The Construction Management Program in the department of civil and environmental engineering is hosting a one-day forum on “Sustainable Buildings: Progress, Practice and Challenges” for architects, engineers, planners and contractors.
Local and national sustainability leaders who have incorporated green building practices in their designs, construction, and building operations will deliver presentations and participate in panel discussions. More than 90 have registered for the March 9 forum.
The keynote speaker will be Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, who announced in January that financing had been approved for a new Music City Center. Construction is set to begin in the coming weeks on the state-of-the-art, 1.2 million square feet convention facility that, in keeping with the city’s commitment to sustainable development, boasts a green roof. The center is scheduled for completion in 2013.
“The green building movement continues to grow at an amazing pace despite a down economy. As Nashville strives to become a sustainability leader in the United States, many still need to increase their awareness of the opportunities and learn how to put them into practice,” said Sanjiv Gokhale, Vanderbilt civil engineering professor and chair of the forum.
The forum is designed to address LEED certification for existing and new buildings as well as legal issues, building codes evolution and fiscal incentives. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System was developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
One component of the forum is a case study of Vanderbilt’s green building program, which has resulted in four Gold LEED certifications and three Silver LEED certifications. A panel of key players, including Vanderbilt architects, project architects, engineers, contractors and other consultants will discuss details and outcomes of the program.
The forum is sponsored by the department of civil and environmental engineering. The program committee includes representatives from Smith, Cashion & Orr, Land Design, Clean Edison, Urban Land Institute Nashville, Hawkins Partners, Campus Planning and Construction Department, Vanderbilt University; Smith Cashion & Orr, Earl Swensson Associates, Crescent Resources, Hawkins Partners, SSRCx, Architectural Energy Corporation, Hoar Construction, Crescent Resources, and Associated General Contractors of Tennessee.