August 6^th, the Inaugural Natural Talent Design Competition entries were on display at the Integrated Design Lab in downtown Boise. Put on by the Emerging Green Builders Idaho, a USGBC Committee, the architectural design competition was open to university students and individuals with less than 5 years experience in the building industry. The challenge was to design a Habitat for Humanity sustainable prototype house. The judging criteria was based on:

· Conceptual design and program fulfillment: how the project’s vision meets the provided requirements

· Integration of green design strategies and applicability to LEED® criteria

· Creativity in process, design, and innovation

· Engagement of environmental, economic, and social aspects of program and site

· Overall energy reduction and its documentation

Dave and his fiancé Jyl Beveridge collaborated on their entry for the competition. With the goal being to eliminate the philosophy of “design is not always synonymous with green architecture or building practices,” their design focused on aesthetics as well as sustainability. Using LEED® Homes as a basis of design, Dave and Jyl created a symbiosis of high design and green architecture. Focusing on material selection, landscaping and energy performance, they achieved their goal to attain a LEED® Platinum certification. The aesthetics of the design were based on some of the Pacific Northwest’s eclectic design tendencies, utilizing a multitude of material types to delineate the building mass.

BRS Architects was a certified sponsor of the event, providing resources and materials for the EGB Group. Ed Ostrom, an intern for BRS, has been an active member on the EGB Committee for two years. BRS has not only taken a role as a sponsor, but have also supported and provided resources to the group since they formed in 2007. We are very proud of Dave’s accomplishment and continue to utilize his talents on many of our projects.