Apr 20: Green Drinks with the light/motion collaborative

When the Port Authority asked architects to compete for the station design for the North Shore Connector, Gary Carlough and Rob Pfaffmann looked at the national competition from large architecture and engineering firms specializing in transit projects and proposed a team that went against conventional wisdom--two small, well-recognized, local design firms in a joint venture reflecting their vision for the station a station that celebrates light and motion. The two firms hold common values about innovative design, sustainability and urban context, inspiring them to join forces. In addition, Rob and Gary had taught together at Carnegie Mellon and a number of employees had worked at both firms. The team's  idea for bringing light deep into the station, combined with its passion for design and capacity for  technical innovation, set it apart at the interviews, and resulted in the award of the commission over much larger competitors.

Rob Pfaffmann, AIA, AICP, is an architect and planner with over thirty years of diverse experience leading the design of key architecture, preservation and planning projects in the Pittsburgh Region.

Gary Carlough, AIA, founded EDGE studio in 1995 and has over thirty years of experience in  projects that include complex system design for technology and research facilities to adaptive reuse of historic buildings, LEED and sustainable design.

5-9 p.m. at Elements, 444 Liberty Ave., Pgh, 15222   412-251-0168.  Join us for complimentary appetizers and numerous drink specials.  Validated parking is available in the Gateway Center.

What is Green Drinks? Every month, people who work in the environmental field or have an interest in a greener planet meet up for drinks all around the world at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. We have a lively mixture of people from NGO's, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. Just say,"are you Green?' and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making some new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there is always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network. These events are simple and unstructured.  Make friends, develop new ideas, do deals and forge a new organic future. It's a force for the good and we' like to help it spreading to other cities.  Green Drinks meets on the third Friday of the month.  Put it on your calendar and count on it: Green Drinks is happening every month. Email us at pittsburghgreendrinks@gmail.com with questions, comments.   Pittsburgh Green Drinks Data Sheet WHAT: The world-famous Green Drinks WHEN: Third Friday of the month, 5:00-9:00 pm STATUS: Informal, self-organizing network GLOBAL: Now active in 812 cities worldwide. Every month globally since 1989, locally since 2005.  Average attendance: 90 WHERE: Rotating venues in Pittsburgh HOW: Walk, cycle, bus, boat, taxi or drive WHO: Anyone working on environmental issues  (or who wants to!) WHY: Fun, contacts, alcohol (or not), info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure NEW: Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.  www.greendrinks.org/PA/Pittsburgh