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DesignColumbus- March 16, 2026

  • 1.  DesignColumbus- March 16, 2026

    Posted 17 days ago

    I'd like to invite regional people to DesignColumbus, a one-day regional sustainability conference in Columbus, Ohio with a lovely community feel- https://designcolumbus.org/

    Daniel Overby from Indianapolis and I both have sessions on the program- if anyone else will be there, let us know!

    8:00 AM

    (1B) Thinking Inside the Box- Transforming Existing Spaces for New Uses

    Space for much-needed programming can appear in unexpected places, often in the over-looked buildings all around us. Affordably priced, this real estate presents opportunities for creatively thinking inside the box while reducing total carbon consumption. Comparing four case studies-1) an abandoned drugstore retrofitted to become a much-needed urban day care facility, 2) a mega call center transformed into an innovative public preschool, 3) a big box store reincarnated as a career training center, and 4) a nondescript department store turned church reshaped into an award-winning preschool-demonstrates the potential for not only supportive, safe spaces but also delightful environments for education in these ordinary existing structures. Successful transformations depend on a number of techniques to complete a makeover from cheerless utilitarianism or banal commercialism to joyful space for even the youngest users. Improvements can also be quantifiable in tons of carbon, allowing designers to assess the efficacy of building reuse. Together, these projects make a strong case for using existing building stock to "think inside the box."

    9:20 AM

    (2A) Redefining Performance: How LEED v5 Inspires the Next Generation of Green Design

    As the LEED v5 rating system begins its market rollout, project teams are seeking clarity on how the updated requirements, metrics, and performance pathways will influence documentation, certification strategy and long-term project outcomes. In this advanced session, Kerrie Schueffner, Senior Product Manager for LEED, will provide a detailed examination of the structure and intent of the LEED v5 BD+C, ID+C, and O+M rating systems, with a focus on how the new frameworks improve consistency, measurability, and market alignment across the suite of credits and prerequisites.

    The session will delve into key programmatic updates-including the strengthened linkage between design-phase modeling and operational performance, expanded carbon- and health-related metrics, updated materials evaluation pathways, and refined resilience and equity requirements. 

    Practitioners will gain technical insight into redesigned credit language, performance thresholds, and documentation approaches, as well as guidance on how LEED Online and related tools will support verification and ongoing accountability. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to integrate LEED v5 requirements into project workflows, assess impacts on certification strategy, and provide effective technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams



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    Erin Reilly-Sanders PhD AIA
    Legat Architects
    Columbus OH
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