1973

The award for Hero for the Planet in the "design" category the envelope, please goes to architect Bill McDonough. Time recently spotlighted Bill on a short list of innovative thinkers who "see the earth as a machine for living, and honor nature as a guide to structure." Charlottesville's Daily Progress calls Bill the "Green Dean" of UVa.'s School of Architecture based on his leadership in environmental design. Bill steps down in June as dean to devote more time to teaching, directing his year old UVa. Institute for Sustainable Design, running his private practice (William McDonough+Partners Architects and Planners), and his family. During his seven years as dean, UVa. School of Architecture ecame the highest nationally ranked public institution and moved from ninth place to sixth place in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Interiors magazine named Bill the 1998 Designer of the Year for outstanding achievement in the practice of interior design.

Bill got his master's in architecture from Yale in 1976. He, wife Elizabeth, and fouryear-old son Drew live on "The Grounds" at UVa., where Bill's trademark apparel includes flowing capes and bow ties.

No, this is not a "themed" column but The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., reported last fall that another class architect, Mike Paul, ran for 11th district representative in the Delaware General Assembly. It was Mike's third election campaign for the seat but he lost to the widow of the incumbent in a race where the issues were education and development. Mike got his master's in architecture and civil engineering at MIT. He is the president of Built Form Inc. He, wife Paula, and two children live in Wilmington. Mike wears bow ties too.

Black-Watch: no, not the rubber, sports timepieces former military types continue to wear long after retirement; no, not my favorite Scottish regiment. It's the LeonBlack item of the month. When President Clinton and Leon retire, both David Letterman and I will be out of material. But, unlike Letterman, I write out of respect.

Forbes (of course) reports that Leon's Apollo Management LP purchased Weyerhaeuser Co.'s mortgage business. After acquisition the company was trimmed down to its subprime (i.e., higher risk) mortgage lending operation, the sector that brings higher returns. Diligent "supervision" of these borrowers has paid off. Advantage, Black.

From The Boston Globe: The New Hampshire Municipal Association honored Joan Perry Snell and eight others for their efforts to help New Hampshire communities. Joan does community work in Hanover where she and husband J live.

Charles Stephens wrote the lead article, "Regulatory Concerns for the Future," in the October issue of Appliance Engineer (Hey, I read widely). He is a policy analyst in the conservation division of the technology development section of the Oregon Office of Energy. Charles notes that 80 percent of what is manufactured is consumed or used and thrown away within six months. That's 45,000 pounds of material per person per year. He argues, as a regulator, the way to minimize regulation is to make commerce more sustainable. Charles earned his engineering degree from Thayer. He regulates utility demand-side management programs and integrated resource planning. His current projects include fuel cell systems, wasteto-energy processes, waste-heat recovery, pavement design, sustainable building and development, and advanced appliance technologies. Charles, meet Bill McDonough.

Got to go. I hear my wife pushing boxes of the remaining 25th Reunion books to the curb for recycling. Enjoy spring and sustain yourselves.

27 Manor Drive, Glenmont, NY 12077-3326;

Bill "Green Dean" McDonough has led the UVa. School of Architecture to top national rankings. BOB CONWAY '73