For Roger E. Frechette III, imagination and reality aren't too far apart.
To kick off architectural engineering's senior thesis recognition and awards at 7 p.m. May 3 in Ballrooms A and B of the Nittany Lion Inn, Frechette will present a talk titled "Pearl River Tower," offering a glimpse of the 309-meter tower in Guangzhou, China, that's designed to harvest wind and solar power. The event is free to the public.
As director of sustainable engineering at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in Chicago, Frechette leads the engineering team for Pearl River Tower, the world's first super-tall "zero-energy" concept tower. Its sculpted body directs winds to turbines that generate energy for the structure's heating, ventilation and cooling systems; natural day-lighting is maximized; solar power collection heats the water and transforms the sun's energy into usable AC current; and rainwater is retained for gray-water usage.
Frechette designed the National Wildlife Foundation headquarters in Virginia, which was voted as one of the top 10 sustainable buildings in the country; as well as the Peri headquarters building in Maryland, the first radiant slab building in the United States.
He is an active advocate of "green engineering" and a registered professional engineer whose work also includes laboratories, hospitals, academic buildings, museums and corporate offices.
A reception with light refreshments will immediately follow the presentation.