William McDonough + Partners is a recognized leader in sustainable design and yet, by its own standards, the firm has yet to produce a truly “eco-effective” building. As designers we are able to articulate what a design needs to do to be truly sustaining. The greatest challenge we face, however, is bridging the gap between these high-end goals and project realities and limitations of budget, resources, schedule, and technology. This seminar will explore this gap, focusing on the firm’s framework for eco-effective design that serves as a roadmap for locating where projects are in relationship to the high-end goals. Examples of the firm’s work, ranging from small-scale projects to conceptual urban design will be shown, with an emphasis on the design principles that guided each project’s development.

    Learning objectives:

• Define high-end performance goals in terms of site, water, materials, energy, indoor environmental quality, mobility, and community
• Demonstrate how to bridge the gap between these high-end goals and project realities and limitations of budget, resources, schedule, and technology
• Discuss how systems like LEED may need to evolve in order to truly address a sustaining future