Architects, engineers and design professionals around the world compete to design a net zero building using brick as the primary material

Boston – January 11, 2011 – Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), a provider of integrated performance analysis software and consulting services for sustainable building design, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2ndAnnual BrickStainable International Design Competition. More than 200 teams of architects, engineers, material scientists, landscape architects, ecologists and students competed to design sustainable buildings for the contest using clay brick as the primary material.

The BrickStainable Competition’s goal is to pursue sustainable building design solutions that exploit the unique properties of brick masonry construction as well as seek new ideas in the development of this age-old building material. The target: net zero. The competition has two categories - Integrated Building Design and Technical Design. Jurors are looking for evidence of the project’s performance and the use of BIM, design aesthetics, and energy, solar and daylighting modelling software, such as IES’ award-winning <Virtual Environment>.

“We are very proud to be an official sponsor of the BrickStainable Competition,” said Dr. Don McLean, Founder and CEO of IES.  “IES and BrickStainable both share a common vision of making a more sustainable world through encouraging environmentally-sound building practices from the earliest stages of design. Our hope is that this competition will foster the innovation and creativity the industry needs to design and construct the next generation of sustainable buildings.”

Winners will receive a $10,000 cash grand prize and $7,500 cash grand prize in the Building Design and Technical Design categories, respectively.  Up to three honorable mention winners in each category will receive $2,000 each.  All winners will be flown to Washington, DC for the awards celebration on March 31, 2011 at the National Building Museum, a prime example of brick masonry construction.

“We’re honored that IES has embraced the vision of the BrickStainable Design Competition.  It is through their support and involvement that BrickStainable is able to continue to nurture the development of integrative design in the built environment and the use of sustainable building practices,” says Alan Richardson, president of Potomac Valley Brick, the Competition’s creator.

Competition entries were due December 15, and the winners will be honored on March 31, 2011 at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.  Competition requirements, past award winners and award ceremony photos are available at http://www.BrickStainable.com.

About BrickStainable
BrickStainable is a design competition seeking integrative design solutions that promote the use of clay brick to achieve sustainability goals. The competition explores the potential of brick construction in the creation of energy efficient building and challenges designers to maximize the physical characteristics of brick. The competition was created by Potomac Valley Brick in 2009. More information is available at http://www.BrickStainable.com and on Twitter@pvbrick http://twitter.com/pvbrick.

About IES
Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) is an innovative company at the forefront of the use and development of powerful software simulation tools which help architects, engineers, facilities managers, and all those involved in the development and management of buildings design and maintain truly sustainable properties.  IES’ mission is to advance the sustainability of the world’s buildings through the use of integrated performance modelling technology and conserve natural resources for future generations.  IES was established in June 1994 and is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, with offices in Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Boston and San Francisco, USA and Melbourne, Australia.  IES Consulting is the specialist international environmental performance consultancy division of IES, its expert team of consultants include some of the most experienced LEED, BREEAM, Green Star Accredited Professionals and Accredited Energy Assessors, in the UK.  IES’ services and products aid significantly in the provision of healthier and more energy efficient built environments.  For additional information, please visit www.iesve.com