Event Description

Bio-based building materials are derived from renewable biological sources such as plants, fungi, algae, agricultural by-products, minerals, raw earth, and organic waste and provide low-carbon, regenerative alternatives to conventional construction materials. These materials address both embodied carbon and material health while offering co-benefits across five holistic impact categories. As project teams look for strategies to solve multiple different health and ecological problems, bio-based materials are emerging as leading non-toxic, low-carbon, biophilic material solutions. This course will survey the broad landscape of different bio-based building materials, their attributes and benefits, and the varying applications of these materials from structure to finish. Product examples and case studies will ground this review in practical reality, from off-the-shelf material substitution options to leading-edge regenerative material solutions. 

Learning Objectives - 

1. Identify the benefits of bio-based materials and how they address common building material challenges.
2. Explore the market for bio-based materials and how to evaluate their attributes.
3. Integrate bio-based materials into different project applications.
4. Develop design strategies to optimize for health and ecological benefits through material and product selection.