California’s State Architect will launch a forward-thinking new sustainability initiative this week with a regional event in Los Angeles that highlight ways to green California’s aging school facilities with design concepts that reduce energy and water consumption at campuses across the state.

The initiative, dubbed 7x7x7: Design, Energy, Water, will engage seven noted architectural firms to develop seven case studies in sustainable school design, for seven representative school campuses.

As framed by State Architect Chester A. Widom, FAIA, “the ultimate goal of 7x7x7 is to initiate a conversation among school superintendents, school facilities personnel, boards of education, and other key decision makers for school construction, so that we all reimagine together how schools can be renovated to reduce energy and water usage and create great opportunities for education.”

What: State Architect Chester A. Widom, FAIA joins several leading architectural firms at a summit designed to both improve and green California’s aging public school classrooms.

When: Thursday, Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – State Architect Chester A. Widom will start the summit with opening remarks, followed by case study presentations and discussions.

Where: Los Angeles Southwest College, SOCTE MPR Room, 1600 West Imperial Highway, Los Angeles, 94007.