EPA and Three Partners Launch Design Challenge

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and three sustainable building industry partners have launched the “Lifecycle Building Challenge” competition, inviting the nation’s architects, builders, recyclers, educators and students to submit ideas that facilitate the reuse of materials from buildings undergoing disassembly.

The challenge, co-sponsored by the Building Materials Reuse Association, the American Institute of Architects and West Coast Green, asks professionals and students nationwide to submit designs and ideas by May 15 that support cost-effective disassembly and anticipate how current materials might be recycled for future use.

The challenge, open to constructed and planned buildigns, has three main categories:

• Building: an entire building from foundation to roof
• Component: a single building assembly, system, or connector
• Service: a tool, method or other idea

Outstanding entries in each category will be recognized and publicized, and top student designs will receive cash awards. All winners will be honored at the West Coast Green Conference in San Francisco in September.

Students, architects, reuse experts, engineers, builders, product designers, educators and environmental advocates are encouraged to apply for the web-based competition.

For more information or to enter the competition, visit http://www.lifecyclebuilding.org.