In the burgeoning area of smart and connected buildings, you’d be hard pressed to find an AEC professional who knows more about the newest and most-advanced projects than architect Derik Eckhardt.
Last summer, Eckhardt traveled the globe to research and study the world’s smartest buildings, under a scholarship from AIA Seattle. Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dubai, London, and Stuttgart were among his destinations. Consider Eckhardt the Anthony Bourdain of smart buildings.
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 11, 2017, Chicago), Eckhardt shares what he learned during his recent travels, and attempts to answer the question: What makes a building “smart”?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Derik Eckhardt, AIA, is an Architect with The Miller Hull Partnership in Seattle, Washington. The breadth of his work has developed into an intentionally diverse portfolio. Most recently he has been working on civic infrastructure facilities as well as mixed-use commercial developments. Derik was the 2016 recipient of AIA Seattle's Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship, which allowed him to travel extensively, exploring the role of emerging technologies within the practice of architecture.
In March of 2017, he curated the exhibition Smarter Buildings, which addressed overlapping themes of technology and architecture. Derik holds a Bachelor of Design and a Master of Architecture from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. During his studies he participated in the University of Cape Town BAS (Honours) program in South Africa and also spent time studying in Tianjin, China.