U.S. EPA, Partners Announce Green Building Design Challenge

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its partners are calling on the nation’s architects, builders and others to participate in a competition seeking designs that facilitate reuse and minimize waste.

The Lifecycle Building Challenge, co-sponsored by the Building Materials Reuse Association, the American Institute of Architects and West Coast Green, invites professionals and students nationwide to submit designs and ideas by May 15 that support cost-effective disassembly and anticipate the future use of building materials.

Students, architects, reuse experts, engineers, builders, product designers, educators and environmental advocates are encouraged to apply for the Web-based competition.

The challenge, open to built and un-built work, has three main categories:

• Building—an entire building from foundation to roof
• Component—a single building assembly, system or connector
• Service—a tool, method or other idea

Outstanding entries in each category will be recognized and publicized, and top student designs will receive cash awards. All winners will be honored at the West Coast Green Conference in San Francisco in September. More information is available at www.lifecyclebuilding.org.