Scientists, architects, designers, artists and many others came together last weekend to share projects and discuss plans for the future at the eighth annual Green Design Conference.

David Riley, assistant professor of architectural engineering, won $2,000 for his project on sustainable housing and five $500 awards were given to other participants. The weekend also included a keynote address by ecological artist and designer Michael Singer, a performance by the Pennsylvania Dance Theater, and a fair for middle and high school students.

Barbara Anderson, director of the Center for Sustainability, said people of different specialties have to work together in today's world, because there are no longer renaissance people who have many skills on many levels.

"Green design is a way of thinking which is often called system thinking," she said.

The goal of the projects presented during the weekend is to obtain sustainability, or the harmonious integration of human life with the natural world, Anderson said.

To do this, participants in five different categories — architecture, engineering, ecological innovations, landscapes, and gardens and art — worked to incorporate the guidelines for sustainable design outlined in The Hannover Principles into their projects.

"In every area, in every category, we're looking for projects that maintain these principles," Anderson said.

Gary Gyekis, a local residential designer and builder, won in the category of architecture for his work on Anderson's home. Both residential and commercial clients are recently demanding more green design in their projects, he said.

"Resale value isn't the only thing driving the market anymore," Gyekis said.

The winner in the engineering category was Joshua Pearce (graduate-material science) for his design of porous sidewalks made from recycled tires. The loosely packed rubber would make it easier for the water to seep through. It would also create a better surface for runners like him, he said.

"I wanted to be able to run on campus on something soft," he said.

In the other categories, winners were Madhu Prakash for a dry toilet that decomposes waste efficiently, Jackie Bonomo for the design of a healing ground sanctuary and Suzanne Bruening for an artistic pillow made of used teabags.

In his speech, Singer encouraged the audience to work with others to reach the goal of sustainability.

"I'd like you all to think of your own work and about how you can benefit from an integrative approach," he said.