<p>My S2 is interested in architecture and specifically in design of housing utilizing found materials - not sure if you call that sustainable architecture or what. Fascinated by any construction that isn’t stick or metal girders. (Dad is a builder). He’s not particularly interested in urban architecture. Any obscure programs that anyone knows about that might excite him?</p>
<p>check out rural studio
[rural</a> studio](<a href=“http://cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/]rural”>http://cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio/)</p>
<p>any architecture program focuses on urbanism in one way or the other because architecture deals with its surroundings. i can’t think of any particular school that has such of an emphasis that you mentioned. i’d say to go into arch school with an open mind cause most people’s perspective on architecture changes once they enter architecture school.</p>
<p>I would think that an interest in new materials and green design would be easily satisfied at just about any architecture school these days. Several colleges offer degrees (or programs) that focus on the “sustainable” aspects of design.</p>
<p>Here’s a joint program between Yale’s school of architecture and school of forestry and environmental studies.
[M.Arch/M.E.M</a>. | Yale School of Architecture](<a href=“Home - Yale Architecture”>Home - Yale Architecture)</p>
<p>MIT has a program in Building Technology which sounds like it might fit your son’s area of interest.
[Building</a> Technology Research](<a href=“http://architecture.mit.edu/building-technology.html]Building”>http://architecture.mit.edu/building-technology.html)</p>
<p>If you do some googling you’ll find quite a few oppportunities in this vein. Not exactly “found” materials, but definitely a focus on using ecologically sound materials and techniques.</p>
<p>While this is not a college program, your son might be interested in the [url=<a href=“http://www.usgbc.org%5DLEED%5B/url”>www.usgbc.org]LEED[/url</a>] rating systems, developed by the US Green Building Council to evaluate construction projects for “sustainability”. LEED addresses a wide variety of “green” construction and design issues, including credits for the use of “salvaged, refurbished, or reused materials”.</p>
<p>The LEED systems are well known in the architectural community. I would expect that sustainable design issues in general, and the LEED systems specifically, could be studied at most architecture schools.</p>
<p>The USGBC also sponsors “LEED Accredited Professional” certification for individuals; this title is now held by thousands of architects, engineers, etc. Unlike most professional certifications, the LEED-AP has no formal education or experience requirements, just a (rigorous) examination. So it is actually possible for a motivated individual to qualify as a LEED-AP while still in school, although this is rare in practice.</p>
<p>Wow rural studio is very, very close to the type of information and thinking that hits my son’s hot button. Very interesting. We had a architect friend of a friend who was building sod built houses in Mexico and my son was fascinated by the process as well as the pasion/compassion of the cause and the passion of building from the earth. Who knows what my son will do in life, he certainly sees the world through a different pair of lenses. Thanks all for the other tips. My company is heavily involved in both Leed certifications in buildings and also with the US Department of Energy so I’m quite familiar with the evolution of Leed.</p>