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David Randall Hertz The At 43, soft-spoken, fast moving, focused, David Randall Hertz, AIA, radiates youthful vitality backed by the authority of experience. His influence in his field of green design and building already spans the globe. As a teenager growing up in Los Angeles, David was intrigued by the interface between human habitation and nature. He watched as vacant land in his neighborhood was developed and saw its detrimental effect on the environment. Much of his time was spent in the outdoors exploring, hiking and surfing. His connection to nature was strengthened when a persistent allergy was healed with salt water from the ocean. In his lifetime he has watched Santa Monica Bay fall from a vital, diverse ecosystem to a lifeless pollution sink due to human impact and now,recently, back again to a recovering ecosystem with kelp, dolphins and pelicans returning. He gained practical knowledge of design, construction and fabrication by apprenticing himself to local artists, landscape architects and construction companies. While doing undergraduate work at UCLA, he was drawn to Southern California Institute of Architecture’s (SCI-Arc) pioneering integration of ecological considerations into architectural design. His interest in the environmental aspects of architecture was nurtured and inspired by mentors and teachers like John Lautner, Ray Kappe, founder of SCI-Arc, and Buckminster Fuller with whom he worked on an autonomous living project for NASA. Graduating from SCI-Arc with a Bachelors in Architecture in 1983, David continued working with John Lautner and Frank Gehry. In 1984, barely a year out of school, David established Syndesis, a multi-disciplinary architecture, design and manufacturing firm specializing in creating sustainable strategies and environmental products. Syndesis is noted for its development of Syndecrete®, an innovative precast lightweight concrete architectural surfacing material that incorporates recycled aggregates extracted from society’s waste stream. It is certified as a recycled product by Californians Against Waste. Syndesis has been located in Santa Monica for 15 years and is a model of closed-loop manufacturing. Environmental responsibility is demonstrated in every aspect of the facility — from product and manufacturing (water is recycled and reused in Syndecrete® fabrication and air is filtered before release outdoors) - to marketing and promotional material (only recycled paper and soy-based inks are used). A complete recycling system of office materials is in place. Recently Syndesis Inc. was awarded The Sustainable Quality Award (SQA) from the City of Santa Monica, a 1999 WRAP AWARD from the EPA as well as a Western Home Award from Sunset Magazine and the California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (CCAIA). In 1995 David embarked on the design and construction of his award winning home in Venice, where the Sustainable Living Award 2004 is being held. He and his architect wife, Stacy, were ready to bring their commitment to sustainable design home, to fully integrate their lifestyle with their vision of a sustainable future. Their home has become a Venice landmark, a showcase of “green” architecture demonstrating a beneficial interweaving of nature and architecture. Passive solar design, natural light and ventilation reduce energy consumption of the home to 50% of conventional building. Solar heated water warms low embodied energy, poured-in-place Syndecrete® floors, furniture, showers and tubs. Use of recycled materials, natural and nontoxic finishes, topped by a food garden on the roof make this home truly a home for the future, designed and built with the well being of planet and people in mind, now and into the foreseeable future. Also known as the McKinley residence, for the street address, the Hertz home has achieved worldwide acclaim. It has won a number of awards, has been widely published in such journals as Dwell, Global Architecture and Metropolitan Home, and many others and featured on HGTV, Arts & Entertainment and The Style Network. The home has been toured by thousands since 1996. In line with their commitment to environmental and social responsibility, David and Stacy Hertz regularly make their marvelous home available to many nonprofit environmental and social service organizations as a venue for special events. As if all this weren’t enough, David Hertz has been an active participant in the environmental and design communities for over two decades with participation in numerous organizations including service on numerous professional committees such as the LA Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment, the Environmental Affairs Committee of the Construction Specifications Institute, the California Energy Commission’s High Performance Wall Systems Collaborative and was recently appointed to the City of Santa Monica Environmental Task Force. David’s commitment includes membership and pro-bono services for many non-profit environmental and social service organizations including Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), and Heal the Bay. David Randall Hertz has received personal acclaim for his work in the form of awards, prizes, honors, speaking engagements, museum exhibits, feature articles in design journals and much, much more. A complete list of Mr. Hertz’s accomplishments, activities and awards is too long to be included here but is available on request or can be accessed on our website (www.ecohome.org). David serves on the faculties of the SCI-Arc Professional Development Program and UCLA’s Extension Program teaching sustainable design courses. Eco-Home Network is proud to award our Sustainable Living Award 2004 to David Randall Hertz for his unstinting application of the highest environmental and aesthetic standards to all aspects of his life and work.
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