Designing Net Zero Energy Buildings

This course begins with a succinct and practical overview of the strategies and tactics for designing net zero energy buildings. It provides a detailed examination that demystifies technical terms, cites building science and uses specific examples from practice.

Other topics covered in the course include building commissioning as a quality control method applied throughout a project and sustainable lighting design, specifically low-energy lighting strategies.

Presenter:
John Kouletsis, AIA, EDAC, Scott Shell, FAIA, LEED AP, John Dale, FAIA, Tom Hootman, AIA, LEED AP, Ron Wilkinson, LEED AP and Mark Loeffler, IALD, IESNA, LEED AP BD&C

Sustainability at the Bronx Zoo: An Owner's Perspective

This 60-minute video demonstrates how the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has created and implemented a holistic strategy for sustainability, and how understanding a client’s perspective on the integration of project development and sustainability enhances an architect's ability to be responsive to their clients' needs. Three case studies of recent projects at the Bronx Zoo illustrate an integrated design approach to diverse projects with vastly different programs and showcase how simplicity can achieve beautiful architecture, green design and serve as a sustainability educational tool that engage over 2 million visitors: a restoration of the historic Lion House that illustrates the challenges of green design in preservation and multiple species clients; the Center for Global Conservation, a new LEED Gold building that is fully integrated into a park setting and speaks strongly to the WCS mission; and the Eco restroom. After multiple years of operation, there are lessons learned on all three that will inform owners and educate architects.

Presenter:
Susan A. Chin, AIA, Vice President of Planning and Design & Chief Architect, Wildlife Conservation Society

Sustainable High Density Affordable Housing

This 60-minute video explores innovative approaches to sustainable, high density, affordable housing through a case study in New York City. Fortune Society's Castle Gardens, a new 113-unit mixed-use supportive and affordable housing development in Harlem, is an innovative response to urgent social needs for affordable housing and for re-integration of the formerly incarcerated into society. Castle Gardens is the result of a partnership between private and non-profit developers, with public funding, which are key elements in the revitalization of low-income urban neighborhoods. Mark Ginsberg, FAIA, LEED AP, discusses how Fortune Society dealt with “Not In My Back Yard” (NIMBY) issues and how the integration of sustainability increased the support of the project within the community. Castle Gardens was one of the first projects approved under the new New York City Building Code and is designed to achieve LEED-NC Gold certification.

Presenter:
Mark Ginsberg, FAIA, LEED AP, Partner, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects LLP