Transformational Thought

Transformational Thought by Jason F. McLennan is a dynamic collection of provocative essays that critically challenge the design practices and thinking that are interwoven within our contemporary cultural, societal, personal value systems. Rather than an ominous commentary about the terminal shortcomings of society, McLennan relates his architectural acumen and his eclectic knowledge of sustainability, proposing an intelligent, and sometimes radical rethinking of how we live, work and plan for a living future. McLennan addresses a wide variety of themes from personal to far-reaching systemic change. Each insight points the reader toward sustainable solutions, challenges the status quo, balances practicality with philosophy, and prepares us for a healthy and prosperous future. McLennan advocates for rapid social change – calling for people to engage in productive initiatives beyond current models and to cooperate, take chances and experiment outside of current corporate imagination and our precarious societal scaffolding. Transformational Thought provides us with compelling and timely direction in the most highly transformative era humanity is yet to face.

Transformational Thought by Jason F. McLennan is a dynamic collection of provocative essays that critically challenge the design practices and thinking that are interwoven within our contemporary cultural, societal, personal value systems. Rather than an ominous commentary about the terminal shortcomings of society, McLennan relates his architectural acumen and his eclectic knowledge of sustainability, proposing an intelligent, and sometimes radical rethinking of how we live, work and plan for a living future. McLennan addresses a wide variety of themes from personal to far-reaching systemic change. Each insight points the reader toward sustainable solutions, challenges the status quo, balances practicality with philosophy, and prepares us for a healthy and prosperous future. McLennan advocates for rapid social change – calling for people to engage in productive initiatives beyond current models and to cooperate, take chances and experiment outside of current corporate imagination and our precarious societal scaffolding. Transformational Thought provides us with compelling and timely direction in the most highly transformative era humanity is yet to face.

Considered one of the most influential individuals in the green building movement today, Jason F. McLennan’s work has made a strong impact on the shape and direction of green building in the United States and Canada and he is a much sought after presenter and consultant on a wide variety of green building and sustainability topics around the world. McLennan serves as the CEO of the International Living Future Institute—a leading NGO that focuses on the transformation to a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. Under the Living Future umbrella, Jason operates the Cascadia Green Building Council, the Pacific Northwest’s leading organization in the field of green building and sustainable development. In addition, Jason consults through a unique partnership with the Integral Group, the world's leading deep green engineers that focus on cutting edge net-zero energy and water solutions for select projects. An Ashoka Fellow, Jason is the founder and creator of the Living Building Challenge, widely considered the world’s most progressive and stringent green building program. His work in the sustainable design field has been published or reviewed in dozens of journals, magazines conference proceedings and books including Time Magazine, National Geographic, The New York Times, Architecture, Architectural Record, Dwell, Plenty, Metropolis, The Globe and Mail, The World and I, Ecostructure, Greensource, Arcade and Environmental Design and Construction Magazine. He is the author of five books; The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, The Dumb Architect’s Guide to Glazing Selection, The Ecological Engineer, Zugunruhe and this newest collection of essays titled Transformational Thought. Of note, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design has been used as a textbook in over seventy universities and colleges and is distributed widely throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Jason has won numerous awards including the prestigious Buckminster Fuller Award. Jason was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, was educated in Oregon, Kansas and Glasgow, Scotland and now resides on Bainbridge Island in Washington State with his wife Tracy, three sons; Julian, Declan and Aidan, and daughter Rowan.