Speaker: Thomas Auer
Managing Director, Transsolar (Germany)

Topic: High Comfort - Low Impact

Description: "How can we create beautiful buildings that increase the comfort and productivity of inhabitants and yet have little or no impact on the environment? Thomas Auer, Managing Director of international climate engineering firm Transsolar, will speak about how his firm approaches this question by developing climate and energy concepts through the recognition that environmental conditions are influenced by all aspects and stages of building design.  Thomas will share ideas on how to incorporate natural processes into building design as a way to replace often inefficient and unsustainable mechanical systems, and how to utilize an Integrated Design Process for projects by bringing together architects, mechanical engineers and consultants to better create "High Comfort - Low Impact" buildings.  Thomas will speak about experiences from his recent projects, including the Manitoba Hydro tower, which incorporates a geothermal heating and cooling system, and a planned carbon-neutral neighborhood in Toronto."

Bio: Trained as a Process Engineer at the Technical University in Stuttgart, Thomas is a partner and Managing Director of Transsolar, a climate engineering firm with offices in Stuttgart, Munich and New York. A specialist in the fields of integrated building systems and energy efficient building design, Thomas has worked in collaboration with internationally known architects and developed energy concepts for projects around the world noted for their innovative design and low energy use. Such concepts have incorporated both interior and exterior comfort in the design of low carbon projects from individual building scale to urban district scale.Among his projects in Germany are the KFW Bank office building in Frankfurt, the new spa in Bad Aibling, and the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. The office tower for Manitoba Hydro in Winnipeg, Canada is considered one of the most energy efficient high rise buildings in North America. Other projects include the passive design for the French School in Damascus and urban developments in Toronto, Paris and Casablanca. Outside of Transsolar, Thomas teaches at Yale University School of Architecture, and he speaks frequently at conferences and symposia.

Date: April 26, 2010

Location: University of Oregon White Stag Building, 70 NW Couch St., Portland, OR 97204

Time: Doors open at 5:00PM, Lecture begins at 5:30PM

Cost: Cascadia Members and students; Free (RSVP MANDATORY)
General Audience; $10

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Transformational Lecture Series aims to inspire all building industry professionals to embrace their role in creating as sustainable built environment now, as well as ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to all development in the future. Taking the lead from the Living Future 2010 tag line, “Hope: Revaluing Community,” Oregon’s Transformational Lecture Series will establish a through-line for revaluing the greater community of Oregon by addressing the enormous challenges confronting the state of Oregon and the importance of moving to a more self-sufficient economy for a secure and sustainable future. In an effort to both reduce cost and carbon emissions, and to inspire the local community, most speakers are notable local heroes and reside in the Pacific Northwest.