, state, and local projects.

“The AIA+2030 Professional Series training is critical for architects and designers. Building Sector professionals need the tools to implement the 2030 Challenge targets because its coming and its coming fast.”
Edward Mazria
Founder and Executive Director, Architecture 2030

AIA Denver and AIA Portland will inaugurate the rollout, launching their series in January 2011. To learn more, visit www.aiaplus2030.org.

To learn how you can bring the AIA+2030 Professional Series to your local AIA chapter, contact Program Manager, Cassandra Delaune, at cdelaune@aiaseattle.org.

“One of the most significant and usable workshop programs I have seen so far for actually incorporating the specifics of Architecture 2030 into our work.”
AIA+2030 Professional Series Participant

Watch the AIA+2030 Professional Series testimonial video here.

Additional Cost? What Additional Cost?

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By Edward Mazria, Architecture 2030

Red Herring

Is the Cost Question a Red Herring?I have been asked many times, “How much will it cost to implement the 2030 Challenge targets?”

My answer is always the same. The question to ask is, “How much will I save if I meet the 2030 Challenge targets?”

Let me explain…

When designing a building, hundreds of decisions and choices will be made. For each decision or choice there are hundreds, maybe thousands of available options, and each option has an associated (and different) cost.

Decisions and choices are made about design – the location of a building on a site, building size, shape, color and orientation, size and location of fenestrations, shading devices, and natural ventilation, heating, cooling and daylighting strategies to name just a few. Design decisions are usually associated with no-cost, low-cost or cost saving options.

Decisions and choices are also made about structure – steel, concrete, wood or metal frame, heavy timber, concrete block, brick, stone, pre-cast concrete or structural insulated panels – and about systems and materials – radiant or forced air heating, exposed or concealed ductwork, lighting systems and fixture types; steel, aluminum, metal clad or wood frame windows with a paint or powder-coat finish, painted gypsum board or thin-coat plaster finish on metal or wood studs; vinyl, rubber or wood wall base; tile, carpet, sheet vinyl or polished concrete floors with integral or applied color; two or three coats of oil or latex paint with a smooth, textured, flat, semi-gloss or high-gloss finish; roofing material, fixtures, caulking, hardware; etc., etc., etc.

Building design is a complex process of trade-offs to meet a specific project budget.

The point is, the only design decisions, choices or trade-off’s that save owners or tenants money every month and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, are ones that ensure a building design meets the 2030 Challenge targets.

Given the latest scientific projections regarding the impacts associated with business-as-usual Building Sector energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, an even more appropriate question to ask might be:

“How much will it cost (in infrastructure, historic and cultural asset losses and human and environmental distress) if we do not meet the 2030 Challenge targets?”

Note: The new 2012 IECC code update (30% better than IECC 2006) will meet the initial 50% energy reduction target of The 2030 Challenge