WHW Sustainable Circus

A core group of WHW’s LEED Accredited Professionals regularly engage in an in-house design forum to explore and share ideas about sustainability and design. We call it the “Sustainable Circus”. Like any good circus, the “Sustainable Circus” has plenty of variety under its big tent. Topics can range from specific building design challenges to broadly interconnected social, economic and environmental trends. The presentations are made by in-house sustainability leaders or guests. Naturally, the discussion is kept on track by a designated “ringmaster”.

At a recent ‘Circus’, LEED Green Associate Miro Krawczynski presented “Full Circle” examining how the traditional relationship between cities and surrounding farmland has changed over the years with urban sprawl and our disengagement from agricultural concerns. We see signs of rebuilding that relationship with small pockets of urban gardens and interactions between local farmers and consumers at farm markets, but what is the larger picture? What is the impact on our patterns of development, of transportation, recreation, commerce and housing? What are our priorities and what actions, individually and collectively, need we take to ensure the sustainability of our communities? What balance do we need to achieve in order to create a more palatable future? What would change if we promoted a better understanding of the connection between food, consumption, waste, and environmental health? As designers of the built environment can we lead that change?

These ‘Circus’ presentations and discussions help participants expand their thinking about sustainability, and broaden our approach to building design. Increasingly we ask how architecture serves the needs beyond building occupants and how those people will integrate, invigorate and sustain their own community ecosystem over time. Its not really about getting the right answers, its really about asking the right questions.