A modern multi-story building with large windows and wooden exterior, surrounded by lush greenery and large trees. There is a patio with outdoor seating and a garden with various succulent plants in the foreground.

PUBLICATIONS

From national media to industry journals, Verdant's expertise in alternative and low-carbon materials has attracted attention well beyond the engineering world. Our principals have also authored and contributed to books that have become key references in the green building field. Below is a selection of books, articles, and media featuring our work.

BOOKS
ARTICLES
MEDIA

BOOKS

Book cover titled "Essential COB Construction: a guide to design, engineering, and building" with photos of a wooden structure, a small house, and a person working on the ground.

Essential Cob Construction

A Guide to Design, Engineering, and Building

VSE’s principal, Anthony Dente, and Massey Burkey, in collaboration with Michael Smith and the help of others in the office, developed this book and published it in 2025. Copies can be purchased HERE!

Book cover titled "Straw Bale Building Details" with a picture of a window and straw bale walls inside a building under construction.

Straw Bale Building Detail Book

VSE was a contributor to the Straw Bale Building Detail book published by the California Straw Building Association (CASBA) in 2019. VSE extends a big thank you to all of those involved. Get your copies HERE!

Book cover titled 'Design of Straw Bale Buildings' by Bruce King, featuring an image of a straw bale construction with wooden and concrete supports, and a yellow background with text listing contributors and topics.

Design on Strawbale Buildings

Kevin Donahue is a contributing author to the book Design of Straw Bale Buildings by Bruce King et. al. (Green Building Press, 2006). Get your copy here.

ARTICLES

  • The Wall Street Journal: 'Startup Cowboys’ Are Making This Texas Town the New Tech Hotspot

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  • A house under construction with a wooden roof framework and exterior walls made of mud or adobe, surrounded by trees and construction tools.

    LA Times: Wildfire victims want to rebuild with natural materials. Some say L.A. County is making it onerous

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  • Modern house built on a hillside with large windows and wooden exterior, surrounded by rocks and lush greenery.

    Trellis: In the wake of devastating fires, California architects and developers turn to natural materials

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  • A young girl is sitting on a window seat inside a bright room with white walls. She is looking out at a large window framed in wood, showing a view of a wooded forest with green trees and sunlight.

    Yale Climate Connections: Could your next home be made of hemp?

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  • Two men are standing outside near a white building with a copper-colored roof, surrounded by trees. The building appears to be under construction or renovation, with building materials and tools visible. A unique chandelier with horse sculptures hangs on the right side of the building.

    Hemp Building Magazine: Hempcrete Approved for US Residential Building Codes

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  • A charming cottage with a thatched roof, white walls, surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowers.

    ICC Building Safety Journal: Cob code appendix approved for the 2021 IRC

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  • Modern multi-story house with a backyard featuring patio furniture, trees, and a wooden fence.

    Dwell: Budget Breakdown: A Former Berkeley Commune Is Surgically Renovated for $944K

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  • A row of concrete blocks on a metal roller at a construction site.

    Masonry Magazine: Remixing Modern Masonry With Watershed Block

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  • Interior view of a building under construction with wooden framing, straw bales stacked along the wall, and a window with a view of the sky.

    Structure Magazine: Strawbale Construction - Structure Magazine

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  • Interior view of a circular construction with a wooden framework and a woman working inside.

    Mercury News: Clay houses in quake country?

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  • A house under construction with wooden framing and a partly built roof, surrounded by trees and bushes.

    Berkeley Side: First permitted cob structure in Berkeley could pave the way for more green buildings

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MEDIA