National Building Museum Expands “Green House” Programming

Lectures, youth activities, a festival, and an expo will serve to further educate museum-goers.

by Meaghan O'Neill -- Interior Design, 8/18/2006

With the trend toward green building on the rise, Washington, D.C.’s National Building Museum—dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and planning—is expanding its offerings to reflect the times. This fall, the museum will build upon its popular current exhibition “The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design,” which runs through June 3, 2007, to include programming that teaches homeowners, architects, interior designers, and planners even more about green building principals with practical how-to sessions, general and technical lectures, family activities, and programs that cater to young audiences.

From September through November, the museum's calendar of events includes lectures on incorporating sustainable principles into home and building projects by architects and experts such as Paolo Soleri, Lori Ryker, Ralph Knowles, Dennis Creech, and Dean Hill. Topics include new experimentations in sustainable urban planning, architecture, and design; off-the-grid strategies; efficient use of natural resources; and efficient energy consumption for small commercial buildings.

The Museum's signature family event, the Festival of the Building Arts, held October 7, will feature hands-on activities, demonstrations, and alternative building materials such as cob and straw bale. From October 2006 through early June 2007, visiting school groups in grades four through nine can register for special green programs. Plus, the Museum's fall semester of the Design Apprenticeship Program for middle and high school students will challenge participants to conceive and construct projects demonstrating sustainable principles using environmentally-friendly materials.

A one-day home renovation expo, called Greenovation: An Expo for the Home, will also be held on Saturday, November 18. Its goal: to provide information about how to make environmentally conscious lifestyle and design choices. Workshops will address topics such as green kitchens, healthy homes, sustainable landscaping, and money-saving techniques. Sample products will also be on display. Entrance to the expo, as well as to the museum, is free.