Committee on the Environment

I'm working on a proposal for an expanded workshop on the Framework Design Excellence for AIA25 in Boston (June 4-7) based on seminars that I've run for AIA Ohio, AIA Columbus, and my last architecture firm. The workshops started with a very brief review of the Framework, its history, and its relationship to awards applications. Then we've split into groups to apply the Framework to 2 or more architectural projects, assigning a number from 0 to 10 for each principle. A google spreadsheet collects the scores. Then we conclude by comparing the scores and discussing our experiences using the Framework as an assessment tool. It's been a thoughtful exploration of the Framework for those unfamiliar with it, as well as a catalyst for discussing the overlaps between sustainability and good design and producing ideas of how we can incorporate sustainability into projects earlier.

If I were to run the workshop at a larger scale, I would need volunteer participants to share a project and work with each group of ~10 participants- maybe as many as 10 volunteers for a group of 100. You would bring some printed photos and plans of a project that you're familiar with and answer questions about the project. No expertise with the Framework is required and a variety of project types and sustainability levels would be ideal (no requirement to be sustainable or net zero or anything). I would be happy to share my slides, tools, and experiences in case you wanted to run something similar for your chapter afterwards.

If you are planning on being at AIA25, would you be willing to lead a small discussion group for the workshop? I have run the workshop in a 75 minute slot, which was a little tight. The alternative would be 2 hours and would leave room for more discussion. I'd be happy to take suggestions on which way to go and how to develop this for a larger audience.

Thank you, Erin

I'm working on a proposal for an expanded workshop on the Framework Design Excellence for AIA25 in Boston (June 4-7) based on seminars that I've run for AIA Ohio, AIA Columbus, and my last architecture firm. The workshops started with a very brief review of the Framework, its history, and its relationship to awards applications. Then we've split into groups to apply the Framework to 2 or more architectural projects, assigning a number from 0 to 10 for each principle. A google spreadsheet collects the scores. Then we conclude by comparing the scores and discussing our experiences using the Framework as an assessment tool. It's been a thoughtful exploration of the Framework for those unfamiliar with it, as well as a catalyst for discussing the overlaps between sustainability and good design and producing ideas of how we can incorporate sustainability into projects earlier.

If I were to run the workshop at a larger scale, I would need volunteer participants to share a project and work with each group of ~10 participants- maybe as many as 10 volunteers for a group of 100. You would bring some printed photos and plans of a project that you're familiar with and answer questions about the project. No expertise with the Framework is required and a variety of project types and sustainability levels would be ideal (no requirement to be sustainable or net zero or anything). I would be happy to share my slides, tools, and experiences in case you wanted to run something similar for your chapter afterwards.

If you are planning on being at AIA25, would you be willing to lead a small discussion group for the workshop? I have run the workshop in a 75 minute slot, which was a little tight. The alternative would be 2 hours and would leave room for more discussion. I'd be happy to take suggestions on which way to go and how to develop this for a larger audience.

Thank you, Erin