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City Green Building
Green Event Calendar

We're pleased to list events of interest to the Seattle-area green building and urban sustainability community.  

  • Individual events
  • Ongoing series
  • Conferences
  • Partner organization event calendars
  • Past event presentations  
 Individual Events

November 5, 2009
Seattle American Institute of Architects
The Architecture of Integration
A senior partner at Foster + Partners, Nigel Dancey has worked on a number of key projects which have explored the possibilities for open, flexible working environments in which communication can flourish. From corporate headquarters to university research centers, these buildings generate a sense of community by breaking down large institutions into smaller groups to provide a social focus or providing informal spaces for academic interaction and the open exchange of ideas. Dancey worked on the Clark Center at the University of Stanford, which was designed to facilitate an inter-disciplinary approach and promote interaction between scientists. The building has helped remodel the landscape of science and technological research at Stanford and beyond.
  5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  Seattle Public Library
  Microsoft Auditorium
   1000 Fourth Ave
   Seattle, WA 98104

   FREE
   Registration requested

November 6, 2009
Puget Sound Business Journal
Green Business Summit: Going Green in Challenging Times
We’ll hear from high profile speakers and review case studies from the field with a panel of experts on topics such as business development and operating green.Our keynote speaker Brian F. Nattrass, BA, LL.B, PH.D.,Sustainability Partners, is  an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, lawyer, and senior corporate advisor on the strategy and execution of sustainability initiatives and corporate responsibility. Nattrass will share bottom-line examples of profitable, sustainable practices as he spotlights several of his high profile clients, which include Nike, Global Hyatt, Starbucks and Target.
  7:00 - 11:00 a.m.
  Seattle’s first LEED™ certified green hotel
  Hyatt at Olive 8
  Register Here

November 6, 2009
College of Built Environments, American Institute of Architects
Sustaining Beauty
Beth Meyer, FASLA, and associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Virginia lectures on her current work "Sustaining Beauty," an affirmation of the necessity of aesthetics in a sustainable design agenda.
Sustainable landscape design is generally understood in relation to three principles-ecological health, social justice and economic prosperity. Rarely do aesthetics factor into sustainability discourse outside of negative asides conflating the visible with the aesthetic and rendering both superfluous. This lecture examines the role of beauty and aesthetics in a sustainability agenda.

  6:30 p.m.
  Kane Hall 120,
  University of Washington
  FREE
   Register

November 7, 2009
Winter Sun Design & Shoreline Community College
Solar Home Design Class
Basic home energy types, systems, characteristics & conservation. The emphasis is on practical design issues including; system types, characteristics, sizing, heat storage, construction details, efficiencies & costs.  Green building materials and systems are discussed throughout. 
Chris Herman, CPBD, owner of Winter Sun Design, (
www.wintersundesign.com) established 1987 & Co-Founder of the Northwest Eco-Building Guild (www.ecobuilding.org) & the Solar Washington Association (www.solarwashington.org).
  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Shoreline Community College campus
  www.shoreline.edu/ce

November 9, 2009
Improv\Improve: 2009 AIA Seattle Honor Awards
Join us in exploring and celebrating the work of Washington architects!
In this era of change, how do architects remain inventive, agile and break out of professional boundaries? AIA Seattle invites the architectural and broader community to experience creative solutions and resourceful projects that celebrate design excellence in these exciting and challenging times. Join us for the 2009 AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture and help us explore and celebrate the work of those shaping our built environment.
AIA Seattle received over 160 submissions — both envisioned and realized — ranging from commercial to residential and beyond. Projects are reviewed (and some even visited) by a distinguished jury and awarded projects are unknown until the live Awards presentation. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for reception and viewing of entries.
   6:00 p.m.
  Benaroya Hall
   200 University Street
   Seattle, WA

  For more Information and to purchase tickets, click here.

November 10, 2009
Seattle Pubic Utilities
RainWise: Installing Rain Gardens

Starting in 2010, the City of Seattle will offer rebates to property owners to disconnect roof downspouts from the combined sewer system, and direct that runoff into cisterns or rain gardens. The rebates will be targeted to neighborhoods where downspout disconnection can help reduce combined sewer overflows during big rain storms. This class will prepare contractors and design/build professionals to work with owners to locate and size cisterns on their property, and to install the system so they work well and meet the City’s requirements for rebates on construction costs. This class is required for contractors who want to participate in Seattle’s new RainWise rebate program.
Rain gardens are a Low Impact Development method that is coming into local stormwater codes in many towns around Puget Sound, creating a new business opportunity for landscape, irrigation, plumbing, and general contractors as well as design/build professionals.
Class is limited to licensed contractors and design professionals who do work in Seattle.

  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  NHS Hall, UW Center for Urban Horticulture
  Seattle, WA
   Pre-registration required – space is limited

  Click here for more information about this event

November 11-13, 2009
United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
Greenbuild International Conference and Expo
Greenbuild 2009, the annual USGBC conference is heading to the American Southwest, a region with unique environmental and social challenges and opportunities, and the imperative is clear: Green building can and must come home to all people, boosting the quality of life on main streets across the country and around the world. With over 100 educational sessions featuring world-renown speakers, workshops to help you qualify for a LEED credential, and eye-opening site tours of sunny Phoenix, Greenbuild's educational programming is designed to take your green building knowledge to the next level. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for all educational sessions, LEED workshops, green building tours, and post conference seminars. USGBC is a registered educational program provider for AIA/CES, ASID/IIDA, BOMI, and IFMA
   Phoenix, AZ
   www.greenbuildexpo.org

November 11, 2009
Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life 
A New Global Future- Alex Steffen
Nine billion people on a straining planet is a recipe either for catastrophe or transformation. Which future we get - tragic disaster or sustainable prosperity - will depend largely on the choices we here in the developed world make. What is possible for billions of people rising out of poverty will be determined largely by the shape of the economy we create in places like Seattle. How do we understand what a bright green future looks like and how do we propel our region toward it? This first night will explore the breakthroughs in renewable energy, green building, clean technology, smart infrastructure and sustainable design that can enable the Pacific Northwest to not only help lead the planet away from catastrophe, but also to become an economic power house.
  7:30.- 9:00 p.m.
  Great Hall at Town Hall
  1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street)
  Seattle, WA 98101
  
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85709

November 12, 2009
Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life 
Seattle's Bright Green Moment- Alex Steffen, introduced by Mike McGinn
Cities are the engines of a bright green economy. A new urban way of life is emerging that is not only ecologically frugal, but wealthier, healthier, and more enjoyable. At the same time, smart cities are becoming the hothouses of sustainable innovation, growing the designs, technologies, policies, and start up companies that will thrive in the new global economy. Learn how leading urban regions like London, Copenhagen, Melbourne and Seoul are scrambling to rebuild themselves on bright green lines in order to lead in the economy of tomorrow. Join the conversation on how we can use cutting edge practices such as innovation networks, metropolitan coalitions, and government 2.0 to break through the logjams blocking Seattle's progress to build a more vital, sustainable and prosperous home.
  7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
  Great Hall at Town Hall
  1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street)
  Seattle, WA 98101
  
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85713

November 12, 2009
Collaboration Series: Technologies Breaking the Bounds of IPD and Green Design
We will demonstrate how utilizing design tools to create a Building Information Model for integrated project delivery can also be used to exploit the data for use in Green Building analysis and LEED certification. Technology featured will included Autodesk Revit, Green building studio and ECOTECT, an industry leading building analysis program that allows designers to work easily in 3D and apply all the tools necessary for an energy efficient and sustainable future.
  12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
   AIA Seattle
   1911 First Avenue
   Seattle, WA 98101

   Click to register

November 12, 2009
Cascadia Region Green Building Council 
Emerging Greener from the Recession
This workshop is “Emerging Greener from the Recession — A panel discussion on codes, incentives, and opportunity for greener buildings and communities as we emerge from the Recession,” including Toxic signal issue brief, and Food & Drink!
    4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
    Seattle University, Wyckoff Auditorium
    901 12th Avenue
   Seattle, WA
    $10.00
   Click to register

November 14, 2009
Neighborhood House High Point Center Grand Opening
This event is to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Neighborhood House High Point Center. There will be music, refreshments, speakers, tours of the LEED Gold building, a ribbon cutting ceremony and community entertainment! We’re extremely excited about the High Point Center as it will double as a home to Neighborhood House’s comprehensive web of social services, as well as an environmental education center with programming aimed at low-income communities. The building also has the largest solar panel array atop a building in the entire state of Washington!
Tours of the center start at 1 p.m. Program and official opening start at 2 p.m.

  1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
   6400 Sylvan Way SW  
  Seattle, WA
  www.nhwa.org/solarpanel

November 17, 2009
Seattle Public Utilities
RainWise: Installing Cisterns
Starting in 2010, the City of Seattle will offer rebates to property owners to disconnect roof downspouts from the combined sewer system, and direct that runoff into cisterns or rain gardens. The rebates will be targeted to neighborhoods where downspout disconnection can help reduce combined sewer overflows during big rain storms. This class will prepare contractors and design/build professionals to work with owners to locate and size rain gardens or cisterns on their property, and to install those systems so they work well and meet the City’s requirements for rebates on construction costs. Cisterns are a Low Impact Development method that are coming into local stormwater codes in many towns around Puget Sound, creating a new business opportunity for landscape, irrigation, plumbing, and general contractors as well as design/build professionals.
Class limited to licensed contractors and design professionals who do work in Seattle.

  9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
  NHS Hall, UW Center for Urban Horticulture
  3501 NE 41st Street
  Seattle, WA
   Free, lunch included. 

  For more information, click here. 

November 19, 2009
CAP Collaboration Series: Why Rainscreens Make Sense
Hosted by AIA Seattle’s corporate allied partners, the collaboration series provides an opportunity to build inter-disciplinary relationships and meet potential collaborators for your projects, while learning a variety of issues current to the industry.
Join Northclad Rainscreen Solutions for a session on understanding the Pacific Northwest climatic conditions and how they affect building design, the challenges that water and air place on the life cycle of a building, and the philosophy and advantages of incorporating rainscreen systems in the design. Cavity walls (rainscreens) and air barriers are critical to preventing water penetration.

  12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.
  AIA Seattle
   1911 1st Ave, Seattle

   http://www.aiaseattle.org/node/3431

November 30, 2009
American Institute of Architects
Urban Design Meeting
Stephen Antupit of Mithun and others will present the current status of the “Climate Benefit District” initiative in Washington State. Both topics of urban form and legislatively-enabled financing will be discussed.
  4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
  AIA Seattle
  1911 1st Ave, Seattle

  http://www.aiaseattle.org/node/3438

December 1, 2009
Regeneration Speaker Series 
The Practice of Change
Featuring Matthew Freeman-Gleason, Founder of Ecohaus and Chief Knowledge Officer.The Re*Generation Speakers Series is presented by AIA Seattle, IIDA Northern Pacific Chapter, ASID WA State Chapter.  AIA, ASID & IIDA members receive discounted admission. Registration required. 
   4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
   NBBJ
   223 Yale Avenue North
   Seattle, WA
   www.asidwa.org

December 10, 2009
Seattle Transformational Lecture Series 
Influence and Response Through Craft: Peter Clegg
Peter Clegg’s decades of experience and experimentation in environmentally responsive design has produced incredible results. Perhaps most inspiring is Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ reputation as a practice genuinely committed to sustainability. FCB Studios’ work has been recognized with numerous awards including in 2008 the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize. Peter will share FCB Studios’ philosophy of architecture as both a social art that can transform people and an imperative response to global warming. Cascadia members, City of Seattle staff and students: Free, Non-members: $10. Registration required: click here
   5:00 - 7:00 p.m.  
  Seattle Central Library
  Microsoft Auditorium
  1000 4th Avenue   
   www.cascadiagbc.org/education/transformational-lecture-series

January 7, 2010  
Green Broker: Making Green Building Green 
Don’t miss this chance to get your introduction to the green building universe! Not only for commercial real estate and finance professionals, but also for those looking for a beginning to intermediate level conference on green building, Green Broker will be your portal to the future of the built environment. Leverage your expertise and gain access to a network of the most forward-thinking professionals in the region. 
   Seattle Center   
  Olympic and Rainier Rooms
  1st Avenue North & Republican 
   Register

May 5-7, 2010
Living Future 10
The Unconference For Deep Green Professionals
Creating a living future is an act of faith, an act of hope.  It is about operationalizing the kind of world we want for ourselves and our children.  Living Future 2010 will touch the roots of our hope and celebrate more early fruits of the living building movement. Living Future 2010 also will revisit the deep values that bind us together and provide rich soil for nurturing our neighborhoods into living communities.JOIN US.
  The Westin
  1900 5th Avenue
  Seattle, WA
   www.cascadiagbc.org/living-future/10

 

Seattle LEED Users Group (SLUG)
Monthly meetings occur every second Tuesday. Come join us to explore new innovative green building strategies. Discussion topics change each month, check website for topic information.Want to attend? Just show up! No RSVP necessary!

  • December- Revisit Green Building Conference- people that attended the conference will share their experiences, stories and feedback about the event.

  7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
  901 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Floor Conference Room
  Seattle, WA

Northwest EcoBuilding Guild - Seattle Chapter Monthly Meetings
The Guild's monthly meetings cover a range of topical issues from green building rating systems to feng shui, landscape strategies to deconstruction. Events are free for EcoBuilding Guild members; suggested $5 donation for others. 
   go to www.ecobuilding.org for more information.  
 
Green Lunches, powered by Noonhat
Greendrinks, for all the beauty of the size, is also sometimes a bit intimidating, or that you'd like a little more time with fewer people, here's your opportunity. 
  Click here for more information and to sign up now!

Emerging Green Builders 
On the third Tuesday of every month from 5:30-6:30, check out Emerging Green Builders - Leading Green Building firms of Seattle present their work in their own offices to the next generation of ecological designers. Students and young professionals are invited. No RSVP required - FREE!

  www.cascadiagbc.org/emerging-green-builders  

Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability
NBIS is dedicated to helping businesses and organizations discover and implement sustainable practices that increase revenues, enhance reputation, and reduce risk and uncertainty. NBIS provides a regular Business Leaders Forum. 
  Click here for more information
  or call 425-828-0982.

RE Store's Salvaged Building Materials Workshops
RE Store customers learn how to remodel with reuse for free. Workshop are held at the Seattle RE Store. 
  For more information click here 
  or call (206) 297 9119 
   The RE Store 
   1440 NW 52nd Street

Sustainable Ballard
Sustainable Ballard is a non-profit organization developing a grassroots vision of sustainability for the community of Ballard.  For a complete listing of the various events held year-round, click here to go to their event calendar.

Seattle Greendrinks 
On the second Tuesday of every month mingle with an increasingly powerful web of sustainability minded people across Seattle's environmental community. Or check the Greendrinks website for another dimension to the community, bringing some of the greatest aspects of Seattle Greendrinks to the online community: job postings, events, member information, and more coming soon. 
  www.seattlegreendrinks.org

Washington Association of Landscape Architects (WASLA)

Emerging Professionals Happy Hour Series 5:30-7pm
  See WASLA Events

 

 Green Building Conferences

November 11-13, 2009
United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
Greenbuild International Conference and Expo
Greenbuild 2009, the annual USGBC conference is heading to the American Southwest, a region with unique environmental and social challenges and opportunities, and the imperative is clear: Green building can and must come home to all people, boosting the quality of life on main streets across the country and around the world. With over 100 educational sessions featuring world-renown speakers, workshops to help you qualify for a LEED credential, and eye-opening site tours of sunny Phoenix, Greenbuild's educational programming is designed to take your green building knowledge to the next level. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for all educational sessions, LEED workshops, green building tours, and post conference seminars. USGBC is a registered educational program provider for AIA/CES, ASID/IIDA, BOMI, and IFMA.
   Phoenix, AZ
  www.greenbuildexpo.org

May 5-7, 2010
Living Future 10
The Unconference For Deep Green Professionals
  
Seattle, WA
  www.cascadiagbc.org/living-future/10

 

Partner Organization Event Calendars


American Institute of Architects
Event Calendar

American Institute of Architects | Seattle
Event Calendar

American Planning Association
Event Calendar

American Planning Association | Washington
Event Calendar

Betterbricks
Event Calendar

Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Event Calendar

Congress for New Urbanism
Event Calendar

Green Communities
Event Calendar

Green Festivals
Event Calendar

International Sustainable Solutions
Event Calendar

Seattle Green Drinks
Event Calendar

Urban Land Institute
Event Calendar

Urban Land Institute | Seattle
Event Calendar

 

Past Event Presentations


Peter Newman: Resilient Cities

On January 12, 2009, Peter Newman (Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University - Perth, Australia) spoke to a packed house at City Hall about the 10 strategic steps Seattle can take toward greater sustainability and resilience in a post peak oil world (view the presentation). Newman is the author of Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil & Climate Change (this and other titles are available for checkout from DPD's Green Building Library).

The Peter Newman lecture, Town Square: Peter Newman Resilient Cities 1/12/2009, can be viewed at the Seattle Channel: www.seattlechannel.org.

Transformational Lecture Series
Presentations from individual events are posted by event date as they become available.

Video Coverage
For video coverage of select past urban sustainability programs and events, visit the Seattle Channel.

Green Home Presentations
Click here to find presentations from Green Home workshops and events.

Using Capital Markets to Achieve Prosperity and Sustainability
Materials from "Total Corporate Responsibility" presentation on June 14, 2004 by Frank Dixon of Innovest, on using capital markets to achieve real prosperity and sustainability:

  • Event Flyer 
  • Presentation - "Addressing System Flaws that Drive Corporate Scandals and Humanity's Unsustainability"
  • Article -  "Achieving Sustainability and Real Prosperity"
  • Article -  "Gross National Happiness: Improving Unsustainable Western Economic Systems"
  • Article -  "Maximizing Financial and Sustainability Performance" 

 

Last Updated: November 5, 2009
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Seattle LEED Projects

Certified as of 09.30.09

82 Commercial &
Multi-family  
Including 15 City-Owned

53 LEED for Homes

 

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