Ricardo K. Pineda PE, Plantronics Inc., Santa Cruz, Calif.
Gary Seshagiri, AIA, Bechtel National Inc., San Francisco

      Architects now have more opportunities to work with diverse clients and users in cross-cultural environments everywhere. Using a green building complex in China as a case study example, we’ll identify effective ways of cross-cultural communications, innovative techniques for identifying user needs and design influences, and strategies for maximizing the use of local materials, methods, and systems to provide high-performance buildings.

Learning objectives:

• Identify effective ways of cross-cultural communications with diverse clients and users
• Develop innovative techniques for identifying cross-cultural user needs and design influences
• Describe strategies for maximizing the use of local materials, methods, and systems to provide high-performance buildings.