Sustainable Building Week is returning to the Portland-metro area in 2022. Beginning Oct. 10, experts and organizations representing sustainability – including architecture, design, construction, education and community planning – will lead and participate in a wide variety of events in person and/or online.

Six years ago, co-founders Terry Campbell and Webly Bowles saw the need for a collaborative space where industry professionals could connect to positively impact environmental sustainability in the region. Campbell and Bowles believed they could provide a platform for like-minded experts to learn about the work being done outside of their expertise, Campbell said.

Since its first year in 2018, Sustainable Building Week has hosted 108 events for an estimated 2,500 attendees. Collaborators design their own events, which differ each year. But themes often repeat, such as wildfire – this year one event will spotlight a film about living with the threat of wildfire.

Attendees can sign up for individual events, which will take place in the Portland area, virtually or in both formats. Admission for most events – primarily building tours or presentations – is free, with nominal fees charged for specialized training and select opportunities.

Bowles said she is most excited about the large number of events this year. Some include: a tour of zero-energy and “path to zero” homes led by Solar Oregon (Oct. 8-9; $25-$60); a tour of new homes showcasing sustainability, comfort and durability (Oct. 14-16; $25); a cluster of quick, informal presentations featuring sustainable schools (Oct. 12; free); and a panel discussion on reimagining schoolyards (Oct. 11).

To see a full list of events and register for them, visit .

“There’s a new heightened interest this year,” Campbell said. “The environmental issues we’re facing are not going away.”

This past spring, organizers launched a companion event called Sustainable Building Monthly: a series of short talks at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the PAE Living Building. Presentations introduce projects, and there are opportunities for networking.

“We’re very passionate about sustainability,” Bowles said. “There’s a lot of passion in Portland.”

Representatives of several disciplines return to Sustainable Building Week year after year. They include AIA Oregon, Oregon Green Schools, Portland Materials Transparency Collaborative, Solar Oregon, U.S. Green Building Council, the Portland chapter of American Society of Plumbing Engineers, Electrify Now, and ZERO Coalition.

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