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.

2961 Roslyn Street
Denver, CO 80238

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Please join Women in Design for a tour of the new Stapleton Library, a new 28,000 sf  building in the heart of Denver that is currently under construction.  OZ Architecture, the Architect, and Adolfson & Peterson, the General Contractor, have graciously invited us on site for a private tour give.  Funded through the Better Denver Bond program, this anticipated LEED Silver building will provide much needed library services to Stapleton and the surrounding neighborhoods.   Please join us for a preview of this future landmark.

This Member only event is FREE!

Stapleton Library Floor Plan

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Fado’s Irish Pub
1735 19th Street, Denver

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Description:

Fado’s Irish Pub (1735 19th Street, Denver)
Open to all – current and potential members – No RSVP required!

Forget about a date, focus on your career! Whether you are bummed or thrilled about your Valentine’s Day, come share your love with other like-minded professionals. Meet, greet, and mingle with Women in Design. New members always welcome!

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Patricia W. Swan, 87, a residence of Stoneridge Retirement Community in Mystic, CT passed away after a brief illness, surrounded by her family and friends on January 23, 2012.

She was born on April 21, 1924 in Malden, MA to Mary (Flett) Swan and Dewey Swan. She grew up in Bronxville, NY, moving to Greenwich, CT when she was 13 and attended the Greenwich High School. She attended Antioch College for a year then volunteered to serve in the (WAC) the Women’s Army Core from 1944 – 46 where she served as a wartime military meteorologist. After the war she attended Columbia University and earned her architectural degree in 1951.

Her first and only job was with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, an international architectural/engineering firm, where she worked for 35 years. She began her career in the New York office where, in 1956 she became one of two women Participating Associates, and in 1970 became an Associate Partner, pioneering a path in architecture for women.  She headed a design studio at SOM which was organized like an independent office with a staff of 20 -30 people. She and her team designed glass and steel high rise and urban complexes for working, shopping, and entertainment that she called “people places” in her efforts to revitalize downtown urban areas in the 1970’s. A few of her noted projects included Toronto Dominion Square, in Calgary, Alberta and Denver Square in Denver, CO.

She traveled extensively for the SOM firm throughout Canada, the US, the Middle and Far East. Pat was instrumental in developing and growing the Denver office of SOM beginning in 1978, where she worked and lived until 2006. Pat was known and honored for her consistent efforts at mentoring young designers and architects.

After retirement in 1986 Pat spent her summers on Block Island with family and friends, in a home they bought in 1962. This building was the old American Legion Hall. Pat redesigned the building for family living, where her sister, Sandy Swan and family lived year round for 8 years, which the family continues to enjoy today.

Pat devoted her time to the arts, as both an artist, and an enthusiastic supporter of many others’ artistic efforts. She worked in pastels and oil paints. In Denver Pat chaired the Park Hill Art Association Annual Sale. Pat moved to Stoneridge in Mystic, CT in her 80’s. She chaired the Art Committee there, establishing monthly retrospective and group shows for the artistic community.

Pat is survived by her good friend Rose Mastrangelo, a brother William Swan of Somers, NY, a sister Sandy Swan Gensemer of Block Island and Boston, 5 nieces: Lorie Sava of Stonington CT, Cyndi Lage of Springfield MA, Amy Swan of Mystic CT, Pam Goller of Franklin MA, and Christi Skardon of Sleepy Hollow NY, and 8 grand newhews, 2 grand nieces, and 2 great grand nephews.

A memorial service will be held at The Mystic Congregational Church, 43 East Main Street, in Mystic CT on Feb. 11, at 11:00 AM. A Celebration of her life will be held in late spring on Block Island. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Mary Donnally Fund.

Women in Design partnered with Kimball Office to create their own re-imagined vision of Madama Butterfly transforming the fragile, repressed Cio-Cio San  into an empowered warrior ready to fight for life and love.

The 2011 WiD Pret a Porter team:

Laura Butler (team captain), Jayna Kline (model), Jennifer Gray, Geneva Kowalski, Shannon Hulm, Victoria Schmitz and Caroline Seeberger

Many thanks to Tye Keliiholokai at Kimball Office for helping make the vision a reality! Click here for more photos.

Support WiD through event sponsorship or become a Sustaining Member today.

For more information on how your organization can become a Sustaining Member, contact Geneva Kowalski or Jennifer Gray.

 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!

Click here to go to our WiD Store item: Individual Membership Renewal. There, you can purchase your renewal and it’ll be updated in our membership database.  If you have a student membership or would rather handle your membership offline, you can renew in person at one of our events or through snail mail - click here for the form.

Thanks so much for your support!  With your help, we can bring to you and others lots of fun events: lectures, charitable drives, networking events, volunteer opportunities, and outdoor activities.  You are the foundation of WiD and we thank you!