September 20, 2016
On September 19, 2016 Ken Acks delivered his third guest lecture on Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) at the Pratt Institute Graduate School of Architecture.
Pratt is ranked among the top design schools by BusinessWeek, with many programs ranked among the top ten and five in the country. Pratt was recently ranked number one for fine arts and studio programs by USA Today. Comprising five schools, the Institute is primarily known for its highly ranked programs in architecture, interior design, and industrial design. U.S. News & World Report lists Pratt as one of the top 20 colleges in the Regional Universities North category. Princeton Review recognizes Pratt as being one of the best colleges in the northeast, making it among the top 25% of all four-year colleges and universities in the United States.
The lecture and discussion provided a brief overview of cost benefit analysis -- what it is, how it is conducted and key issues. The talk focused on examples, in particular Mr. Acks discussed a cost-benefit analysis of green roofs he conducted along with researchers at Columbia University and other institutions. He also briefly discussed his work on Costs and Benefits of Waste Disposal in New York City.
Mr. Acks also talked about career options and what led to his interest in CBA. Mr. Acks was impressed by the students who included many experienced professionals.