I recently had the opportunity to work on the new LEED Silver^® CougarPlex at Illinois Central College (ICC) here in Peoria. Although I became involved late in the project delivery, I quickly came to appreciate the facility's dramatic, cutting-edge design and its sustainable measures—from an expansive green roof to the highly efficient mechanical systems. The building performance is about 40 percent more energy-efficient than a traditional facility of this size.

The sustainable profile of the CougarPlex is emblematic of ICC's commitment to conserving natural resources, and helped the college earn a bronze rating in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's STARS program, which tracks sustainable performance on campuses nationwide.

I've spent a lot of time on the ICC campus, so I'm especially pleased to see the success of the CougarPlex. Before earning my B.S. degree in architecture at Lawrence Technological University, I received an A.S. in architecture at ICC. I later returned to ICC as an adjunct professor, teaching a course entitled "Environmental Systems of Buildings." While I am a practicing architect, teaching this course furthered my interest and knowledge of building engineering, which is clearly integral to sustainable design. We explored a range of systems in this class, from HVAC and lighting design to acoustics and sanitation.

Keep Learning... and Listening

I advise any young architect or student of architecture to become involved with the U.S. Green Building Council if they want to focus on sustainable building strategies. But a basic understanding and appreciation of the role of building engineering is equally important. Most architects learn a little about engineering in our undergraduate architectural curriculum, but the learning—and listening—shouldn't stop there. Fortunately for me, our in-house engineering team is just down the hall in our Peoria office—an advantage that exists in many of Dewberry's offices. Our proximity enables us to collaborate easily from the first day of design through to the final phases.

My experience as a student, professor, and professional has all led me to the same conclusion—that today, more than ever, an integrated approach to design—one that considers, respects, and draws inspiration from the engineering profession—is vital to achieving enhanced building performance.