Description: This course focuses on the fundamental elements of making building projects better for the local community and environment throughout the life cycle of the facility. Infrastructure shapes the way people live and behave, as well as guides local ecosystems in operation and evolution. This influence carries from construction, through use and maintenance, to deconstruction and goes beyond the core utility of transportation, water and energy projects.

This course will take a NON-REGULATORY approach to designing and building a higher quality product. Participants will learn how to diagnose the context around the project footprint for economic, cultural, and environmental concerns or opportunities. This information will then be used to make a realistic game plan that will address concerns as well as enhance projects.

The first half of the workshop will:
• Introduce and define the concepts of context sensitivity and sustainability and how they are correlated.
• Introduce an easy to use site and project evaluation tool with practical applications.
• Individual and group activity on project evaluation from the community and local ecosystem perspective, followed by peer review and group discussion.

The second part of the day will focus on:
• Interest groups' perspectives and partnering interests.
• Project plan generation including strategic public involvement, environmental and cultural enhancements, and local and regional economic development.
• Review of a sample plan.
• Individual and group activity on outlining your plan.
• Alternatives analysis: life cycle of facility and materials.
• Individual and group activity on studying a particular material or aesthetic feature of your project, followed by peer review and group discussion.

Registration: Early bird rate $200/$145* until March 19, 2010; $250/*$195 thereafter (*reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes; government employees; nonprofits; students). You may register via the link below or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 206-762-1976.

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Portland, OR View details    May 7, 2010 - May 7, 2010