Above image: Heatherwick Studio, Maggie's Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Photography © Hufton+Crow

Course Description:

“What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?” This is the question the Living Building Challenge attempts to answer. It requests project designers, owners and builders to consider every aspect of building as one element that works toward a regenerative future. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) believes that Living Buildings are: - regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community; - self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site; and - structures that create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them. The Living Building Challenge is just one of multiple programs and initiatives that ILFI offers. We will give a brief overview of them all, but focus in particular on the Living Building Challenge, how to obtain its certification, and why this matters to an architect.

1 LU/HSW

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the ILFI and get an overview of the various programs and initiatives it offers.       
2. Learn about the Living Building Challenge and its seven “petals” that lead to certification.       
3. Highlight the various areas that Living Building Challenge focuses on in its certification program.
4. Understand how Living Building Challenge fits in with other sustainability frameworks.

Presenter: Walter Lourie LEED AP BD+C - Sustainability Manager, mafi-America, Inc. 
[email protected] | 917.488.0410 | Living Product Challenge Certified 

AIA Provider: AIA Potomac Valley (A183); Course # PV032123

Walter Lourie LEED AP BD+C
Head of Sustainability for mafi-America, Inc.

Walter Lourie is based in Silver Spring, Maryland. His career started as an owner/operator of a custom wood floor installation for 25 years. During that time, he developed habits of using safe and healthy materials and traveled to and worked for lumber producers, adhesive and finish manufacturers in search for the best processes and less toxic ingredients. Currently, he is the sustainability manager for the only organic wood floor company mafi. Walter led the process of the Living Product Challenge certification. This required a Life Cycle Assessment, which determined the wood and the production is Carbon Net Negative. Walter spends all of his time convincing architects to switch from artificial materials to using transparent and less harmful natural interior products like wood.

Registrants will receive the Zoom viewing instructions in their registration confirmation and via email prior to the webinar.