Engineer David Clark believes that designers need to take responsibility for their work, and produce sustainable designs – even if it means disagreeing with a client.

Clark, principal at Australian company Cundall and writer of the Green Star rating tool for the Green Building Council of Australia, believes that engineers and designers should stand up for their beliefs.

“Engineers have too often responded to the client’s brief without question, designing unsustainable systems,” he says. “I believe engineers need to challenge conventional thinking and assumptions from the outset of a project, and to take a proactive role in designing better buildings – passive design not passive consulting.”

Clark is a passionate advocate for sustainability. He has travelled across the world to present seminars on everything from energy saving to green car parks. Just this month he was named as the Sustainability Champion of the Year at the Building Services Journal’s Sustainable Building Awards 2008, held in London. This is the second time Clark has featured in the awards – last year he won the award for sustainable refurbishment.

With a repertoire including refurbished offices for the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance, hospitals and education centres, Clark is living proof that standing up for sustainability can be both responsible and rewarding.

Some of David Clark’s seminars and papers can be accessed at:
cundall.com.au/info_papers.html

cundall.com.au