To find Oregon's first energy-neutral building, you'll have to venture 45 minutes outside progressive Portland to the Willamette Valley town of Newberg. There you'll find a first step in an effort to change our physical and cultural environments.
Net-zero building is catching on in America, claims Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan, and with a market predicted to grow to $1.3 trillion, it's a building type worth paying attention to. Apparently the AIA agrees. Architects Hennebery Eddy recently received an AIA Gold Medal for Portland Community College Newberg, which "consumes zero energy from the grid--a remarkable feat for a large, institutional building--and it's providing a roadmap for other architects hoping to achieve elusive net-zero ratings," writes Campbell-Dollaghan.
Hennebery Eddy's 13,500-square-foot building - seen as a precedent-setting "flagship project" - is the first, crucial step in an effort to build one of the country's first net-zero campuses. The school uses no air conditioning, relying only on passive ventilation, and is connected to bike and bus lanes to promote alternative transportation and reduce carbon emissions.
Overcoming the technological challenges may be the easy part in developing net-zero buildings. It's the "cultural and behavioral changes that go beyond architecture" - such as getting used to hot summers without AC - that may take some time to catch on.
FULL STORY: As Net-Zero Building Gains Speed, Portland Tests The Limits
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA-to-San Francisco Night Train Closer to Reality
A train operator has entered into formal negotiations with Union Pacific to move the project forward with a projected launch date of 2025.
Lawsuit Aims to Stop Dodger Stadium Gondola
A proposed aerial tram project that would shuttle visitors to L.A.’s Dodger Stadium faces backlash from environmental and community groups.
Why Parking Reform Goes Hand in Hand With More Housing
To achieve the full benefits of ‘missing middle housing’ and make way for small-lot construction, cities must rethink parking mandates.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.