Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Regional factors such as climate, geography, cultural norms, and materials availability significantly affect the creation of a sustainable building. For the architect committed to creating contemporary work, how is the conflict between regional factors and issues of style resolved? See three different solutions to this conflict from architects working in the Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, and Southern California regions.

   Learning objectives:

• Analyze regional climatic, social, and technical differences in terms of how they affect the design and construction of a sustainable building
• Review different strategies used to achieve sustainability and how they are augmented by local conditions
• Discuss the importance of place in the creation of appropriate built environments