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Green Architecture and Building
Green architecture and building, also known as sustainable building has a dual focus. On one hand, the branch of design is interested in increasing the efficiency of resources used in building and construction and, on the other hand, the discipline is concerned with the impacts of construction and building materials on human health, ecosystems and the larger environment.
According to industry reporters, Venture Beat, the green building industry brought in an estimated revenue of $12 billion – and is forecast to reach $42 billion by the year 2015.
In February, 2009 President Obama signed his now-legendary $787 billion stimulus plan into law, with 10% of that figure earmarked for environmental initiatives according to the advocacy group, Environment America. A big winner in the plan is the green building industry, which can include eco-sensitive construction and green materials, energy efficiency, and sustainability. In addition to the initial influence of the stimulus support to encourage green building in light of the economic recession, the plan will also spur the creation of green jobs, contributing towards a more sustainable economic and environmental future.
President and CEO of Serious Materials, a Silicon Valley-based green construction materials company, Kevin Surace forecast hiring hundreds of new employees in the next 18 months. The stimulus plan set aside $5 billion for a Weatherization Assistance Program to reduce global warming pollution – an initiative that will create 375,000 new “green collar” jobs.
Another $5.5 billion dollars of the stimulus package is earmarked for green building projects, under the supervision of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The GSA sets and achieves high standards for green building criteria, and stipulates that all qualifying projects must be approved by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s (LEED) rating scheme for environmentally sustainable construction.
Turner Construction, based in New York is the leader in green building in the U.S. The company completed projects worth more than $500 million in California in 2008, and more than $3 billion across the country. Of these projects, 80 were LEED certified, and another 130 LEED registered, numbers expected to rise as national standards and the recent stimulus plan increase funding and support for sustainable and energy efficient initiatives.
Founded in 1902, Turner Construction is a national leader in building, and is at the forefront of major companies embracing green building initiatives. The Turner executive team is led by President and CEO, Peter J. Davoren. Davoren has been with Turner for more than 30 years when he took his first position as a field engineer after completing a Bachelor of Science degree in the School of Architecture from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y.
EDUCATION SIDEBAR: There are a wide variety of specialties and trades involved in the green building industry, and a large number of avenues into the business.
- For green building design, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture with a focus on sustainability practices – Architecture degrees can later be complemented with LEED certification.
- With the rise of green building, many schools are creating Green Architecture programs – and some prominent schools including Yale are linking their Architecture Schools with Ecology and Environmental Science departments.
- Many cities and regions are initiative local development plans to incorporate the Obama stimulus plan and direct long-range sustainable building. For careers in green development and policy writing, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Urban Planning, Urban and Environmental Public Policy, Construction Management and Civil and Environmental Engineering are all useful tracks.
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