As far back as 1200 A.D.,
the ancient Puebloan peoples of the Anasazi utilized cliff dwellings with large rock overhangs to protect their villages from the elements and the sun during summer months, while allowing lower angle winter sun to naturally warm their living spaces. These cliff dwellings represent some of civilizations’ first examples of passive solar design.

During the late 1700’s, various forms of the internal combustion engine were invented in the United States and Europe. Advancements in the internal combustion engine, power generation and iron production contributed to the transition from a mainly agrarian and hand producing society to one that relied on machines. Resulting in the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.

Along with the rise in consumerism that followed the Great Depression and World War II, advances in air conditioning and access to cheap abundant energy fueled the use of all-glass facades in large buildings and skyscrapers.

The last two decades have taught us that building design and construction has come FULL CIRCLE from the days of the ancient cliff dwellings of Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. Our built environment began on the right track in many ways, but then rapidly progressed through some of our most harmful decades, even centuries, of development. The think tank Architecture 2030, founded by architect Edward Mazria, identified the building sector as a major contributor of greenhouse gases almost 20 years ago now. Since then, major advancements in technology, product/material design and energy codes have allowed the design and construction industries to course-correct towards a more sustainable path of growth. There’s still more work to be done, but completing the circle is becoming more within reach.