The first oil shortage in the late 1970s was the wake-up call that made Quigley realize the health, economic and ethical importance of creating a sustainable environment. Working on his third residential commission at the time, he discovered that he and the architectural profession was not prepared or committed to the challenge. Devouring Victor Olgyay’s classic Design with Climate from the 1940s, he re-educated himself and redirected the modest designs currently in the office. The Cohen Solar House became his first solar-powered project and is thought to be the first architect designed solar house in California. It was published nationally in 1978 and started his more visible career. Many other designs followed with “passive design” experiments incorporating innovative natural ventilation systems, rock and water thermal storage, and special “trombe” walls. (cite Solar Houses, Louis Gropp, Pantheon Books/Conde Nast, Inc., 1978. Houlihan Production Houses, Greenstein, Barczewski and Cohen residences.) This commitment to a sustainable future has defined his work to the present day. The San Diego Children’s Museum, for instance, has no need for and does not contain air conditioning or heating systems in the main galleries. It relies on natural ventilation and passive solar design techniques to heat and cool the spaces. Ocean Discovery Institute’s Living Lab is a near zero energy structure. The use of natural daylighting and ventilation on all the firm’s civic buildings has reduced operational costs and enhanced the indoor environmental quality for users. Quigley’s Sun Field Station for Stanford University was selected as one of the ten most energy efficient and environmentally sensitive buildings in the United States in 2005. The West Valley Library became the first LEED-certified library in the world and the first of the firm’s multiple LEED silver, gold and platinum certified projects. street.
