With concerns for sustainability rapidly changing the technological playing field, the romanticized depiction of architects as solitary artists confined to their drafting tables is becoming a thing of the past. More than ever, today's architects must assume a leadership role in collaborative design that involves many professional interactions. This requires that architects have an all-inclusive understanding of the environmental concerns influencing their designs.

Comprehensive and broad in scope, this designer-friendly guide delivers solid fundamentals from a historical perspective, covering environmental design topics that range from lighting, acoustics, thermal control, and plumbing to fire protection egress, elevators, and escalators. It shows how the interconnection between science and aesthetics holds the key to creating buildings that are structurally enduring and socially responsible. This book:

• Gives an understanding of the principles of various environmental issues without getting bogged down in engineering specifics

• Is illustrated throughout with photographs and drawings

• Includes a companion Web site with PowerPoint presentations

• Enables designers to communicate and coordinate effectively with specialists in HVAC, electrical systems, lighting, plumbing, and acoustics

Environmental Issues for Architecture provides architecture and interior design students with the larger picture without overwhelming them with details. Exploring subjects that are not emphasized in traditional classrooms, this timely book shows how architects and designers can successfully transform their ideas in ways that allow them to expand their professional services and play a more important role in the building process.