I have a drafting table in my home. Inside, there are drawings, mylar, pencils, pens, leads, and other assorted manual drawing tools stored away. All of these tools were vital to my career at one time, and to the career of any architect working years ago. Yet they have all been replaced, as technology has created entirely new and advanced ways to design.

While I am sometimes nostalgic about hand drawing and the use of these tools, it's clear that advanced technology has not only enhanced the architectural process, it has significantly improved the buildings we design. We now create virtual buildings in 3-D— buildings that perform much better than ever before. Our designs account for and optimize energy and water use, create less waste, and preserve natural resources. Systems, aided by the 3-D models, allow for constant monitoring, adjustment, and effective preventive maintenance. Building users can even become involved, tracking their own use of natural resources and finding ways to limit their carbon footprint within a physical space.

Designing Truly Sustainable Facilities

There are very definite trends in expanding the scope and breadth of sustainability in the architectural industry today. Owners want buildings that are energy efficient, preserve natural resources, reduce cost of ownership, and provide a return on investment. More buildings will incorporate renewable energy measures and net zero buildings will eventually become our benchmark. We now need true life-cycle benefits that stand the test of time for our built environment. Professional firms that can't measure those economic costs and benefits will see their businesses erode.

I'm passionate about working on projects that change people's lives. Most of my career has been devoted to healthcare, cancer and medical research facilities, neonatal intensive care units, and rural hospitals. Just as the medical profession seeks opportunities to embrace efficient, patient-focused care, I want to continue to design and deliver healthcare facilities while simultaneously shrinking the footprint of building design and construction activities and developing truly sustainable buildings for our clients.

A Changing Profession

Technology has changed architecture in many ways over the past few decades, yet our profession is still undergoing profound changes. We're being challenged as leaders of the design process. We're required to be more knowledgeable as the pace of technology accelerates. And our buildings have to perform better than what was acceptable just a decade ago. Adoption, integration, and the creation of new sustainable design processes are fundamental to the future of architecture. Architects must perform better as well.