2026 East Madison Mixed-Use Building
Weinstein A|U Architects + Urban Designers LLC
2011 Future Shack Selection
Water Forum
Join us as we uncover the regulatory, behavioral and technological barriers to water reuse and water independence in buildings, and gain the knowledge and confidence to integrate responsible and sustainable water, wastewater and storm water practices into your projects.
SCHEDULE
7:30 - 8:00 REGISTRATION & COFFEE
8:00 - 8:15 WELCOME
8:15 - 9:30 WHY SHOULD WE CARE? THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS
9:30 - 11:15 REGIONAL WATER, WASTEWATER & STORMWATER ISSUES
Jason McLennan, CEO of the Cascadia Region Green Building Council moderates a lively panel discussion between leaders associated with the policy level of regulatory agencies. The conversation will address some of the most critical water, wastewater and stormwater issues facing designers and society in the coming years, including:
o Water rights, the regulatory environment & breaking through regulatory barriers
o Water supply: where it comes from; how it’s managed
o Effects of climate change on water availability
o Municipal vs. Privatized water distribution: does it matter?
o Tightening water quality standards and the impact on stormwater & treatment
o Integrated Water Management and Local/State/National Solutions
o DOE & DPD policy on rainwater harvesting
Panelists:
o Jason McLennan – Cascadia Region GBC (Moderator)
o Gene Duvernoy – Cascade Land Conservancy (Policy)
o Dan Williams – DWA Design (Planning)
o Paul Fleming – SPU Climate & Sustainability (Water)
o Christie True – Director, King County Wastewater Treatment Division (Wastewater)
o Tracy Tackett – SPU Program Manager (Stormwater)
LUNCH BREAK & SPONSOR EXHIBITS WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN LOCAL NON-RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS Jonathan Morely, The Berger Partnership
11:30 - 12:15
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?
5th graders from Evergreen Academy in Bothell
This session presents what children are learning about the water challenges we all face (many seem to know more than the average adult!). Through their eyes, we will discuss water issues as they relate to sustainability and examine the legacy we are leaving for future generations.
12:15 - 1:00
1:00 - 1:50
ACHIEVING WATER INDEPENDENCE IN BUILDINGS
Jon Gray, Interface Engineering with SERA Architects
How do we overcome the regulatory, behavioral and technological barriers to water reuse & water independence in buildings? The presenters will describe, through a case study of an affordable housing project in Portland, how a commitment to achieving the water petal in the Living Building Challenge, led to a two-year study that resulted in successful legal and administrative changes associated with greywater reuse in Oregon. This will be followed by a discussion of how these lessons might apply to the regulatory environment in Washington.
2:00 - 2:50
EMERGING WATER TECHNOLOGIES IN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
Mark Buehrer - 2020 Engineering
A review of rainwater harvesting & graywater collection systems at the single-family project scale, including a discussion of technological barriers, initial and operating costs, and the challenges presented by the local regulatory agencies.
Using case studies of a number of local projects, this seminar will focus on specific water management strategies that were employed. Conceptual systems overview, technical details as well as lessons learned will be presented.
3:00 - 3:50
SWITCH
Rachel Cardone, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
A visioning of sustainable water management in cities (15 cities around the world) including recent findings, linking governance or financing to architecture design. One angle could be on some research that’s taken place on urban ag/use of wastewater which could integrate into a discussion around “reality” in most of the world as relates to urban wastewater reuse.
WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST
Marla Smith-Nilson, Water 1st & Simon Reynolds, Arup
The impact of the global water crisis is felt most severely in third-world countries where resources are scarce and the lack of water profoundly affects people’s quality of life. Case studies from Ethiopia and Nigeria will show the impacts of water shortages on human health and well-being and the hands-on efforts that help give life through water to these communities.
4:00 - 4:45
ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT PROJECT GOALS
Jack Mowreader & Nick Taylor – Arup
An interactive session helping participants learn how to establish the sustainable goals & opportunities on their future projects and which are the right questions to ask up front on future projects. Through an abbreviated demonstration of a structured and proven water workshop process, Arup will demonstrate the tools necessary to run similar workshops, tailoring them to the specific needs of the project.
4:45 - 5:00
WHAT’S NEXT FOR WATER? & CLOSING
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
SILVER
BRONZE
Archvista
The Berger Partnership
CDi Engineers
Coffman Engineers
Hargis Engineers
Ideate
Interface Engineering
MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
Puget Sound Energy
Skellenger Bender
SvR Design Company
Walsh Construction
Wood Harbinger
