Presenters and Keynote Speaker Announced for Annual Education Day and Expo DesignColumbus 2015

COLUMBUS, OHIO – (Feb. 25, 2015) – The Columbus Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and the U.S. Green Building Council Central Ohio Chapter (USGBC-COH) – co-hosts of the annual education day and expo DesignColumbus – announce the list of presenters for their 2015 event.

DesignColumbus 2015 will be held Monday, Apr. 20 at the Center for Science and Industry (COSI), located at 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Doug Kridler, President and CEO of The Columbus Foundation. The Columbus Foundation is the seventh largest community foundation in the U.S. and its mission is to assist donors and others in strengthening and improving the Columbus community for the benefit of all its residents. Kridler’s presentation will discuss The Columbus Foundation’s Green Funds, a group of funds dedicated to providing grants for sustainable programs in the Columbus area. The Green Funds are overseen by an advisory committee comprised of volunteer community leaders and visionaries who support the Foundation’s green grantmaking. The Green Funds group will also be the official sponsor of the keynote presentation.

Twelve educational seminars will be offered:

• The Roofspace Battle: PV vs Skylights and Other Technologies in Net-Zero Energy Capable FacilitiesSpeaker: Gregory Raffio, Go Sustainable Energy In a net zero energy (NZE) facility, the roof is an important source for energy savings and production. A project can utilize passive solar design, reflective roof surfaces, a green roof, skylights, and renewable energy generation. This presentation will discuss how, when implementing these technologies in energy efficient or NZE projects, competition for roof space occurs.
• Preserving a Community Landmark: A Historic Factory Becomes a Modern OfficeSpeakers: Shaun Holloway, Association of College and University Housing Officers - International; Sallie Traxler, Association of College and University Housing Officers - International The presenters share the successes and challenges endured through the transformation of a historical building into a modern, commercial office space, while embracing the impact on the surrounding community, neighborhood, and historical registry.
• Ohio's K-12 Energy Conservation & Sustainable InitiativesSpeakers: Ron Spangler, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; Lisa A. Laney, Ohio Facilities Construction CommissionLearn how the State of Ohio is assisting public K-12 school districts across Ohio with Energy Conservation Projects for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), both existing facilities certification and LEED for Schools certification, for new and renovated schools.
• Sorting Out the Alphabet Soup of Sustainability: LCAs, EPDs and HPDsSpeaker: Lisa Britton, Industrial Louvers Inc. A multitude of rating systems and product labels is creating confusion in the building industry. This course covers the basics of three types of reporting: Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs). 
• Riversouth District: A Case StudySpeakers: David B. Meleca, David B. Meleca Architects, LLC; Chase Miller, Lifestyle Communities This session will focus on Lifestyle Communities’ Riversouth District development, specifically targeting the Trautman Residential Development as a case study in three parts. 
• The New James - The Purpose and Process for SustainabilitySpeakers: Karen Joslin, Joslin Consulting; Dr. David E. Schuller, The Ohio State University; Paul Lenz, The Ohio State UniversityThis presentation will cover the highlights of The New James building project and describe the purpose and special function of the facility. It will include discussion of some of the challenges overcome, such as associated projects, campus location and a new design and delivery method.
• Urban Transformation & Community BuildingSpeaker: Mike Suriano, NBBJThrough three case studies local to Columbus (Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Building 3, Driving Park Library and 250 High), the session will explore how different typologies present distinct opportunities in sustainable design practices as tools for urban revitalization and community building. In addition to active design strategies specific to each building type, the session will also explore how unique passive responses to design problems can have a huge impact on use, user mindset, and future growth and stewardship.
• Designing for Net Zero EnergySpeakers: Kirk Paisley, M+A Architects; Jacqueline Langhals, M+A ArchitectsThis panel presentation will discuss the need for the building industry to collectively understand the value of NZE projects. With diverse views from designers, builders and owners, the session will provide insight into the design process for NZE buildings.
• Performance and Beauty - Integrating Sustainability and DesignSpeakers: Eric Thompson, NBBJ; Justin Gantz, NBBJHighlighting the intersection of "performance and beauty," this session explores how sustainability and design are integrated through a research and simulation based design process, targeting especially early planning decisions, massing and passive measures.
• Upcycling St. Clair: Project Design & Neighborhood Redevelopment through Analysis & BrandingSpeakers: Andrea Bruno, St Clair Superior Development Corporation; Gregory Soltis, RDL Architects; Kevin Dreyfuss-Wells, RDL Architects; Ron Lloyd, RDL ArchitectsHistoric structures, such as the old east Ohio Gas research facility in St. Clair, can be the catalyst for the resurgence of an historic neighborhood. Learn the details of how this facility was researched for a conceptual project that involved a rigorous neighborhood analysis and many stakeholder meetings.
• Transforming Columbus by Transforming TravelSpeaker: Richard Harnish, Midwest High Speed Rail AssociationThis presentation will explore connecting Columbus to the rest of the Midwest, increasing travel options in Ohio and making high-speed rail become a reality.
• Preparing for LEED v4, ASHRAE 90.1, and 2030 Challenge with Building ModelingSpeakers: Ryan Hoffman, Heapy Engineering; David Deal, Heapy EngineeringThis session will explain the value proposition of energy and daylight modeling, including the essential functionality and expected outcomes of energy modeling. Demonstrative case studies will be provided, along with comparisons of modeled versus actual post-occupancy performance.

DesignColumbus’ twelve educational seminars -- along with the expo -- present current and future development of technologies for all leaders in Central Ohio who create buildings and communities. Attendees and participants are representatives of the entire project team, including architects, designers, engineers, owners, developers, government officials, municipal planners, facility managers, contractors, construction managers, construction specifiers, manufacturers, product representatives and others.

AIA and GBCI continuing education units (CEUs) are available for each education session. These CEU opportunities are of tremendous value to architects, engineers and LEED Accredited Professionals interested in maintaining their credentials in an ever more competitive marketplace.

Platinum sponsors for this year’s event include Olson Architectural Products, Inc.; Thomas & Marker Construction; MechoSystems; Marvin Windows and Doors; and DuPont Tyvek Weatherization Systems.

Attendee registration for the event opens at 7 a.m. and education sessions begin at 8 a.m. The event will conclude with a happy hour from 4- 5:30 p.m.

Attendees can register and find additional information at http://designcolumbus.org or contact Jim McDonald, CSI Columbus Chapter, at organizer@designcolumbus.org.  

Founded in 1958, the Columbus Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) encompasses members from all disciplines - architects, engineers, specifiers, contractors, subcontractors, product representatives, owners and facilities managers - of the design and construction industry throughout Central Ohio. The chapter strives to advance construction technology through a variety of educational, certification and other communication venues.

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501 c3 non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. The Central Ohio Chapter of the U.S Green Building Council provides the local voice of the U.S Green Building Council mission: To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

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