James Patchett to Discuss Water as Key of Sustainable Design in April 4 Lecture

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The Conservation Design Forum of Elmhurst, Ill., led the design process to convert the Chicago City Hall rooftop into a green roof pilot project, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As a component of the Chicago Department of Environment's Urban Heat Island Initiative, the green roof research demonstration project tests more than 100 species of native, cultivated and non-native plants, and utilizes water harvesting and recycling for irrigation. (Image by Cook/Jenshel Photography)

James Patchett will present a lecture titled “Water: The Key to Sustainable Design” at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 4, in Ken Shollmier Hall, Vol Walker Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus.

Founder and president of Conservation Design Forum Inc. in Elmhurst, Ill., Patchett is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading pioneers in the design and promotion of sustainable site-planning methodologies that integrate innovative water resource management and ecological restoration measures into built environments.

Trained both as a landscape architect and hydrologist, Patchett has served on a variety of national technical advisory committees including the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Sustainable Sites initiative and is a highly sought out speaker and educator on the subject. He is also co-founder of Conservation Research Institute.

Patchett received an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture and master’s degrees in both landscape architecture and civil engineering (water resources) from Iowa State University. He has completed the necessary course work towards a doctorate in landscape architecture from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources.

This event is part of the 2010-11 Fay Jones School of Architecture lecture series. Admission is free, with limited seating.