Living Building Symposium in Victoria challenges current building practices

May 31 event features SIREWALL presentation on Healthy Environments and Living Buildings

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Vancouver Island Branch of the Cascadia Green Building Council is excited to host the Living Building Symposium on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at the Victoria Conference Centre. The Symposium will provide an introduction to the different elements of the Living Building Challenge – the world’s most stringent building standard. The speakers, including keynote Jason McLennan of Cascadia and Joss Krayenhoff and Keenan Turner of SIREWALL, will explore the twenty imperatives of the Living Building Challenge.

Drawing on the perspectives of architects, builders, environmental professionals and health experts, the Living Building Symposium will attempt to demystify the theory and practice of the cutting edge of green building.

SIREWALL’s Joss Krayenhoff and Keenan Turner will share a thought-provoking presentation on “Healthy Environments and Living Buildings: The Rammed Earth Process”.  “Unlike stick frame buildings that are laden with toxic finishes, preservatives, anti-fungicides and pesticides, the walls made of inorganic materials, such as brick, stone or rammed earth, need none of these toxic treatments”, says Turner.  “Inorganic walls do not feed molds or pests, and, because of their mass, they block or reduce harmful invisible rays and create a peaceful, noise-free sanctuary.”

SIREWALL rammed earth has been prominently featured in the new VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visitors Centre in Vancouver and the Nk’ Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos, along with numerous award-winning residential homes in British Columbia, the pacific northwest, and around the globe.

The Living Building Symposium is intended for industry professionals and citizens alike who are looking to make a positive change in their community. The Vancouver Island Branch of the Cascadia Green Building Council works to promote sustainability in the built environment through advocacy, education and outreach.  For more information, visit cascadiavi.org.

Living Building Symposium
Presented by: Vancouver Island Branch of the Cascadia Green Building Council
March 31, 2012 | Victoria Conference Centre
www.cascadiavi.org

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For interviews, photos and additional information, please contact:
Diana Mulvey, Tel: 604-340-1847 diana@sirewall.com www.sirewall.com

SIREWALLS are stabilized, insulated, rammed earth walls. SIREWALL’s engineered sandstone is constructed with a matrix of local soils and cement surrounding a core of insulation. SIREWALL is inorganic and therefore does not require chemical sealants or treatments. It is long lasting, rot resistant, fire resistant, and non-toxic. No other green building approach delivers this combination of ecological and health benefits. From a dream home or cottage to a winery or cultural centre, SIREWALL builds beautiful walls that are legacies for future generations.