Presented on: August 30, 2023 07:00 PM CST
The impact of building materials on the environment continues to grow in importance within the construction industry. In addition to performance, budget and aesthetics, design professionals are now being asked to evaluate the environmental burdens of their design choices. Measuring the impacts of buildings, assemblies and products can be complex. Every design decision, from material and product selection to envelope design and construction can have an impact on the environment and the methods used to evaluate those decisions are still not widely understood. This presentation will address critical issues the design professional should consider when evaluating the environmental impacts of building materials to maximize performance and deliver lasting value.
Presented by: Donn Thompson, Senior Director – Building Innovations – NRMCA
Donn C. Thompson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is the Senior Director, Building Innovations for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). Based northwest of Chicago, he supports NRMCA’s Build with Strength program, demonstrating the first cost and long-term ownership advantages of ready mixed concrete building systems throughout eight Midwest states. A licensed architect and LEED accredited, Donn has over 40 years of practical experience in design and construction, and for the last 22 years has worked in a variety of technical, promotional, and sales positions in the cement, concrete, and insulating concrete form industries.
Presented by: Frank Mruk, Senior Director – Building Innovations – NRMCA
Frank Mruk is an architect and strategist. He is a senior director of building innovations at NRMCA and a past executive director of the Center for Strategic Innovation and the Center for Smart Building Technology. He was educated at Pratt Institute, Pace University and at the University of Oxford. He has taught Architecture at the School of Visual Arts, the Rhode Island School of Design, Roger Williams University, the Parsons School of Design, New York University, and at the New York Institute of Technology where he served as associate dean for the School of Architecture and Design. Frank is a Fellow of the AIA and the Strategic Planning Society. He has served as president of AIA RI, CSI NY, and ASP NY.