USGBC GreenBuild Conference and Expo

By Tara Loughman

The U.S. Green Build Council held their annual GreenBuild Conference this past weekend in Chicago, IL. Along with other members in SIUC’s student chapter, I made the trip up North to attend the conference. As a student member, I was able to attend the conference at no charge if I participated as a volunteer. This was a great opportunity for me and many other students. This was a great way for us to attend, but also a great way to learn and network with so many others in attendance.

The Conference was held at the McCormick Center, downtown Chicago, IL. The venue was filled with architects, designers, carpenters, merchants and many well-known key speakers. As a volunteer, I was to work in the exhibit areas and help other GreenBuild attendee’s to recycle their trash while helping them to understand why it’s so important and to show them that they can help make a difference in our world by recycling.


As the conference went on I was able to go walk the exhibit areas and talk to many knowledgeable manufacturers and designers. This was probably my favorite part of the conference because of the conversations made. When going into a booth, you are given an opportunity to talk to the manufacturers regarding their products on display and also to talk to the other attendee’s at the booths as well. Another thing that was great was to talk to the other students to see what they were studying, where they were going to school, and what they were doing in their studio classes.

Over the past few days, I have really seen another vast progression in green design. It’s everywhere! A lot of the things shown and expressed at the conference were really good features that could be used and considered in the design our future projects. I am really interested to see some of the products and ideas created and utilized. Specifically, I would like to see the effects they might have on the environment and to distinguish if some of these designers are really designing for the fact of sustainability or if they are just joining the “green design” bandwagon. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.