Biophilia: Pittsburgh; The pilot chapter for a global Biophilia Network
Join Pittsburgh’s new network of creative minds working together to strengthen the bond between people and the natural world. Join us on Wednesday 06 November at 6:00pm at Café Phipps with Dr. Erica Cochran Hameen, Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture. She will present at Biophilia: Pittsburgh on the topic of Dynamic and Responsive Systems to Promote Thermal Comfort.
Biophilia: Pittsburgh November Meeting — Dynamic and Responsive Systems to Promote Thermal Comfort
Join us on Wed., Nov. 6 at Café Phipps with Dr. Erica Cochran Hameen, architectural designer and assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Building envelope and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system decisions play a key role in the ability of occupants to connect with nature. Ideally, an effective and efficient façade design and HVAC operations not only provides energy savings but also creates a more comfortable indoor environment for occupants. While our goal is to provide the optimal thermal environment for all occupants, how can we accomplish this task in an open plan office space where several people share the same thermostat? Moreover, how can we enhance the connection with nature and respond to a myriad of thermal comfort desires but still provide an environment where everyone is comfortable and happy? This talk will include a discussion of the complex nature of these questions and provide building design solutions and new technical advancements that provide individual thermal comfort. The talk will also identify health and productivity benefits of thermal comfort and connection with nature.
Meet the Speaker
Dr. Erica Cochran Hameen is an architectural designer and assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Dr. Cochran Hameen is the co-director of Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics (CBPD), track chair of the Doctor of Professional Practice program, and the track chair of the Architecture, Engineering & Construction Management (AECM) Ph.D. program at CMU. Her architectural experience includes over 50 educational, media and broadcast, residential, community and transportation facilities. Honors include Best Proposal in a Department of Energy (DOE) Competition, Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence Award, and an AIA award for Diversity Recognition Program for the UDream program at CMU. Erica holds a B.Arch from Virginia Tech, a M.S. in Sustainable Design and a Ph.D. in Building Performance & Diagnostics from CMU. She served as one of the Principal Investigators for the Consortium for Building Energy Innovation (CBEI) established by the DOE as an Energy-Regional Innovation Cluster and has lead several research projects focused on improving Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), occupant comfort and energy efficiency. She is also active in several nonprofit organizations and serves on the board of directors for the Pittsburgh Green Building Alliance and serves as a trustee and chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
Meeting Schedule
5:30 – 6 p.m. — Networking and refreshments
6 – 6:30 p.m. — Presentation
6:30 – 7 p.m. — Discussion
Meetings are free to attend; however, advance registration is required. To R.S.V.P., please send us an email or sign up on our Meetup page.