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Join AIA Philadelphia’s Committee on the Environment for a 90-minute panel discussion exploring real-world lessons from collaborative design charrettes. This session brings together an owner, contractor, architect, landscape architect to discuss how early project decisions shape long-term outcomes in wellness. Through case-based conversation, panelists will examine how physical, financial, social, and political factors influence sustainability, health, durability, and resiliency goals. The discussion will also address strategies for effective collaboration, navigating budget constraints, and meeting increasingly rigorous energy and carbon requirements in different jurisdictions.
The panel will be moderated by Adele Houghton, FAIA, DrPH, author of Architectural Epidemiology, and will include perspectives from higher education, design, construction, and landscape architecture. Audience questions will be encouraged.
Moderator: Adele Houghton FAIA, Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Harvard University
Owner: Roderick Wolfson, Senior Planner/Project Manager, Swarthmore College
Architect: Chris Lee, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, LFA, Principal, Jacobs Wyper
Landscape Architect: Laura Hansplant, Principal and CEO, Studio Sustena
Contractor: Alex Byard, Contract Manger, IMC Construction
Learning objectives:
1. Identify key factors, opportunities and constraints, both physical, economic (NPV), social and political, influencing sustainability, health, durability, and resiliency goals.
2. Discuss how to encourage collaboration to optimize the combined intelligence of the entire team, stakeholders, and community to enforce codes, standards, sustainability goals, and accreditation requirements.
3. What information should be gathered from the owner, site, stakeholders and the community at large to guide the decision tree for the project, site, and program to benefit the community, long-term, as well as the owners and immediate users of the building/ site.
4. How to deal with budget constraints while upholding the long-term goals and vision for a durable, healthy, and resilient project.
5. Explore the various sustainability measures and requirements of jurisdictions with certain high-energy/carbon standards (i.e., NYC, Mass).
This session is ideal for architects, engineers, planners, owners, contractors, students, and anyone interested in how integrated project teams can deliver healthier, more sustainable buildings.
Thank you to 2026 Allied Members +Partners:
