Futurist pushes responsible economic revival

Sept. 12, 2002 - Links updated.

William McDonough is an internationally renowned designer and one of the primary proponents and shapers of what he and his partners call 'The Next Industrial Revolution.'

Spokane audiences have heard him speak twice -- first at the One Spokane Summit on May 29, and again at the Opera House Sept. 4.

Sept. 4 speech at Spokane Opera House (59 minutes)

April 24 speech to the National Press Club, courtesy of National Public Radio

Recordings of the Spokane speeches are available by calling Spokane Public Radio, 328-5729 or 1-800-328-5729 outside Spokane. The cost is $10 for each CD, $15 each cassette.

In 1999 Time magazine recognized him as a 'Hero for the Planet' (2/22/99), stating that "his utopianism is grounded in a unified philosophy that — in demonstrable and practical ways — is changing the design of the world." His ideas and efforts were also honored when, in 1996, he became the only individual to receive the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, the nation's highest environmental honor, presented by President Clinton in a White House ceremony.

Mr. McDonough is the founding principal of William McDonough + Partners, Architecture and Community Design, an internationally recognized design firm practicing ecologically, socially, and economically intelligent architecture and planning in the U.S. and abroad. This firm is developing the plans for the future science center planned for the north bank of the Spokane River.

He is also the cofounder and principal, with German chemist Michael Braungart, of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC, a product and systems development firm assisting client companies in implementing their unique sustaining design protocol. He and Braungart co-authored the book Cradle to Cradle, describing this new industrial revolution.

McDonough with his presentation at the One Spokane Summit in May.