October 18, 2011 Research of UT Associate Professor Expands Net-Zero Energy and Sustainable Design Scholarship

Mark DeKay, an associate professor in architecture, is committed to advancing research on climatic and net-zero energy design issues and theoretical sustainable design thinking. Recently, the work of the UT faculty member has been documented through two research achievements, the recent publication of his book, Integral Sustainable Design, Transformative Perspectives, and this month’s winning of the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) Upjohn Research Grant.

The AIA Upjohn Grant, a joint-effort with University of Oregon Professor G.Z. Brown, will develop a knowledge structure intended for bioclimatic design. A central principle of sustainable design, DeKay’s bioclimatic design research is specifically targeted to help designers create better net-zero energy structures.

DeKay’s work is integrated into architecture and sustainable design curriculums at UT and beyond. His earlier book, Sun, Wind & Light has been used in over 60 schools across North America. The research for the Upjohn Grant will be tested by UT College of Architecture and Design students and developed for future applications for practitioners and scholars alike.

The associate professor’s recent book, Integral Sustainable Design, Transformative Perspectives, explains practical and theoretical tools for more effective sustainable design solutions. “The ISD book takes the sustainable design subject, which has historically been all about technology and breaks open the field by laying out a framework with 16 different ways to look at sustainable design,” says DeKay. “It honors the performance-based approach, but helps designers think about the sustainable design problem in new ways.”

DeKay’s book, Integral Sustainable Design, Transformative Perspectives is available through Earthscan here.

C O N T A C T:

Kiki Roeder, kroeder@utk.edu

Related Projects & People

Mark DeKay

Gallery