U.S. Epa, Partner Groups Issue Green Building Design Challenge

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Pacific Southwest Office in San Francisco and partners are calling on architects, builders and others to participate

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Pacific Southwest Office in San Francisco and partners are calling on architects, builders and others to participate in a competition seeking designs that facilitate reuse and minimize waste. The Lifecycle Building Challenge Û co-sponsored by the Building Materials Reuse Association, American Institute of Architects and West Coast Green Û invites professionals and students nationwide to submit designs and ideas by May 15 that support cost-effective disassembly and anticipate the future use of building materials. Students, architects, reuse experts, engineers, builders, product designers, educators and environmental advocates are encouraged to participate in the web-based competition.

Open to built and proposed work, the challenge has three categories: Building, an entire building from foundation to roof; Component, a single building assembly, system, or connector; and Service, a tool, method, or other idea. Outstanding entries in each category will be recognized and publicized, and top student designs will receive cash awards. All winners will be honored at the West Coast Green Conference in San Francisco in September.

Competition sponsors note that lifecycle building maximizes material recovery to reverse the trend of disposing of large quantities of construction and demolition debris in landfills. Reusing building components also reduces the energy and greenhouse gases emissions associated with producing and transporting materials, they add. Û www.lifecyclebuilding.org