AIA Kansas City: The American Institute of Architects

The 2009-2010 College of Architecture, Planning, and Design lecture series continues with a presentation by Thomas Morton and John Norris entitled

Is Being Green Really Black and White?

The lecture is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4, in the Big 12 Room of the K-State Student Union. The event is open to the public without charge.

It is much more complicated to be green than simply “if you build it they will come.” In this lecture, we will explore some of the myths behind the appeal that green has with the general public and the important role that we as designers have in shaping how people live lives as good stewards of the environment. Both lecturers have extensive experience in designing and building in ways that incorporate stewardship principles that make ‘unconscious green living’ an integral part of each of their projects.

Tom Morton is senior vice president at Carma Developers in Denver, Colorado. He has a diverse background in all areas of design and development activities. Over the past 30 years, he has been active in the acquisition, design, lending and development of both small and large residential projects in the western United States. His business career includes experience as a design consultant, construction manager, development lender, and development executive. He is currently responsible for overseeing the design and development of ten master planned communities located in the Denver, New Mexico, Kansas City and Austin metro areas. Morton holds a BS in landscape architecture from Iowa State University.

John Norris, a K-State landscape architecture alumnus and the founding partner of Norris Design of Denver, has been providing his clients with a high level of land planning and landscape architectural services since 1981. He has worked with both the private and public sectors, and throughout his 29 years of practice has been responsible for a wide range of award-winning planning and landscape architecture projects for educational, health care, athletic facilities, parks and recreation, community planning, commercial and mixed-use projects. Norris’ extensive portfolio includes a dedication to the natural environment and land stewardship. His contribution to water conservation, low impact drainage design and advanced storm water management in urban development are extraordinary. Habitat preservation, enhancement and restoration along with historic preservation have also been key components in his work. His ability to quickly grasp the complexities of a project has resulted in Norris’ recognition locally and nationally for his creative, dramatic and functionally sound design solutions. A meticulous and conscientious project administrator, he works well as a team leader and as a contributing team member. His bold statements in landscape design are strikingly unique, yet meet the function and criteria of the user.