adaptive reuse/sustainable design studio

Students will enroll in this version of the course to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Design Area of Specialization. This course is the culmination of the Sustainable Design Area of Specialization and incorporates advanced knowledge of the processes, systems and applications necessary to design a truly sustainable environment. Students analyze and apply evidence-based data to investigate sustainable design in a holistic, systems-thinking context that is conceptualized, interpreted and implemented at varying scales from the building site to structure to interiors. Emphasis is on the articulation and evaluation of new ideas and agendas for a sustainable future, as well as to examine familiar design problems with a new perspective and clear understanding of their environmental impacts using a variety of learning experiences and approaches. As part of the Sustainable Design Area of Specialization, coursework must be completed using the sustainable knowledge and strategies obtained to date. Students who successfully complete this course will have developed a full understanding of sustainability in the context of the built environment; have detailed working knowledge of the appropriate use of sustainable design rating systems; and demonstrate the ability to specify building and interior materials in construction documents through a portfolio that highlights their sustainable design expertise.