Registration has Commenced!
May 5-7
Walker Creek Ranch
1700 Marshall - Petaluma Road, Petaluma, CA 94952
Our volunteer conference committee is hard at work polishing the conference details to ensure a stellar event with loads of information, many opportunities to get your questions answered, and of course, time to socialize with like-minded folks. We've included an overview for your perusal, after the registration and lodging information. The schedule will be posted as soon as we've finished tweaking it!
Registration Fee
| Regular Price - $200 |
(April 21 - May 3) |
*Saturday Only - $175
|
(March 20 - May 3) |
Students receive a 25% discount on the Early Bird & the regular priced registration fee.
Base fee includes meals: Friday dinner, through Sunday lunch. Lodging prices are detailed below.
* Saturday Only was set up for members. If this is your only option and you are not a member, please contact David Arkin at the email at the bottom of this page.
You must be a member to register for the conference. (students excepted). If you are not currently a member you can sign up here.
Lodging
Fees are per head and include Friday and Saturday nights. All beds are singles.
- Camping - $0
Included in registration fee
- Economy / Dorm - $50 each
Bring your own bedding
- Semi-private room in lodge - $100 each
Rooms for 2-4 people with shared kitchen, lounge and bathrooms. Limited number of rooms for 2 -- couples, book early if you'd like one!
- Private room / 1 person - $200
Very limited; we will confirm availability post-registration.
Overview
Keynote Speaker: Craig White, Architect
British Architect Craig White has been involved in low energy and sustainable design since the 1980s, and is the founder of the British panelized strawbale wall system, ModCell. Craig is a Design Advice consultant with the Carbon Trust and has worked on the UK's Low Carbon Buildings Programme. He was a keynote speaker at the 2016 International Straw Building Conference in New Zealand. Craig will present "Towards a Photosynthetic Architecture - Renewable Buildings for the Circular Carbon Economy"
Special Guest: Stephen Bushnell, CPCU, ARM
Stephen Bushnell is a highly experienced insurance and risk management professional. He led the development of the industry’s first dedicated insurance policies and risk services for green buildings, and currently sits on the newly formed USGBC Advisory Council. In 2016 he was named President of the Sustainable Disaster Response Council, an organization that brings sustainable practices to the disaster recovery process.
Featured Speaker: Martin Hammer, Architect
Martin Hammer has acted as CASBA's lead code writer for many years and is also the co-director of Builders Without Borders. He will update us on the Straw Building, Straw Clay & Tiny House appendices to the International Residential Code (IRC) that he co-wrote, and speak on Designing for High Seismic Areas in the Developing World and recent straw bale disaster relief work in Nepal.
Schedule: (subject to minor changes)
Friday, May 5th:
Registration - 4:00 - 5:50 PM
Dinner - 6:00 - 6:50 PM
Evening Session
Straw Bale 101
- Contractors Rebecca Tasker & Jim Reiland
Sustainable (Re)Building in Nepal, Strawbale for High-Seismic Areas of the Developing World
- Martin Hammer, architect
The New Carbon Architecture
- New book by Bruce King, PE
Social Time
Saturday May 6th:
Breakfast - 8:00 - 8:50 AM
Morning Session
Welcome & Overview
- David Arkin, architect, and CASBA Director
Santa Clara University Bale Testing
- Professor Mark Ascheim, PE, PhD, & students
Underwriting Straw Buildings
- Stephen Bushnell, CPCU, ARM
Lunch - 12:00 - 12:50 PM
Afternoon Session
Independent discussion group time
The Devil is in the Details
- Jim Reiland, Contractor
Code Update: Strawbale, Straw Clay & Tiny House Appendices
- Martin Hammer, architect, co-author
Towards a Photosynthetic Architecture - Renewable Buildings for the Circular Carbon Economy
- Keynote Speaker Craig White, architect
Happy Hour - 5:00 - 5:50 PM
Dinner - 6:00 - 6:50 PM
Evening Session
5x5 & 20 x 20 presentations by members
Award presentations & Silent Auction winners
Saturday night fun, presented by the Dancing & Decorating committee !
Sunday, May 7th:
Breakfast - 8:00 - 8:50 AM
Morning Session
Annual Member Meeting
Tiny House presentation
- Martin Hammer & Santa Clara University students
Building with Hempcrete
- Steve Sheldon, architect, & Others
Lunch - 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Volunteer Clean Up - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
NOTE: CASBA endeavors to make our conferences accessible to all. If you have financial restrictions please contact David Arkin.