Co-Author William McDonough Speaks On Earth Day To Feature New Book: The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability--Designing For Abundance

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On Earth Day, William McDonough, co-author of The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability—Designing for Abundance, sustainability advisor to business and government leaders, and renowned green architect, will share his and his co-author Michael Braungart's powerful vision for a positive future, talking about how an outlook focused on "more good" can be incorporated in our studies, careers, and lives. He'll be speaking at American University School of International Service Building, which was designed by his firm in 2010.

Join Bill for a talk and signing:
When: Monday, April 22 | Earth Day | 11 am—Noon
Where: School of International Service, Abramson Family Founders' Room
RSVP: http://billmcdonough.eventbrite.com
Watch live: http://www/ustream.tv/channel/william-mcdonough

As part of American University's Earth Month 2013: An Active Pursuit of Sustainability, Bill McDonough will discuss his and Michael Braungart's new book: The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability—Designing for Abundance, which includes a foreword by President Bill Clinton. At the event, Bill will address how humans can transcend our role as stewards of the planet to become co-creators of the simplest invention ever— abundance.

After Bill's speech in the Abramson Family Founders' Room, a book signing will immediately follow in the daylit atrium. The atrium was designed by William McDonough + Partners to provide a warm welcoming meeting place for the School and its visitors, as they work towards solving global problems. His work on the building was a collaboration with the School of International Service to reflect a robust understanding of responsible human settlement that involves the social, economic, and ecological considerations of every site, community, and society. A perforated frieze on the building exterior was inspired by the Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion map of the world; Fuller was an inspiration to McDonough's thinking and career, and his world view maps elegantly to the School of International Service mission. The LEED Gold certified building also represents the University's environmental values and responsibility, which includes on site generation of renewable energy, Cradle to Cradle material specifications, and abundant fresh air and daylight.

AMAZON SAYS ABOUT THE UPCYCLE: BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY—DESIGNING FOR ABUNDANCE:

"The Upcycle is the eagerly awaited follow-up to Cradle to Cradle, one of the most consequential ecological manifestoes of our time. Now, drawing on the lessons gained from 10 years of putting the Cradle to Cradle concept into practice with businesses, governments, and ordinary people, William McDonough and Michael Braungart envision the next step in the solution to our ecological crisis: We don't just use or reuse resources with greater effectiveness, we actually improve the world as we live, create, and build. For McDonough and Braungart, the questions of resource scarcity and sustainability are questions of design. They are practical-minded visionaries: They envision beneficial designs of products, buildings, and business practices—and they show us these ideas being put to use around the world as everyday objects like chairs, cars, and factories are being reimagined not just to sustain life on the planet but to grow it. It is an eye-opening, inspiring tour of our future as it unfolds in front of us. The Upcycle is as ambitious as such classics as Rachel Carson's Silent Spring—but its mission is very different. McDonough and Braungart want to turn on its head our very understanding of the human role on earth: Instead of protecting the planet from human impact, why not redesign our activity to improve the planet? We can have a beneficial footprint. Abundance for all. The goal is within our reach."

ABOUT William McDonough
William McDonough is a globally recognized leader in sustainable development. Trained as an architect, McDonough's interests and influence range widely, and he works at scales from the global to the molecular. Time magazine recognized him in 1999 as a "Hero for the Planet," stating that "his utopianism is grounded in a unified philosophy that—in demonstrable and practical ways—is changing the design of the world."  McDonough is the founder of William McDonough + Partners, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. McDonough co-authored Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things in 2002 with German chemist Dr. Michael Braungart; the book is widely acknowledged as a seminal text in the sustainable design movement.

ABOUT Sustainability at American University
American University is committed to acting on its values through social responsibility, service, and an active pursuit of sustainability. The university is a signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), and has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2020. Towards that end, it has installed the largest solar panel array in Washington, DC and the largest solar hot water system on the east coast. The new School of International Service Building, designed by William McDonough + Partners, with architect of record Quinn Evans, is LEED Gold certified, with 25 additional campus buildings in the LEED certification process. AU boasts ten green roof systems, more than any university in Washington. American University is among the few universities nationwide to have received a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education through the release of a public sustainability report.

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SOURCE McDonough Advisors