The start of a new semester brings with it a new series of public lectures. We are happy to announce the four speakers mentioned below, who will present on various current topics in the built environment.
All lectures are open to the public and are held on Mondays from 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm in the Olver Design Building Room 170. Zoom options will be available, too. Want to get notified when these are? Sign up for our email list.
Storm Water Reuse in Large Commercial Buildings
Jake Littman, Technical Principal, WSP USA
02.13.23, 4:00-5:15pm Design Building Room 170 | Free and Open to All
The concept of stormwater reuse is tantalizing and is conceptually low-hanging fruit in the reduction of building environmental impacts, but what does it take to design and engineer building systems that capture, treat, and distribute stormwater in a building? In this presentation, Jack Littman will use real-world examples to bring to life the breadth, scale, and complexity inherent in stormwater reuse, practical implementation, and the interplay of LEED and municipal requirements.
An Introduction to Forensic Investigations
Nikki Byl and Josh Jaskowiak, Senior Associate and Associate WJE
03.20.23, 4:00-5:15pm Design Building Room 170 | Free and Open to All
This presentation by Ms. Byl and Mr. Jaskowiak will introduce forensic investigations and the importance of details in the investigations of failures as told through case studies. Our four representative studies will include the facade rehabilitation of a signature historic university structure, emergency stabilization of 26 court street in Boston, a water leakage investigation at a medical center, and a look at glazing failures at a Tadao Ando building in Williamstown, Mass.
University DesignBuild Programs:
How They Work and What They Are About
Kent Hicks, Adjunct BCT Faculty, Owner of East Branch Studio
04.10.23, 4:00-5:15pm Design Building Room 170 | Free and Open to All
This Lecture by Kent Hicks discusses programs that offer students the opportunity to explore a hands-on experience with low-carbon and climate-positive construction using local, natural, and repurposed building materials; as well as learning about the critical importance of housing affordability and climate equity within the context of providing housing communities in need.
Noise, Health, and the Built Environment
Andy Carballeira, Principal Consultant ACENTECH
05.08.23, 4:00-5:15pm Design Building Room 170 | Free and Open to All
Noise is an invisible environmental pollutant that threatens the health and well-being of people worldwide. Its effects are systemic and include hearing loss, sleep disturbance, stress, cognitive deficits, and childhood learning delays. Places where people live, work, play must be designed to protect people from these harmful effects, and the building’s façade has an important function to play.
You can find the calendar entries for these here: http://umass.science/bctlectures.