Over the next 30 years global population will double, with most of this growth occurring in cities. Such rapid urbanization will transform areas of native vegetation to built surfaces, which will create urban heat islands (UHIs). However, research on innovative urban materials is taking place at the National Center of Excellence (NCE) at Arizona State University. This seminar will present several of NCE’s research projects that focus on optimizing the design of the physical characteristics of cool pavement and building materials.

   Learning objectives:

• Discuss why UHI is a serious environmental concern and why architects need to addressthis issue
• Analyze how urban material selection can affect the creation of UHIs
• Review the characteristics urban materials will need to have in order to mitigate UHI effect