Diverse Voices for Change – How Women Architects are Coming Together to Leverage Various Certifications to Strive Towards Truly Regenerative Building Design

Ilka Cassidy
Proposal Status
Ready for Committee Review
Username
Ilka Cassidy
Proposer First Name
Ilka
Proposer Email
ilka@holzraumsystem.com
Proposer Last Name
Cassidy
Proposer Phone
(267) 879-9991
Proposer Job Title
Principal
Proposer Additional Info
Ilka Cassidy, CPHC, co-founder of Holzraum System, is passionate about Passive House envelope design and building science, focusing on the benefits of natural building materials. She grew up in Germany and received her Diploma of Engineering/Architecture degree from the RWTH Aachen. Ilka connected to the U.S. during her year at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she won a scholarship to study with the graduate program. Eventually, she moved to Philadelphia and co-founded C2 Architecture in 2005. She has worked on multiple projects as a Certified Passive House Consultant and is an active member of Philadelphia’s Green Building United.
Proposed Session Description
A group of women architects from different backgrounds will take a critical look at individual certification standards to advocate for a more holistic and collaborative way of thinking. While certifications are crucial to pushing the limits of sustainable construction, validating investments, and providing quality assurance, they sometimes risk a narrowed viewpoint, shifting priorities towards meeting a prescribed matrix and away from big picture values better benefitting building occupants and the environment. This presentation showcases individual projects and lessons learned from pursuing single and multiple certifications, and how they can be leveraged to create truly regenerative buildings. Guided by a combination of certification goals (LEED Platinum, Living Building Challenge, Passive House and WELL) on various building scales and construction methods--including prefabrication--the women and their projects strive towards the ultimate goal of zero/positive carbon, health, and wellbeing. In conclusion, the group will analyze further which certifications lend themselves to a successful overlay and when a multiple certification strategy is difficult to justify.
Why is this session important?
With the proliferation of so many new standards, it is important to find opportunities for synergies between them so that they can enhance one another. This session offers a unique perspective on using several certification standards to achieve the best outcome, potentially even risking certification all together. Aligning priorities of health and environment with realistic project based goals is at the center of this thought provoking discussion.

Comments

Nick Shaw Fri, 03/26/2021 - 10:47 am

-Yes- Focusing on the various certifications and using case studies to compare / contrast is great! I think this presentation needs a name change. Did these speakers come together previously to collaborate on these projects? Or is this session them coming together? It sounds like these are great case studies and speakers. Based on the title I want this presentation to highlight the construction industry's misogyny and give examples of folks combating this and uplifting others/eachother. It doesn't seem like the presentation will get into this, but the case studies are very helpful and are being done by inspiring women!

Susan Farber Mon, 04/12/2021 - 8:20 pm

ROUND 1 DISCUSSION: Great cases studies. Title is bit misleading, but then after reading presentation, I understoon. (Nick). Is the "women architects" too misleading, a gimmick? How does proposer feel about including it or not?

Michaela Boren… Wed, 05/05/2021 - 8:10 pm

Big YES. 90 minutes (and would even suggest a little bit more time if possible). Was able to meet with Ilka and Christina on Zoom. Speakers have not previously collaborated on projects but they have all met through a previous conference and have continuously communicated with each other so there is a "coming together". How they have all connected with each other (different backgrounds, projects, organizations, locations, perspectives), and even gotten closer through the several zoom calls to create the proposal adds more to the essence of collaboration and is an incredibly positive example that inspires. They are willing to reword or remove "coming together" from the title if that is what the committee prefers. Did not find the “women architects” too misleading. One of the case studies touches on premanufacturing (the importance of choosing materials). This opens opportunities for women (architects and designers) to enter the construction side from another angle. Although having all women architects as speakers is already a way to create visibility in addressing equity, I am suggesting to keep the “women architects” title. However, they are willing to reword or remove "women architects" from the title if that is what the committee prefers. Case studies/projects (all of which are somewhat new) all vary and are great examples of different building standards and how it works and doesn’t work together. Importance of session, format and content are all spot on. Confident that all learning objectives will be met.

Susan Farber Mon, 05/24/2021 - 12:08 pm

ROUND 2 DISCUSSION: 4 case studies with various certifications. Goal is to compare and contrast the diffferent cerifications. Concerns about the title. Haven't worked together, but met through conferences and formed bond and now share lessons learned. Example: this proposal. Possibly Edit title, ok with presenters. Trying to show how there is opportunity for women. Conversation not focused on case studies but on certifications, using case studies to inform the comparison of certifications. Rework title.

Diversity and Inclusiveness
By choosing 100% women speakers - coming from three different continents, we would like to raise awareness of the typical underrepresentation of women on project teams and showcase a collaborative work environment that encourages the willingness to share value.
Learning Objectives
Learn about the various certification standards and describe how the combination of multiple building standards can enhance the design process and outcome.
Recognize ways to reduce operational carbon and embodied carbon through design analysis.
Present lessons learned as a means of considering future project possibilities, including how we as practitioners can ensure our projects address the needs of health and well-being and just communities.
Encourage a holistic approach which fosters communication, collaboration and value sharing within and beyond project teams.
Has this session been presented before?
No

NYC 2021 Areas of Focus

Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 2 - Some prior knowledge helpful.
Session Format
Collaborative problem-solving session
Debate between opposing viewpoints
Recommended Length
90-minute session

Strongest Content Connection - NYC 2021

Comments about your speaker roster
Each of the speakers is an expert in a particular certification standard and has worked on and will present projects striving for single or multiple certification goals. They are able to share valuable information about opportunities, struggles, successes and lessons learned. Kelly Moynihan will present the Keller Center, a Living Building Petal Certification and LEED Platinum project, a 2020 AIA COTE Top Ten recipient. Ilka Cassidy will present a case study with eye opening results regarding Embodied Carbon on a large single-family home, using Passive House and Prefab strategies in combination with wood based building products. Christina Aßmann will describe how the design of Nuthatch Hollow aims at overlaying Living Building Challenge and Passive House. She will also explain how she incorporates her research into her work as an educator. Sangeetha Sambandam will share her work as project architect on a Federally funded LIHTC Passive House - Multiphase, Multifamily Affordable Housing project - Village at Park River, CT. Kristie Broussard will discuss how the WELL Building Standard aligns with the LEED, LBC, and Passive House certification systems and outline what makes WELL unique among them.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
Proposed session format: 90 min total 1. Introduction by moderator (Kristie Broussard): 5 min 2. Individual presentations, facilitated by moderator: 15 min each (60 min total) a. Kelly Moynihan (15 min) – Keller Center, Living Building Petal Certification and LEED Platinum b. Ilka Cassidy (15 min) – Embodied Carbon Research and Prefab c. Christina Aßmann (15 min) – Living Building Challenge and Passive House (PHIUS+ 2018) d. Sangeetha Sambandam (15 min) – Federally funded LIHTC Passive House - Multiphase, Multifamily Affordable Housing project - Village at Park River, CT 3. Panel Discussion/Conclusion of Findings led by moderator (15 min) 4. Q&A: 10 min
Reviewer 1
Bayer, Sara
Reviewer 2
Boren, Michaela
Curator
Boren, Michaela
Proposal #
145
Session #
206
Committee Decision
Accepted

Presenters