Sustainable Building: A Healthy, Circular Future

The second course in the "Sustainable Building: Healthier Material Framework" program dives into the principles and practice of integrated design and project planning.  Learners will explore strategies that prioritize collaboration among critical stakeholders to drive healthier material decisions from concept through construction. Emphasis is placed on early-phase planning, interdisciplinary coordination, and lifecycle thinking to reduce toxic chemical exposures, minimize embodied carbon, and align with sustainable building certifications.  Full curriculum below.

CURRICULUM

4 Chapters · 11 Lessons

  1. 1

    A HEALTHY, CIRCULAR FUTURE

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction: Integrated Design Process + Practice Makes Perfect

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Communicating Decisions and Articulating Product Criteria

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Integrated Project Planning: Involving Critical Stakeholders

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Reconciling Material Health and Energy Efficiency

  2. 2

    TEAMS REQUIRED FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      INTRODUCTION: WHAT ARE THE TEAMS?

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      COMMUNICATING STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING THE TEAM

  3. 3

    DESIGN TEAM

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      MATERIAL CATEGORIES: WHERE TO KEEP AN EYE PEELED

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      RECAP: DESIGN TEAM

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      DISCUSSION 7: HOW TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES

  4. 4

    CONTRACTOR TEAM

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      MATERIALS PROCUREMENT AND HANDLING

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      RECAP: CONSTRUCTION TEAM

"I have been studying sustainability alongside architecture throughout my professional and academic career, and can attest that this course has more than filled the gaps in my knowledge regarding the material health associated with the built environment."

- Brendan, Architect

Resources to Design a Healthier Future

We are Healthy Materials Lab, a design research lab at Parsons School of Design. We’re here to help you design and build healthier homes, communities and environments.