"Can Technology Save Us? Global and National Implications of Innovations in Building Design"

Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 @ 7 p.m.
Location: The Forum

Volker Hartkopf
Carnegie Mellon University

Professor Volker Hugo Hartkopf from Carnegie Mellon University will speak about recent advances in the design of office buildings. He will argue that more livable and energy efficient spaces can be created by using a highly integrated approach that considers such diverse facets as occupant’s comfort and productivity, organizational flexibility and effectiveness, technological adaptability, energy and environmental effectiveness, and security and reliability. Moreover, he has found that some of the most useful technologies for heating and lighting buildings in an energy efficient way were first developed in the 1800s. He will speak about his experiences with the design of buildings for the Carnegie Mellon University campus such as the Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace.

Dr. Hartkopf is an internationally recognized expert on the impact of advanced technology upon the physical, environmental, and social settings in office buildings. As Professor of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon he is the founder and Director of the Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics in the School of Architecture. He has also created and directs an international design consortium linking building industries, government agencies and academia. Author of over 100 technical publications: books, journal articles, reports and conference proceedings, he has realized building projects in Germany, Bangladesh, Peru and the United States and has been recognized with numerous awards for his designs and educational initiatives.