William McDonough: Godfather of Green

Interview

Friday, April 22, 2011

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This William McDonough + Partners design applies the concept of “building like a tree” on a large scale. (Courtesy of William McDonough + Partners)

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William McDonough is a grand old man in the young field of green architecture. In the 1970s, he built the first "green roof" in America — a corporate headquarters with a meadow on top — and is now working on a sustainable building for NASA. Kurt Andersen asks him about the opportunities and challenges of environmental design. (Originally aired: April 18, 2008)

Slideshow: William McDonough's Green Designs

Ford Photographic, courtesy William McDonough + Partners

The Ford Rouge plant’s 10-acre vegetative roof provides water retention, thermal and acoustic insulation, and improved air quality.

Timothy Hursley

Inside the Herman Miller “GreenHouse” office and manufacturing facility, public spaces offer views of the natural landscape outside.

Courtesy of William McDonough + Partners

In 2006, Fortune magazine commissioned William McDonough + Partners to create a vision for the office tower of the future. The design team adapted “building like a tree” concepts to a large scale.

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William McDonough

Comments [1]

Andrew from Detroit

Hello Studio 360,

Just thought i'd let you know... that first image of the Ford Rouge plant was shot by architectural photographer Justin Maconochie circa 2004. Just in case you decide to update and give some credit :)

Apr. 22 2011 10:41 PM

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