Sustainable Building Monthly!

People, Planet, Design: A Practical Guide to Realizing Architecture’s Potential

What if great design were defined by its ability to cool the planet, heal communities, enhance ecological functioning, and advance justice? In People, Planet, Design, architect Corey Squire builds the case, provides the data, and lays out the practical tools for a transformative human-centered architecture. This approach integrates beauty and delight with an awareness of how every design choice impacts the community, the planet, and the people who will use the building. Squire suggests that by focusing on the fundamental purpose of architecture—that buildings shelter us from the elements without disconnecting us from the world, that buildings provide the quality of air, light, and views we now know to be essential to health, productivity, and joy—we can move beyond the checklist mentality that has captured much of the design community. Outcome-focused with a deep dive into practical design strategies, the book showcases ten building systems that embody design excellence.

Corey Squire, AIA, is an Associate Principal and Director of Sustainability at Bora Architects & Interiors in Portland, Oregon. As a recognized thought leader and expert in sustainable design, he has empowered multiple award-winning design firms to achieve high-performance projects across their portfolios. Corey lectures nationally on a range of sustainability-related topics and was a lead author of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and Toolkit, resources that are actively redefining excellence in the built environment.