John Reynolds is well known in architecture circles for his passion and expertise creating sustainable, energy-efficient buildings and living spaces, but he has another eduring legacy.

Although it isn’t remembered among many people now on campus, Reynolds was a catalyst for changing Eugene’s energy future. He also set the city’s public utility on a different trajectory that embraced energy conservation and renewable resources.

Reynolds has taught both architecture design and environmental control systems at the UO since 1967. He is a coauthor of the widely used textbook on mechanical and electrical equipment for buildings, and he wrote a highly acclaimed book on courtyard design and aesthetics.

But as a member of the Eugene Water & Electric Board starting in 1972, Reynolds took on a different challenge. He began pushing back as support for nuclear power began to shift, urging conservation as a better course. It was a long battle, but Reynolds and other conservation supporters eventually won.

In recognition of Reynolds’ work, the School of Architecture and Allied Arts will hold the inaugural John Reynolds Sustainability Symposium at the UO on May 16 and 17. The event will feature internationally known professionals and researchers to campus to discuss cutting-edge sustainability in architecture.

A story by Lance Robertson, the public affairs manager of EWEB and an instructor in the UO’s School of Journalism and Communication, tells how Reynolds helped guide Eugene toward a path of sustainability. See the full story here, along with links to the symposium website.