HMC Architects’ Vice President of Sustainability Eera Babtiwale, LEED AP BD+C, recently presented at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston. Eera was joined by Holly Hill, Senior Sustainability Program Manager at Southern California Edison and Nicole Isle, Chief Sustainability Strategist at Glumac.
The program, “Linking the Science to Design for Our Children,” focused on the enriching science behind cognitive function and how physiology informs design to create spaces with healthy indoor environments for our children. Additional topics include the linkage from the science to design strategies, and how rating system implementation can positively impact cognitive performance. As examples of various sustainable strategies, three school case studies were presented:
1. Clearwater Elementary School
Sustainable features: water quality, access to the outdoors and views and daylighting
2. Rancho Campana Performing Arts High School
Sustainable features: thermal comfort and access to views, daylighting, and fresh air
Sustainable features: using the campus as a living lab through strategies such as a green roof
These case studies exemplify how various sustainable, healthy buildings are implemented and how these strategies have resulted in higher performing school environments. Participants learned how critical healthy interior spaces are to occupant health and our future, and how their design decisions influence the mental health of our next generation of thinkers.
Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. The conference brings together industry leaders, experts, and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building in their everyday work.
