2023 ACSA/AIA Intersections Research Conference:
MATERIAL ECONOMIES

“Dive into the world of plant-based building materials with Hempstone’s introduction to Hempcrete, a bio-composite material created from the woody core of the hemp plant combined with a lime-based binder that can be used for construction and insulation. Trusted around the world as a robust, high-performance sustainable building system, Hempcrete entered the US market a decade ago and is poised to take the natural building industry by storm because it is net carbon storing, non-toxic and flame, water and pest resistant.”

Cost: $90
What: Hempcrete Workshop
When: Thursday, October 19, 2023 @ 1:00pm-4:00pm
Where: University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus

UMass Amherst is a leader in campus sustainability and is on a pathway to carbon neutraliity with initiatives that address advocacy, building, energy, food, landscape, recycling, transportation, and water. The tour will include several of the major capital projects that have transformed the campus core during the last decade including examples of adaptive reuse, sustainability, state-of-the-art new facilities, and major utility and landscape upgrades.

Cost: $30
What: Campus Sustainability Tour
When: Friday, October 20, 2023 @ 8:00am-9:00am
Where: University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus

Join us for drinks & dinner after the keynote.

Cost: $100
What: Dinner
When: Friday, October 20, 2023 @ Time: TBD
Where: University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus
Dress: Smart Casual

The 27 brutalist buildings at UMass Amherst, built between 1965 and 1975, make up about a quarter of the campus in total square footage. And over the last several years, both UMass Amherst and UMass Dartmouth have increasingly embraced their status as two of the most architecturally significant brutalist campuses in the United States.

On this tour, we will see some of the Brutalist buildings that can be found all over campus. Participants will learn about UMassBRUT an award-winning campaign designed to educate and advocate for the conservation, renovation, and reuse of Brutalist architecture throughout the UMass system.

Cost: $30
What: Campus Brutalism Walking Tour
When: Saturday, October 21, 2023 @ 8:00am-9:00am
Where: University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus

The Hitchcock Center for the Environment is home to the 23rd Certified Living Building in the world and the 4th in Massachusetts. This net zero energy building harvests and recycles its own water, uses composting toilets, and was constructed with responsibly sourced, nontoxic materials. Designed by designLAB Architects, it is a powerful teaching tool that supports a new approach to achieving environmental literacy in the 21st century. The R.W. Kern Center is the 17th certified Living Building in the world, an embodiment of Hampshire’s sustainability values in practice. Designed by Bruner/Cott Architects, it generates its own electricity, collects and treats its own water, and is built with local, non-toxic, and low-carbon materials. We will bus to Hampshire College and tour both the Hitchcock Center and the R.W. Kern Center with the project architects.

Cost: $60
What: Living Buildings Tour
When: Saturday, October 21, 2023 @ 2:00-5:00pm
Where: Hampshire College