This year as part of Women in Design’s outreach effort we are sponsoring and volunteering for Denver’s new Zero Landfill project.  The first “Cultivate” day is February 3rd from 3:00 – 5:00 pm with several more scheduled throughout the spring.  If you are interested in volunteering, please email ZeroLandfillDenver@gmail.com.

ZeroLandfillTM is a grassroots upcycling or reuse program started in Cleveland, Ohio in 2006 by individuals working in the architectural and interior design industry. Concerned by the lack of a formal recycling program for the staggering amount of specification materials used in the facility design and renovation processes, the ZeroLandfillTM team developed a program to divert these items from the waste stream and find new audiences in the community who placed value in the materials.

The program is an award winning sustainability in action program for the interiors and architectural industries. Since 2006, the ZeroLandfillTM project team has assisted the architectural and interior design communities in identifying, diverting from local landfills, and re-purposing back into the community thousands of pounds of specification samples that hold value for other audiences, like artists and educators.

Now, instead of ending up in a landfill or an incinerator, manufacturer samples such as carpet tiles, wallcovering and fabric samples, ceramic tile and three-ring binders are collected from participating firms and placed in the hands of local artists, artisans, arts educators and school teachers where they find new life as studio materials and classroom supplies.

To date, ZeroLandfillTM has diverted from the dumpster and returned to the community over 500,000 lbs. of specification materials. In fact, less than 3% of the materials collected by ZeroLandfillTM Cleveland have entered the solid waste stream! The original program in Cleveland has inspired twelve other communities to adopt a ZeroLandfillTM project in their market.  New relationships fostered in the community, reduced landfill pressure and awareness of how sustainability can look for an organization, a city or an entire industry are just some of the benefits accrued by the work of ZeroLandfillTM. Happy teachers, specifiers and artists make it all worthwhile.

Several WiD members volunteered at the AIA’s Box City event this year. On Saturday, April 16, we welcomed over 150 children and their parents/guardians and watched as a brand new city was created inside the atrium of the Wellington Webb Building. At the “store” we supplied our designers/builders with various materials to help them take their sketched designs to 3D forms. There was a mouse hospital, a nuclear power plant, a couple of roller coaster parks, several high rise apartment buildings, the Eiffel Tower fitness park, a candy factory, a puppy playground and doggie daycare, an elementary school, a Mexican restaurant, the capital bldg., a soccer stadium, the Rockies stadium, an aquarium (which also served as a bridge over the river), a house boat, and many more. There was an abundance of creative energy. Inside the “construction zone” the builders turned paper towel rolls in to smoke stacks and roller coaster piers; cereal boxes were sliced up to make coaster cars, canopies and domes; boxes of all shapes and sizes were stacked, taped and wrapped with colorful paper and then markers were used to add more detail. In most cases they remembered to draw in a door or two.

 Speaking of doors, in the past the Denver Metro Fire Dept. has attended the event and talked with the aspiring designers/builders about their designs and any safety/exiting issues that they may want to consider in their buildings. This year we had the unexpected excitement of a fire alarm going off (due to some work in the basement allegedly) and we all had to evacuate to the street while the fire fighters did their jobs. The kids may have assumed it was all planned so they quickly formed a line at one of the fire trucks and began tours with the help of some very friendly fire fighters. Leave it to the kids to make the best of an unexpected event.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered to help and who even came back on Sunday to tear down the city. We had a really good turnout and it is with friends like you that we have so much fun at our events!

March is National Women’s History month and today, March 8, 2011, marks the 100^th Anniversary for International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. “It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities”. (United Nations Website-click here for more history)

Today we celebrate the members of Women in Design. They are exceptional women of high ability and promise, exemplifying the most spirited and intelligent professionals of our industries.

WiD was built upon a foundation of respect, knowledge and acceptance and with each unique member our community grows more diverse and stronger every day. We are proud to support contributions and offer opportunities for women to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change in our professions and personal lives. Thank you, our members, for uniting your tremendous talent and hearts under the WiD roof. You are remarkable women.

Today I give special thanks to the steering committee members of WiD, the admirable and endearing heroines of our volunteer-led organization. Their dedication to providing outstanding programming is matched only by their commitment to each other, knowing that teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success. I am fortunate to have such incredible colleagues and friends.

Join WiD- discover what empowers and inspires you. 

Have you been to a WiD trivia night lately? They’re once a month at the Irish Snug and you wear the color of the month? If you have, I’m pretty sure you’d remember Meg Kullerd, the organizer — bubbly, smart, great laugh. Turns out she writes too. Last month, she had an article on the AIA Colorado Emerging Professionals Blog. It’s titled: “Working the Market– Dating and Job Searching“. Check it out, and keep your eyes and ears open for the next WiD Trivia Night. There’ll be one in March and everyone, WiD members and WiD-curious alike, are invited!
If you’re also interested in volunteering, check out our next volunteer opportunity on March 12th. Wid on the Farm!

Eight speakers, eight minutes, eight fascinating presentations. Once again, WiD hosted the annual 8 x 8 speaker panel which never fails to educate as well as inspire.

Held at the Flower Garage and with an overwhelming turnout, eight speakers took to the stage with fierce (and at times humorous) determination to meet the eight minute time limit. Covering the elements of earth, wind, fire and water, building industry related professionals enthusiastically shared products, projects or concepts related to one of the elements.

In the spirit of the eight minute concept, here is an eighty second summary of this 3rd annual event:

• Lydia Ruyle, covering the element of earth, discussed the benefits of rammed earth walls. An architectural construction method invented by her parents, Lydia continues to share the benefits of earth architecture while enjoying a career as a world renowned local artist.
• Elicia Ratajczyk of EV Studio discussed intelligent design versus expensive technology in building construction. Focusing on passive solar and evaporative cooling, she explained the benefits of maximizing synergies in a low tech format and having a better relationship with nature. “Harness and control the flow of energy and use it to our advantage,” she stated.
• Shannon Abote of Bella Glass Studios presented some of her company’s projects and the “firing” innovations in glass art including dichroic glass, while Slaterpaull (Jennifer Cordes, Adele Wilson) presented a LEED Platinum awarded firehouse renovation which will house their new offices.
• Suzanne Tegen of NREL spoke of the advances in wind technology while Nicole Delmage of Barrett Studio emphasized the advantages of “gentle architecture” and her firm’s progression in honoring the earth in addition to receiving top awards in sustainable design.
• Laurel Raines of AECOM introduced architectural projects that contain “visual and participating water” while Mike Sukle of Sukle Advertising & Design delighted everyone with his presentation of his company’s “Use Only What You Need” advertising campaigns. Developed for the Denver Water Department, he asked if any of us have seen “running toilets” in downtown Denver or clad-less cabs. Yes on both counts and now we really get it.

All in all, the evening was fun, entertaining and highly enlightening. WiD hopes to see you at the next 8 x 8 in the Fall of 2011. Perhaps you are an attendee or perhaps you are a speaker. Are you up for the challenge? More importantly – was that eighty seconds?

Submitted by Jacqueline Trice, WiD member and owner of Canvas Design, LLC a firm specializing in design journalism, holistic design and philanthropic pursuits.