SUSTAINABLE PHILOSOPHY As the concept of sustainable design moves into the mainstream of architectural practice, it will evolve in how it is perceived and understood. Already the idea has moved in from the fringes of practice and has shed most of its original, inappropriate reputation as a fad. In light of its growing acceptance, sustainable design is now worthwhile fodder for philosophical speculation. — Editor — Published 2006.0208
	RACE TO THE SUN Seventeen teams of North American architecture and engineering students, joined by a team from Spain, have shown how their generation of design professionals is preparing for a responsible, low-energy future. These students met in Washington DC in October 2005 to participate in the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall. There, the teams assembled solar-powered houses that they had designed, and they demonstrated various technologies to the visiting public. — Published 2006.0118
	DESIGN TO SURVIVE In December, 2005, the American Institute of Architects Board of Directors adopted a position statement they hope will "transform the profession to emphasize sustainability." In the absence of federal leadership on this issue, the AIA recognizes the need for design professionals to find solutions to serious global problems. In the following letter to the construction industry, a veteran environmental activist/ architect discusses what this means to practitioners. — Editor — Published 2006.0104
	URBAN ARTS The new home for Artists for Humanity in Boston is a creative combination of hard-working architecture, sustainable design and construction, and a reflection of the youth who work and learn in the building. The facility, known as the "EpiCenter," designed by Arrowstreet Architects of Somerville, Massachusetts, is on an infill site in South Boston. — Published 2005.1207
	POSTCARD FROM PORTLAND Dear ArchitectureWeek, Plentiful rainfall in Portland, Oregon is more than a nuisance for residents and a deterrent for visitors. It's also a public-works nightmare. The city's under-sized storm sewer system is frequently overwhelmed, causing combined rainwater and sewage to be dumped into the Willamette River, creating a serious biohazard, even after only moderate rainfall. — Published 2005.1116
	SPEC'ING GREEN "Architects have the ability to change entire industries with the stroke of a pen. If we specify a material with low carbon dioxide emissions in its fabrication — say, floor tile, carpet, gypsum board — industry will respond. This is the American way. Architects are consumers; they're not always aware of the incredible power they have to change the way products are manufactured." — Ed Mazria in Metropolis Magazine. — Published 2005.1102
	ENVIRONMENTAL ELDERCARE The new Caritas House, an eldercare center in Moenchengladbach-Neuwerk, Germany, combines modern group-living with advanced environmental technology. Not only does the passively conditioned building require very little conventional heating energy, it provides unusually high air quality, which improves the quality of life for its residents. — Published 2005.1005
	WHERE THE LAW IS CLEAR At the University of Hamburg, the new Central Library of Law is a showcase of "green" operations that also projects a literally green, leaf-patterned backdrop for a historic villa. The German firm me di um Achitekten, partners Klaus Roloff and Michael Ruffing, conceived the library as a compact and transparent book warehouse, connected to the existing Faculty of Law building by a glass atrium. The library's facades and atrium perform dual roles of energy conservation and accommodation to the existing campus. — Published 2005.0831
	CAREFUL CONSERVANCY The Trustees of Reservations, one of the oldest land conservancies in the United States, is in the business of improving and preserving scenic landscapes in Massachusetts. When it came time to design an administrative center, the largest capital project in its 113-year history, the statewide nonprofit organization took pains to apply its own tenets of environmental stewardship. — Published 2005.0810
	CRADLE TO CRADLE WINNER In 2002, architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart published Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, in which they argued that energy efficiency and waste reduction are not sufficient as sustainability goals. Architects should instead aim for waste avoidance. To explore possibilities for implementation, an international Cradle to Cradle Home Design and Construction Competition called for submissions with innovative approaches to materials and systems for sustainable residential design. The winning team, from Seattle, presents their design that reflects the paradigm and vision laid out in the book. — Editor — Published 2005.0713

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