Alisa Moss has been the recipient of two international Fellowships, an A.V. Jennings ChurchillFellowship in 2007–2008 and the Pratt Foundation/ISS Institute Overseas Fellowship in 2009–2010.The most striking outcome in both international Fellowships was the universal willingness to shareideas experienced with all those Moss visited.

This Pratt foundation/ISS Institute Overseas Fellowship was awarded to Moss to enable her to examinesix sustainable commercial workplaces, with particular emphasis on the following factors:

1. To identify materials and products being used in commercial workplaces that are detrimental to thenatural environment or the occupants’ health, and possible alternative sustainable materials andproducts.2. To identify successful design models that reduce energy consumption, and concurrently increasethe amenity of the workplace for the occupants.3. Preparation of case studies on the following buildings/workplaces:– Energy Foundation– Autodesk– ClimateWorks Foundation– San Francisco Federal Building– 901 Cherry Avenue/YouTube Corporate Headquarters– Heifer International

The case studies all demonstrated a shift in thinking regarding how a building could/should befinished or fitted out. The trend now is to use the building structure as the finish. This is in contrastto the conventional method of lining the building structure with finishes such as plasterboard, timber,or ceiling tiles. This trend leaves the building structure visible rather than covering it up.The mantra is ‘less is more’. The consequence of this trend is that less materials are being used inbuilding fit outs; therefore, the building structure is required to be completed to a much higher level offinish. This approach to the finish of a commercial workplace