2014 IES Research Symposium II: Light+Behavior
The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) is presenting a symposium on the role and effects of lighting on human behavior to be held in Cleveland, Ohio USA on April 6-8, 2014.
This symposium is directed at both researchers and designers. There are three segments with content from expert invitees, one each on healthcare settings, educational settings, and urban environments. Each segment will open with a case study from a lighting designer, followed in each case by two scientists who will respond to the designer’s presentation with examples from the scientific literature and their own ongoing research. The segments each conclude with ample time for audience discussion. There is also a poster session with contributed posters, and some special social events. The symposium will wrap up with a concluding session that will pull together the ideas from the preceding sessions and leave everyone excited about the power of light and lighting to enhance our quality of life.
The online copy of Healthcare Design Magazine’s special issue on Landscape Architecture for Healthcare is out- check out the award winners for landscape architecture and the key articles. Some of my doctoral research can be found in one of the featured articles on operationalizing access to nature and what new research indicates for design implications. Enjoy!
The Royal Institute of British Architects have come up with a great report on healthy cities checklists. They use case studies to discuss how design can encourage more active cities and the cost of unhealthy places in the UK. Check out the report here.
Brightfarms, a hydroponic greenhouse company, just announced that it plans to build the world’s largest rooftop farm in Brooklyn. The 100,000 sq ft farm will grow enough food to feed 5,000 locals and create 25 new full-time jobs. The initiative is part of Bloomberg’s waterfront revitalization initiatives that aim to revitalize Brooklyn’s industrial waterfront. The rooftop farm will be able to grow up to 1 million pounds of produce a year, and prevent 1.8 million gallons of stormwater from overwhelming local waterways. For more information, check out the article in Inhabitat here.
On March 26th the Green Infrastructure Ontario (GIO) and Ecojustice released Health, Prosperity and Sustainability: The Case for Green Infrastructure in Ontario to Queen’s Park. The report outlines the benefits of adopting a cohesive green infrastructure policy, as New York City and the State of Illinois have done. In particular, the report estimates millions could be saved in traditional infrastructure costs, in addition to savings in health care from improved health and well-being, improved productivity, and climate adaptability. The report also estimates significant job creation and improved property values from the adoption of a cohesive green infrastructure provincial policy. Concrete suggestions on ways forward, as well as the necessary political and policy changes to achieve an integrated green infrastructure policy, are some of the key strengths of the report. You can find out more about the GIO coalition here, and download the report for free here.
The Catholic School Board of Toronto has been lobbying councillors and staff to exempt them from the green roof requirement of the By-law for nine new projects, arguing instead that they be allowed to install white or reflective roofs and hold 5mm of rain rather than a green roof. This is the same argument used by the industrial sector to exempt them from the Green Roof By-Law, for the second time since the By-Law was introduced.
While the green roof By-law remained relatively unscathed so far under the current Mayor Ford’s ideologically-conservative cost-cutting measures, the political climate has been tense and divisive and has focused on trying to preserve existing social services and environmental measures from cuts, rather than city-building and looking forward. This means that it is unlikely that there will be any expansion of the green roof By-law, or any environmental initiative, under the current political leadership.
This is an interesting urban greening magazine out of Brooklyn: Wilder Quarterly. They feature architects, foodies, and local food growers and is a nice blend of art and urban greening.
I recently visited both the older and newly opened sections of the High Line urban greening ‘park’ in New York while attending the annual American Association of Geographer’s conference.
Even in winter, when the plants are in their winter dormant state, the High Line is extremely popular with New Yorkers and visitors alike.
The formerly abandoned elevated rail line has been restored to an ecologically-sensitive elevated park, complete with plenty of seating and quiet places for families, couples, and solitary walkers to sit and relax and enjoy the view. It is wonderful to see urban place-making that is appreciates that urbanites are not merely consumers, and that gives them space to pause, observe, and reflect.
The aesthetic of the High Line is also indicative of a new ecological aesthetic that is becoming more and more popular in North American cities. This aesthetic combines the goal of greenspace for human use with ecological goals, such as the use of native plants, the mimicry of endangered habitats, and generally a ‘wilder’ aesthetic.
Blending rail track and vegetation aestheticView of Statue of LibertySeating on the High LineQuiet spaces for couples
Other examples of this new kind of greening are the Lurie Gardens in Chicago and the green roofs on the city halls of Chicago and Toronto. There is more planned for the High Line and you can see the unfinished sections here.
Close to Chelsea Market entranceUnfinished sections of the High LineClose to Chelsea Market entranceSeating on the High LineHigh line in winterAmphitheatre-style seatingUnfinished sections of the High Line
greeningthecity.net 