The Innovator’s Evening Lecture Series is intended to provide networking opportunities and create a forum where interested members of the energy efficiency community can have access to innovators in the industry who are transforming the marketplace.  These monthly conversational presentations are intended to discuss “big picture” opportunities for change from the speaker’s own viewpoint and encourage an exchange of new ideas.  For the first lecture in our 2017 series, David Baker, Daniel Simons, and Katie Ackerly from David Baker Architects will share their experience and perspectives on recent developments in sustainable design for mid-rise urban residential neighborhoods. David will outline how the firm’s design approach is an extension of the way they live, work, and act as advocates for strong, low-impact urban communities. Drawing from expertise with market-rate and affordable housing, David and Daniel will summarize the specific challenges of designing and evaluating mid-rise multifamily buildings and will share how the firm works to find meaningful innovations in product and process in the face of these challenges. Katie Ackerly, the firm’s Sustainability Lead, will discuss how well current standards and guidelines address the increasingly significant mid-rise building type: from LEED and ENERGY STAR to Passive House, Zero Energy Building and Living Building Challenge. Katie will outline DBA’s recent experience with each of these standards and discuss the priorities and principles that the firm has identified from the process, which they try to extend to all projects. Come early to enjoy hor d’oeuvres and snacks starting at 5:30pm.  The lecture begins at 6:00pm and will be followed by a Q&A session and open discussion.