Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) has launched a new research center that is focused on advancing the energy efficiency of buildings through better design.
The impetus behind the Center for Green Buildings and Cities is what the design school’s dean, Mohsen Mostafavi, describes as a “rapidly urbanizing global economy,” in which cities are building new structures “on a massive scale.” Mohsen contends that this dynamic has led to energy consumption patterns that need to be changed to avoid “dramatic environmental consequences. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is absolutely critical.”
The Center’s director is Ali Malkawi, a GSD professor who specializes in architectural technology and computation. Dr. Malkawi has also consulted on numerous construction projects, including airport designs, super towers, factories, and commercial and residential building.
The Center is pursuing a “design-centric strategy,” which links research outcomes to the development of new processes, systems, and products. To stimulate ideas and set its agenda, the Center will hold its inaugural Challenge Conference on Nov. 7, whose presenters will include James Carpenter, founder of James Carpenter Design Associates; Gordon Gill, a founding partner of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; Phil Harrison, president and CEO of Perkins + Will; Alejandro Murat, CEO of Infonavit, which provides financing for affordable housing in Mexico; and Joshua Prince-Ramus, a principal of Rex-NYC.
“As the Center gains momentum, its research trajectory will be guided by the outcome of both our preliminary research projects and the feedback from the focused symposia organized by the Center,” its website states.
The Center is backed by Evergrande Group, the giant China-based property developer that recently announced that it would invest nearly $15 billion to build 9.2 gigawatts of photovoltaic projects in that country, according to the National Business Daily newspaper. The terms of Evergrande’s support of the Center were not disclosed.
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | May 17, 2023
Designing K-12 schools for students and safety
While bullying, mental health, and other acts of violence are all too common in schools today, designers have shown that smart and subtle preventive steps can make a big difference. Clark Nexsen’s Becky Brady shares how prevention and taking action at the design level can create safe and engaging learning environments.
Affordable Housing | May 17, 2023
Affordable housing advocates push for community-owned homes over investment properties
Panelists participating in a recent webinar hosted by the Urban Institute discussed various actions that could help alleviate the nation’s affordable housing crisis. Among the possible remedies: inclusionary zoning policies, various reforms to increase local affordable housing stock, and fees on new development to offset the impact on public infrastructure.
University Buildings | May 17, 2023
New UC Irvine health sciences building supports aim to become national model for integrative health
The new College of Health Sciences Building and Nursing & Health Sciences Hall at the University of California Irvine supports the institution’s goal of becoming a national model for integrative health. The new 211,660-sf facility houses nursing, medical doctorate, pharmacy, philosophy, and public health programs in a single building.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | May 16, 2023
4 steps to a better building enclosure
Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.
Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023
Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier
Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.
Headquarters | May 16, 2023
Workplace HQ for party clothing company Shinesty celebrates its bold, whimsical products
The new Denver headquarters for Shinesty, a party clothing company, was designed to match the brand’s fun image with an iconic array of colors, textures, and prints curated by the design agency, Maximalist. Shinesty’s mission, to challenge the world to live more freely and “take itself less seriously,” is embodied throughout the office interior.
Office Buildings | May 15, 2023
Sixteen-story office tower will use 40% less energy than an average NYC office building
This month marks the completion of a new 16-story office tower that is being promoted as New York City’s most sustainable office structure. That boast is backed by an innovative HVAC system that features geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units, radiant heating and cooling, and a sophisticated control system to ensure that the elements work optimally together.
Life of an Architect Podcast | May 15, 2023
Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 125: What Makes a Great Employee?
How do you define a great employee? The answer is most likely dependent on who is attempting to respond: the employee or the employer. Life of an Architect's Bob Borson, FAIA, and Andrew Hawkins, AIA, talk about the traits and characteristics of great employees.
K-12 Schools | May 12, 2023
In Virginia, a new high school building helps reimagine the experience for 1,600 students
In Virginia, the City of Alexandria recently celebrated the topping out of a new building for Alexandria City High School. When complete in 2025, the high-performance structure will accommodate 1,600 students.
University Buildings | May 11, 2023
New ‘bold and twisting’ building consolidates School of Continuing Studies at York University
The design of a new building that consolidates York University’s School of Continuing Studies into one location is a new architectural landmark at the Toronto school’s Keele Campus. “The design is emblematic of the school’s identity and culture, which is centered around accelerated professional growth in the face of a continuously evolving labor market,” according to a news release from Perkins&Will.
