About

Sustainability

As stated in the 1987 Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future, Sustainable Development is:

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In its original context, this definition was stated solely from the human perspective. In order to truly embrace the idea, the meaning must be expanded to allow all parts of nature to meet their own needs both now and in the future.

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design requires an awareness of both the short and long-term consequences of any transformation of the environment. As noted from the 2000 World’s Fair in Hannover, Germany, sustainable design is the conception and realization of environmentally sensitive and responsible expression as a part of the evolving matrix of nature.

The Hannover Principles

The Hannover Principles should be seen as a living document committed to the transformation and growth in the understanding of our interdependence with nature, so that they may adapt as our knowledge of the world evolves.

1. Insist on rights of humanity and nature to co-exist.
2. Recognize interdependence.
3. Respect relationships between spirit and matter.
4. Accept responsibility for the consequences of design decisions.
5. Create safe objects of long-term value.
6. Eliminate the concept of waste.
7. Rely on natural energy flows.
8. Understand the limitations of design.
9. Seek constant improvement by the sharing of knowledge.

—William McDonough & Partners. The Hannover Principles: Design for Sustainability

Our Commitment

It is the mission of the College of Design, Construction, and Planning to transform these guiding principles into practices. Our program is structured around critical-design projects, ongoing workshops, and individual research initiatives through the support of a very dedicated staff and faculty. We strive to produce scholars at the forefront of the sustainability movement, who remember to keep the natural environment as their founding inspiration for design in the built environment. This program is committed to fostering sustainable behaviors that enhance the overall quality of designs and the environments in which they exist.

Our Students

The Bachelor of Science in Sustainability and the Built Environment is now gaining strength with the admission of its third set of students. The program is now up to 15 students coming from various backgrounds, with another group being admitted in the fall. The first graduates will be part of the Spring 2010 Commencement Ceremony.

Our Faculty

Architecture

Vandana Baweja
Position: Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise: Global Histories of Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism; Colonial Architecture and Urbanism; Modern South Asia
e-mail: vbaweja@ufl.edu

Nancy Clark
Position: Associate Professor and Assistant Director. Coordinator of the UF SoA Graduate Program.
e-mail: nmclark@ufl.edu
Office: 256 ARCH

Martin Gold
Position: Associate Professor and Interim Director.
e-mail: mgold@ufl.edu
Office: 234 ARCH

Michael Kuenstle
Position: Associate Professor. NCARB Representative.
e-mail: kuenstle@ufl.edu
Office: 250 ARCH

Bradley Walters
Position: Assistant Professor. AIA
Areas of Expertise: Sustainability
e-mail: Bradley.walters@ufl.edu

Building Construction

Kevin Grosskopf Ph.D.
Position: Assistant Professor
e-mail: kgro@ufl.edu
Office: 336 RNK

Charles J. Kibert Ph.D.
Position: Professor
Areas of Expertise: Sustainable Construction, Deconstruction, Green Buildings, Green Building Assessment, Operations Research Applied to Sustainable Construction Problems, Ethics of Sustainability
e-mail: ckibert@ufl.edu
Office: 342 RNK

Esther Obonyo
Position: Assistant Professor
e-mail: obonyo@ufl.edu
Office: 329 RNK

Robert J. Ries Ph.D.
Position: Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise: Sustainability. Sustainable Construction.
e-mail: rries@ufl.edu
Office: 311 RNK

Interior Design

Maruja Torres-Antonini
Position: Associate Professor
Areas of Expertise: Interior Design, Environmental and Social Sustainability, Housing and Residential Environments
e-mail: mta@dcp.ufl.edu
Office: 350 ARCH

Nam-Kyu Park
Position: Assistant Professor
e-mail: npark@ufl.edu
Office: 444 ARCH

Landscape Architecture

Glenn Acomb
Position: Lecturer of Landscape Architecture. Registered Landscape Architect: Florida, Georgia and Texas
Areas of Expertise: Sustainable Design and Construction
e-mail: acomb@ufl.edu
Office: 434 ARCH

Margaret H. Carr
Position: Professor of Landscape Architecture, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Student and Academic Affairs, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of URP Affiliate Faculty, Center for Latin American Studies
e-mail: mcarr@ufl.edu
Office: 331D ARCH

Tom Hoctor Ph.D.
Position: Director of the Center for Landscape and Conservation Planning, DCP Research Program Director Department of Landscape Architecture Research Associate, GeoPlan Center Department of Urban and Regional Planning
e-mail: tomh@geoplan.ufl.edu
Office: 336 ARCH

Kevin Thompson
Position: Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, Registered Landscape Architect Western Australia
e-mail: gday@ufl.edu
Office: 440 ARCH

Kay Williams
Position: Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Registered Landscape Architect: Florida, FASLA
e-mail: willsk@ufl.edu
Office: 456 ARCH

Urban and Regional Planning

Gene Boles
Position: Program Manager of the Community Outreach Partnership Program
Areas of Expertise: Sustainability
e-mail: gboles@ufl.edu

Kathryn Frank
Position: Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise: Environmental Planning, Ecosystem and Watershed Management, Collaborative Planning, Adaptive Governance, Civic Engagement, Systems Theory
e-mail: kifrank@ufl.edu

Dawn Jourdan Ph.D., J.D.
Position: Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise: Affordable Housing, Community Planning, Growth Management, Historic Preservation, Participatory Community Development, Sustainability, Intergenerational Participation
e-mail: dwnjrdn@aol.com
Office: 469 ARCH

Joseli Macedo Ph.D.
Position: Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator
Areas of Expertise: Community Planning, Cross-Cultural Design, Global Contexts, Housing Studies, International Planning, Sustainability, Urban Design
e-mail: joseli@ufl.edu
Office: 436 ARCH

Ruth Steiner Ph.D.
Position: Associate Professor
e-mail: rsteiner@ufl.edu
Office: 464 ARCH

Paul Zwick Ph.D.
Position: Professor, Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Programs, Ph. D. Director, Director of GeoPlan Center
Areas of Expertise: Sustainability
e-mail: pdzwick@ufl.edu
Office: 431 ARCH