ARCHITECTURAL PERFORMANCES? A recent symposium entitled "Performative Architecture: Instrumentality Plus?" at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia was, understandably, focused on defining "performative." An international collection of architects, engineers, designers, and academics grappled with the question, each (seemingly like the blind men of ancient lore) sizing up the "elephant" by grasping a different part. — Published 2003.1105
	UK DEVELOPS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS When the United Kingdom ratified the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, it was taking a lead from continental Europe. This ratification demonstrated a high level of government awareness of environmental issues that is more akin to that of Britain's nearest neighbors than to that of its wartime ally, the United States. — Published 2003.1015
	NATURALLY COOL CONVENTION CENTER Echoing the shape of bridges arcing over the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center. A sail-like roof is suspended from steel cables over the four-story riverfront building. The dramatic form designed by architect Rafael Viñoly Architects is more than visually striking, however. The sweeping roof channnels river breezes and creates a degree of natural ventilation that is extraordinary for a building of this type and size. — Published 2003.1008
	LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT TOOLS One of the most difficult problems for architects interested in sustainable design is knowing which materials are "green." Is the material recycled? Local? Renewable? Is it low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? What if you have to choose between these attributes? Are there other factors to be considered? And what about marketing claims? Is a material really "green" just because the manufacturer says it is? The choices can be bewildering. — Published 2003.0716
	LEED PLATINUM AT UCSB It is fitting that one of the first buildings to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for achieving the "platinum" LEED status is a school dedicated to researching environmental issues, training research scientists and professionals, and identifying and solving environmental problems. — Published 2003.0611
	SUSTAINABILITY NORTHEAST "Green" Building design, as it becomes increasingly adopted by U.S. architects, is about more than conserving energy and natural resources. In green building, design criteria broaden to include fostering a sense of community, maintaining healthy environments, and preserving historic properties. These were some of the themes of the 2003 awards program of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), which recently made awards to workplaces, schools, and residential projects. — Published 2003.0521
	BUILDINGS FOR EARTH DAY As architects become more aware of their role in protecting the natural environment, they begin to view "sustainable design" more broadly. In addition to reducing consumption of fossil fuels, successful "green" architecture also improves comfort for building occupants, protects and repairs its immediate surroundings, and makes a positive contribution to the community. — Published 2003.0430
	SANTA MONICA ELECTRIC In light of rising energy costs and potentially disastrous environmental policies, timing couldn't be better for the opening of Colorado Court, one of the first 100-percent energy-neutral housing developments in the United States. Located on a busy, urban street corner in Santa Monica, California, the award-winning five-story, "green" building is designed not only to reduce energy consumption but to return unused power back to the city's electrical grid. — Published 2003.0212
	GREEN BUILDERS CONVENE With sustainable design commanding an ever-greater presence in mainstream architecture, timing could not have been better for the inaugural Green Building International Conference and Expo of the U.S. Green Building Council. Held in Austin, Texas in November, 2002, the conference brought together over 2,000 architects, builders, scientists, ecologists, and other sustainability-minded professionals. Featuring approximately 100 different seminars over three days, the conference delivered expertise and experience from a wide variety of persons and places. — Published 2002.1218
	SOLAR-POWERED FACTORY The new manufacturing plant for Hayward Building Systems, recently opened in Santa Maria, California, may not look like much from the street, but its energy conservation performance marks it as a leader in modern factory design. — Published 2002.0828

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