studio26's Brian Baker Speaks at National Expo/Conference
On June 11, 2014, studio26’s Brian Baker, along with Susan Aiello, gave an informative green building seminar at NeoCon 2014 in Chicago, IL. The presentation was entitled “Sustainable, Small, and Spectacular – Highlights from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon“, and it revealed the latest recognition of the DOE’s Solar Decathlon competition in which 20 college teams were challenged to design, build, and operate sustainable, attractive, and cost effective net-zero energy houses. Attendees experienced how both innovative and traditional techniques contributed to maximum energy savings, and how “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” applies to water conservation as well as building materials. Furthermore, Brian and Susan discussed how “less is more” can refer not just to ornament, but to space itself, and they also reviewed sustainable building techniques that help increase comfort and safeguard health.
Joining Brian as co-presenters was Certified Interior Designer and LEED AP, Susan Aiello, who is the founder and president of Interior Design Solutions located in Manhattan, NYC. Additionally, Susan writes a blog, Green Interior Design Solutions, and has contributed to academic journals including Sustainability: The Journal of Record and the Journal of Green Building.
NeoCon is North America’s largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors, annually attended by over 40,000 architecture and design professionals; and takes place at the historic Merchandise Mart, Chicago (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654) which was once the largest building in the world when it opened in 1930.