Gail Vittori and Pliny Fisk III, directors of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems

Emilio Ambasz’s claims not withstanding, no one person can declare themselves the father (or mother) of sustainable building. It was clearly a group effort. The same, of course, can be said for green hospital design. But one of the seminal figures there is Gail Vittori, co-director (with her husband, Pliny Fisk III) of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, in Austin, Texas. Vittori served as chair of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Healthcare committee and co-authored (with Robin Guenther) Sustainable Healthcare Architecture (Wiley). Recently I talked to Vittori about the challenges and the imperative of green hospitals.

What’s the state of sustainable health care? Is the term still an oxymoron?

Because of its regulatory requirements, its 24/7 operations, and the specific nature of what it does, health care was slow to pick up on sustainability. It really does operate as a unique segment within the architecture and building world. But with the introduction of the Green Guide for Health Care and the knowledge that LEED for Healthcare is in development, all of that has provided a structure for people within the industry to understand that “green” and “health care” is not only a good fit, but an imperative. Read more…

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So you think you know all about Emilio Ambasz? Sure, you may have seen memorable photos of his work elsewhere—but for the full story of this controversial architect, you need to check out the September 2009 issue of Metropolis. After the jump, the magazine’s executive editor, Martin C. Pedersen, gives a little background on this month’s cover story, “Emilio Ambasz: Father of Sustainability or Slave to Form?”

Read more…