Last Monday, Bassetti Architects, a Design Studio of HMC Architects, hosted a program at their Portland office titled “From Pledge to Practice: Materials Show n’ Tell.” This event brought together speakers from several architecture firms to discuss the AIA Materials Pledge, the Common Materials Framework and how these guidelines are changing the way designers look at product selection. With an emphasis on holistic materials, the AIA Materials Pledge includes selection criteria in human health, ecosystem health, climate health, social health and equity, and circular economy. The pledge encourages a shift in the materials industry to better support human and environmental health.

Jennifer Wehling, director of sustainability at HMC Architects, also shared HMC’s 2025 Sustainability Action Plan, a comprehensive record of the firm’s ongoing efforts on multiple fronts to design projects that are more sustainable.

Sustainable Building Week is an annual event that offers a week of events designed to break down siloed thinking and improve cross-disciplinary education, connectivity, and collaboration toward sustainable design across the city of Portland and beyond. The event is produced by the Zero Coalition, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also hosts monthly events to support year-round engagement.

Other speakers included:

Charlotte Jolly, Interior Designer, ZGF Architects

Maria Papiez, Director of Sustainable Design, EwingCole

Eric Corey Freed, Principal, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign

Lona Rerick, Director of Regenerative Design Materials, Perkins&Will