An Environmental Life Cycle Approach to Design

This book introduces readers to Life Cycle Approach (LCA)-supported design solutions, through non-geometric-data-driven methodologies, to provide a clear picture of how to optimize individual designs in addressing ecological challenges. By offering LCA, the book gives designers a complimentary set of science-based perspectives and techniques with a focus on high data quality for clarity and public accessibility. While most design solutions and resources are meant to appeal to people by solving everyday problems, this book uses LCA designs to appeal to people through a combination of practicality, accuracy, and the need to decelerate ecological destruction through products offered to marketplace consumers. In essence, the book teaches designers how to craft environmentally responsive designs for their clients at little to no extra cost, but with necessary ecological benefits. 

John Cays is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Interim Director of the School of Art + Design in the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s J. Robert and Barbara A. Hillier College of Architecture and Design. He is a licensed professional architect. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of the Arts and Master of Architecture degree from Princeton University.

Prior to co-founding GRADE Architects, an architecture and interior design firm in NYC in 2001, he was a project manager at Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Since 2005 he has been responsible for overseeing the development and use of “Kepler,” NJIT’s transparent digital repository, and qualitative data driven course management and curricular assessment system. In 2008, Kepler served as the engine behind the nation's first fully digital NAAB accreditation visit. He served as North East Regional Director for the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture from 2014 – 2017 and as a Director on the National Architectural Accrediting Board from 2017 – 2020.

His research focuses on visualization, translation, and advocacy to increase the adoption and use of quantitative Life Cycle Assessment methods and tools in the design fields.