The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre at University of Wollongong - under construction (New South Wales). Image courtesy of Cox Richardson.

Lecturer Jason McLennan is a nationally recognised leader in the sustainable building industry. He is the founder of the Living Building Challenge, an international green building program, and co-creator of Pharos, which is regarded as the most advanced building material rating system in North America.

The Challenge acts to diminish the gap between current limits and ideal solutions and is comprised of seven performance areas, or ‘Petals’:

  • Site
  • Water
  • Energy
  • Health
  • Materials
  • Equity
  • Beauty

Petals are subdivided into a total of twenty Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence.

Living Building Challenge certification is based on actual, rather than modeled, or anticipated, performance.

The Challenge provides a platform for creative and ambitious individuals to respond in the myriad ways needed to bring about transformative change.

In the words of one enthusiast, ‘It’s about knowing where we really want to go, and realizing we’re closer than we thought’.

Date & Time: Monday 7 November, 7pm

Venue: Prince Philip Theatre, Ground Floor, Architecture Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville

Register online: www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/events

A Living Building Challenge Training Workshop is also being conducted on Tuesday 8 November at the University. For details & to register go to: www.ve3.com.au.