Better Building Conference

[Denise Kleinman]

This is a new project idea that I'd like to get started. It is
something that will be built upon for a while before we get to a point
of organizing a conference.

The idea is that, as someone has had some experience as a professional
in the design and/or building realm, we sometimes come across
practices that don't make sense. Doing things the way they’ve always
been done, isn’t always necessarily the best or most efficient or
effective way.

What I would like to do is pool that collective knowledge and/of
ideas, perhaps through this forum (or maybe another way), where folks
can post their experiences and ideas for new ways of approach. These
ideas will be explored in depth for their relevance and accuracy. The
best examples will be chosen to be a part of a semi-annual conference
where AFHNY presents the ideas to relevant builders, developers and
designers. (The conference may also be a good time to promote AFHNY
and to serve as a fundraiser.)

An example of a problem and solution that is the direction I had in
mind would be the boiler issues with NYC buildings (heating/
overheating). Look up:

Chris Benedict R.A. & Henry Gifford

www.architectureandenergylimited.com

"Building Green housing that's affordable and environmentally
sustainable"

"How to build green and lean in the East Village"

If anyone is interested, please post your comments, questions and/or
ideas.

Thanks,

Denise

[Matt Charney]

Denise,

As you know, I think that this idea has a lot of potential. What do
you think is the best strategy for collecting the data (better more
efficient methods and technologies)? One method is a web based forum,
but i think that perhaps forming a small project team to do
independant research would be the best way to start. Web forums are
often hard to get people actively involved in (this one being a prime
example).

A small research team would be able to not only seek out pertinent
data, but would also be able to filter out the useful from the not-so-
useful. The next step may be to then contact these manufactures,
designers, etc. and ask them to participate in the conference.

I think another benefit of the "small group" approach would be that
you could really start out on your own, working at whatever pace you
want to. As others get interested, you could all still work
independantlly until the latter phases of the process.

Im going to bring this up again at a meeting tonight. Hopefully, we
can get this ball rolling soon. Thanks for bearing with me on what
has been a slow start to this process.


talk to you soon,
Matt

[Denise Kleinman]

Matt,

I think some ways to collect data would be this forum (which might
work better if folks knew about it), at the various afhny meetings...
I guess my idea was to put a call out, to all those interested in
helping afhny, asking for submissions (since, I'm assuming, a lot of
them are in the industry). Maybe that would happen through a simple
email (similar to my original post) to the many people who are either
already involved with afhny and/or to the many people who have showed
interest in helping afhny.

I think a research team is an approach that takes the original idea
and goes in another direction. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing,
just not what I had in mind.

Denise

> > Denise- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Cynthia Barton]

Hi,

This does sound promising. Before we solicit submissions, I think
there should be a document with examples that are very clear and
well-assimilated, and then we can give that to people as a jumping-off
place. I think showing people what we want would be the best way to
get what we're looking for. If you could compile some case studies
and incorporate content from links like the one you sent in the
initial email, that would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Cynthia

[Matt Charney]

I agree.  Including examples would be a good way to get the types of submissions that you are looking for.  I think it is important to first describe in detail "what" it is that you would be looking for.  A good way to do this would be in a descriptive project proposal.  I am working on providing a template for this, but given that this is a vastly different project than any AFH has sponsored before, you may just want to take a pass at it yourself.

 

thoughts?

 

anyone else interested in getting involved on the ground stages of this Better Buildings Conference?

[Denise Kleinman]

Matt,

Great, I'll look for the template, and maybe take a stab at it
myself.

I thought that my original description was fairly clear, but
considering the comments, I guess it isn't. So, any help with what I
could add (what is missing?) would be helpful.

Any chance a call for submissions could get a small space on the afhny
website?

Denise

On May 14, 1:49 pm, "Matt Charney" <mattchar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I agree.  Including examples would be a good way to get the types of
> submissions that you are looking for.  I think it is important to first
> describe in detail "what" it is that you would be looking for.  A good way
> to do this would be in a descriptive project proposal.  I am working on
> providing a template for this, but given that this is a vastly different
> project than any AFH has sponsored before, you may just want to take a pass
> at it yourself.
>
> thoughts?
>

> anyone else interested in getting involved on the ground stages of this *Better
> Buildings Conference*?
>
> On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Cynthia Barton <cynthia.bar...@gmail.com>

> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi,
>
> > This does sound promising.  Before we solicit submissions, I think
> > there should be a document with examples that are very clear and
> > well-assimilated, and then we can give that to people as a jumping-off
> > place.  I think showing people what we want would be the best way to
> > get what we're looking for.  If you could compile some case studies
> > and incorporate content from links like the one you sent in the
> > initial email, that would be very helpful.
>
> > Thanks,
> > Cynthia
>

> > On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 11:01 AM, Denise Kleinman <urbanpr...@yahoo.com>

> > >  > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Cynthia Barton]

Denise,
The best thing to do would as a first step would be to take the
information you're linking to and compile the important parts into a
paragraph. To get a project like this off the ground, we typically
present the idea to the Steering Committee and vote on whether AFHny
will take it on, so that will be what comes after the proposal.

Thanks,
Cynthia