Blog Archives - Built Environment Plus

Designing for Water: Holistic Strategies for Resilience & Resourcefulness

Nov 6, 2025 | Blog

Photo credit: Ed Wonsek

The following post was provided by HMFH Architects.

Water is everywhere, but we often overlook its presence and impact. While it’s essential for all forms of life, from flora to fauna, it also carries destructive potential.

That destruction can be slow, deteriorating a building over time through small fissures in the envelope. Or it can be immediate and catastrophic, causing widespread damage through storms or floods. Plus, water’s effects can be both coastal and inland; its path is indiscriminate, crossing property lines, municipal boundaries, and state lines.

Below, we explore architectural strategies to value water as a resource and design for collection, reuse, and resilience:

Bristol County Agricultural High School

Graphic credit: HMFH Architects

A Holistic Approach to Water Management

At HMFH Architects, we strive to design more holistic, multi-scale approaches to water management that value it as a resource. Prioritizing strategies which lower consumption along with retaining and reusing water onsite.

Our daily consumption of water has far-reaching impacts—on both the water cycles that sustain us and those that threaten us. By designing holistically, we can reduce consumption, support recharge, and respond more effectively to storm events.

There are challenges, though. For one, certain agencies and regulatory bodies have created rules limiting creative solutions that could conserve potable water and protect us from local and large-scale flooding events.

But, as always, there are opportunities to design around the challenges. Here are two strategies to work with water:

Bristol County Agricultural High School

Photo credit: Ed Wonsek

Turn Stormwater into Supply

One of the biggest opportunities in architecture to simultaneously save potable water and improve site performance is to reuse stormwater.

Traditionally, stormwater design focuses on removing water—and this is true at every scale, from site to neighborhood, municipal, and regional. But in an effort to quickly carry water away, we are missing opportunities to collect and save it for reuse.

Modern stormwater collection and reuse systems can help find a balance.

For example, stormwater collection and reuse systems can capture and disinfect water to both manage runoff on site and provide non-potable water for basic building needs, such as toilet flushing, irrigation, and cooling.

At Saugus Middle High School, for example, HMFH designed a stormwater collection and reuse system that includes three 30,000-gallon cisterns. These cisterns capture stormwater from the roof and return it to the building, where it is filtered and disinfected. That water is then reused in multiple ways, serving as the supply to flush all the school’s toilets, as well as an irrigation source for perimeter planting beds and the natural turf athletic fields.

The stormwater system also works in tandem with the site’s stormwater detention structures and rain gardens to keep more water onsite during storm events.

Graphic credit: HMFH Architects

Reduce Demand at the Source

Another key strategy to conserve potable water is to reduce demand altogether, especially the use of potable water for non-potable needs.

Reducing consumption has multiple benefits.

First, reducing how quickly we consume water from reservoirs, aquifers, or ground wells helps ensure availability during times of drought. Limiting consumption can also bring potential cost benefits.

Bristol County Agricultural High School is another example of smart water management.

In the school’s new Science Building, HMFH incorporated composting toilets and water-efficient fixtures. With this two-part approach, the school was able to achieve an estimated 68% reduction in flush-fixture water use and a 32% reduction in flow-fixture water use—even as the student population increased from 450 to 560.

The composting toilets are free from atypical odors, require only minimal maintenance, and also produce a usable byproduct.

Still, while effective and sustainable, adopting this kind of system requires a mindset shift for both designers and clients who may be more accustomed to traditional solutions.

Bristol County Agricultural High School

Graphic credit: HMFH Architects

Green Infrastructure for a more Sustainable, Water-Smart Future

Green infrastructure broadly describes the integration of surface-based natural systems with traditional, manmade infrastructure. For example, green infrastructure can include features like green roofs, rain gardens, tree structures, or landscape swales.

These solutions can slow, collect, and reuse water—but their impact depends on how intentionally they’ve been designed and applied. To make a meaningful difference, it’s important to treat green infrastructure as a central, visible, celebrated part of the site, not an afterthought.

The challenge—and opportunity—is to develop new ways to both manage and value water in a way that’s sustainable and site-specific. Thinking outside the traditional boundaries for water management can lead to more enjoyable spaces that provide exciting solutions which embrace our need and love of water.

Bristol County Agricultural High School

Photo credit: Ed Wonsek

Congratulations to the 2025 BE+ Green Building Showcase Award Winners

Oct 31, 2025 | Blog, Green Building Showcase

Massachusetts green building leaders celebrate innovation and impact

Built Environment Plus was thrilled to host another record-breaking Green Building Showcase at Boston’s largest net-zero facility at One Boston Wharf Road. Over 330 people gathered to celebrate the local green building community and the accelerating progress towards sustainable and regenerative buildings across Massachusetts.

We received a record of 68 award submissions this year, including nine for a new Building Decarb Intervention Award focused on smaller-scale emission reduction interventions for existing buildings. The outstanding projects reflected the growing pace of market transformation led by policy, practice, and shifting priorities.

WS Development generously hosted the event for the third consecutive year, showcasing the ongoing transformation of the Seaport neighborhood.

A panel of national judges selected the standout projects, while local judges chose a Change Agent of the Year recognizing someone making a significant positive impact on the environment, social equity, and the economy.

GREEN BUILDING OF THE YEAR & PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER!

Josiah Quincy Upper School
Submitted by HMFH Architects

The Josiah Quincy Upper School (JQUS), located in Boston’s historic Chinatown, is designed to meet Boston’s Green New Deal and climate action plans, support minority students in a dense urban environment, and provide all of the educational facilities of a modern high school. The all-electric facility is one of only eight schools nation-wide to receive a LEED v4.1 Platinum certification, and demonstrates how sustainable performance and educational excellence can be achieved in dense, urban conditions, on small sites, and economically.

Health equity was a central priority for JQUS. A university study showed that the Chinatown site was heavily plagued by low-lying pollution from the adjacent major highways and railroad corridors. Indoor air quality is assured by bringing filtered fresh air in from high upon the rooftop where these vehicular pollutants are less dense. The expansive rooftop garden provides outdoor classrooms, sensory walking paths, and calming spaces for students. The Josiah Quincy Upper School (JQUS) demonstrates how architecture can advance social justice, environmental responsibility, and student wellbeing.

JQUS reimagines community access by placing public-facing spaces like the gym, auditorium, and media center on lower levels, enabling the school to serve as a neighborhood resource long after hours. Through inclusive planning, bold sustainability targets, and a focus on community wellbeing, JQUS offers a new blueprint for urban public schools: spaces that are healthy, inclusive, resilient, and deeply rooted in the lived experiences of the students they serve.

According to the judges, “This project does the most with the least. It supports the whole learner, addresses a broad set of sustainability issues, and fully leverages a challenging site and limited budget for maximum impact in an underserved community.”

This inpsiring project was also a fan favorite, capturing the 2025 Green Building Showcase People’s Choice Award!

BUILDING DECARB INTERVENTION

Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Levinson Heat Recovery
Submitted by GreenerU, Inc.

Located in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood, the Mission Park is one of Boston’s largest affordable housing communities, with 775 apartment units across mid- and high-rise towers and townhomes. At its center, the Levinson tower houses the most apartment units along with the campus’s central heating plant.

The Levinson Heat Recovery Project introduces an innovative retrofit to this 27-story tower, installing roof-mounted heat pumps and exhaust recovery units that capture low-grade thermal energy from kitchen and bathroom exhaust stacks. This recovered heat is transferred to the building’s make-up air unit, reducing the overall heating load and immediately cutting site greenhouse gas emissions. The project will provide immediate reduction in site GHG emissions, improve BERDO compliance position for RTH, improve thermal and environmental quality for residents, and support the local clean technology economy.

This project provides an innovative approach to retrofitting the energy systems of this urban community setting and making significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions without disruption to residents. Aspects of the design approach depend on certain building specifics, but can apply to other similar buildings and campuses, especially larger multifamily and educational sites. This project models one way of finding opportunities for significant energy and emissions reduction through comprehensive planning and creative engineering design.

According to the judges, “The renovation at Levinson is designed to improve the health of low-income residents, reduce heating costs, and capture wasted heat while providing significant decarbonization and compatibility with a future ground source heat pump. The jury was also impressed at the number of stakeholders engaged in the process. We need this kind of creativity and work at scale!”

The judges added an honorable mention to the Hano Homes Deep Energy Retrofit submitted by Sustainable Comfort. They said, “This exemplary deep energy retrofit of 20 affordable housing units features low embodied carbon materials and full electrification. Limited impact on existing tenants and the common typology makes this approach very replicable.”

CARBON & ENERGY

The Guild
Submitted by Utile

The Guild sets an example for high-performance, low-carbon mixed-use development in Somerville, MA. A five-story building with commercial space on the ground floor and 45 rental dwelling units on the upper floors, the project has achieved Passive House certification through the Phius CORE 2021 standard and utilizes mass timber construction for the majority of its floor systems.

The Guild was a pilot project for the use of cross laminated timber (CLT) construction, specifically for the innovative use of locally-sourced eastern hemlock and tamarack from New England. The project features CLT planks as structural elements for the four residential stories, demonstrating the potential for alternative, low-embodied carbon structural materials for multi-family housing.

This market-rate Passive House project went against the grain through a combination of factors, including Somerville’s progressive Net Zero Ready zoning policy, a forward-thinking developer, and an experienced design team with in-house energy modeling expertise. As a result, the project is an early adopter for market-rate Passive House developments in Somerville and one of the few in the Greater Boston area.

The all-electric project will have zero on-site fossil fuel combustion, and, through its Passive House design, greatly lowers demand on the electricity grid through an efficient, airtight envelope, high-performance energy recovery ventilation, and cold-climate heat pumps.

According to the judges, “The Guild masterfully reduces operational carbon through its highly efficient, all-electric design that minimizes energy use while prioritizing occupant comfort by leveraging PHIUS design principles. This is balanced by an aggressive focus on embodied carbon reduction by embracing mass timber construction and thoughtful use of materials. The project’s execution, replicable mid-rise model, and pragmatic design make it a standout example of context-sensitive, sustainable development.”

The judges also extended an honorable mention to the UMass Computer Science Laboratories Addition submitted by Perkins Eastman, saying, “The project is notable for its thoughtful design balancing both embodied carbon and operational carbon reduction strategies. The submission graphics provide a clear understanding of the selected design measures – both architecture and building systems – with associated carbon reduction metrics well defined.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Penn State Behrend Erie Hall Recreation and Wellness Center
Submitted by Sasaki

The Erie Hall Recreation and Wellness Center is a transformational facility at Penn State Behrend that merges physical recreation with mental health support in a dynamic, highly visible location at the heart of campus. Replacing the outdated Erie Hall gym, the new center achieved LEED Silver certification in 2023, and serves as both a student destination and a critical pedestrian connector, establishing a gateway to the campus core.

The Erie Hall Recreation and Wellness Center redefines what a campus recreation facility can be by integrating physical wellness, mental health services, and everyday campus circulation into one cohesive, accessible, and inviting environment. Its innovation lies not only in what program spaces it includes, like recreation courts, fitness neighborhoods, and a counseling center, but in how these elements are intentionally brought together to support holistic student well-being, demonstrating how thoughtful, inclusive design can transform the way communities engage with wellness. By decentralizing fitness opportunities and embedding them within everyday campus life, the design promotes accessibility and normalizes wellness as part of daily routine.

The co-location of recreational fitness and counseling services within a single facility signals a progressive, holistic view of health that can serve as a model for institutions nationwide. This integrated approach encourages students to see physical and mental wellness as interconnected and equally valued.

Architecturally, the building design offers an innovative response to topography. The sloped site is leveraged to embed spaces that benefit from enclosure, such as wrestling and locker rooms, while elevating active, light-filled areas to overlook the future campus quad. A sculptural canopy shades major façades, enhancing comfort and energy performance, while also creating a strong visual identity at the southern gateway to campus.

According to the judges, “Penn State Behrend Erie Hall has reimagined how the design of a campus wellness facility can support both physiological and psychological health within a unified, student-centered space. The design stood out for making health resources more approachable and embedding them into the daily rhythm of campus life.”

EQUITY & INCLUSION

The Pryde
Submitted by DiMella Shaffer

The Pryde transforms the historic William Barton Rogers Middle School in Hyde Park—vacant since 2015—into 74 units of affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors and a vibrant community center serving residents and neighbors. Blending historic preservation with all-electric, high-performance design, the project offers a replicable model for turning vacant schools into inclusive, resilient housing.

The project preserves the school’s iconic façades and interior details, converting classrooms into light-filled apartments and shared spaces, including a courtyard, art gallery, library, and multipurpose event room. Over 400 letters of community support during the public RFP process helped shape programming that fosters safety, connection, and intergenerational engagement.

Working with the Massachusetts Historical Commission and National Park Service, the team balanced preservation with energy efficiency through electric systems, high insulation, and historic replacement windows. The project achieved Fitwel certification and won the 2024 Best in Building Health Award, earning the highest score under Fitwel’s new senior housing scorecard. By reusing over 80% of the existing structure, The Pryde reduced embodied carbon by more than 40%.

As New England’s first LGBTQ+-friendly affordable senior community, The Pryde fills a critical housing gap while strengthening neighborhood ties.

According to the judges, “The Pryde redefines inclusive housing through the adaptive reuse of a historic school into New England’s first LGBTQ+ affordable senior community. Its design goes beyond accessibility to foster belonging, dignity, and resilience, essentially turning history into hope+national precedent and architecture into advocacy.”

SITE & LANDSCAPE

J.J. Carroll Redevelopment’s Intergenerational Gardens
Submitted by Stantec

The J.J. Carroll Redevelopment’s Intergenerational Gardens break new ground by integrating native pollinator landscapes with intergenerational landscape design tailored for seniors. The approach redefines how sustainability and accessibility inspire a sense of community in low-income aging adults, improving their mental well-being and sense of place in their home. The project re-imagined the site of a declining public housing block into a vibrant, inclusive neighborhood resource rooted in sustainability and equity.

The landscape prioritizes ecological resilience through native pollinator plantings, climate-adapted vegetation, and community gardens that support biodiversity, local food production, and year-round social engagement. Green roofs and shaded areas mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce energy consumption, and enhance climate adaptation. Universally accessible spaces—including play gardens, walking loops, and shaded porches—foster intergenerational connection and cultural inclusivity. By blending active and passive zones, the design supports wellness, reduces isolation in residents, and enables them to age in place with dignity.

By merging ecological function with inclusive social design, this project challenges conventional landscape norms. It demonstrates how public green spaces can be regenerative, educational, and deeply human-centered. This is not just a garden—it’s a model for sustainable, intergenerational placemaking in the urban age.

According to the judges, “This project did a beautiful job taking an underutilized site and energizing it with an ecologically restorative and intergenerationally social solution that invites young and old outside to play.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING OPERATIONS

Jaycee Place
Submitted by Aspen Air Duct

The Jaycee Place Ventilation Overhaul introduced a highly innovative approach by pairing Aeroseal’s patented duct sealing technology with smart fan optimization in the occupied 138-unit affordable housing complex, Jaycee Place. Unlike traditional manual methods, Aeroseal sealed hidden leaks from the inside, cutting duct leakage by 89% with real-time verification. Aspen Air Duct Cleaning then installed and tuned speed-modulating fans and self-balancing dampers, reducing fan energy use by nearly 60% while maintaining code-compliant ventilation. Working floor-by-floor, Aspen minimized disruption to residents while delivering measurable improvements.

The combined impact equals over $66,000 in annual utility cost savings and approximately 262 metric tons of CO₂e reduced each year.

Aspen’s field leadership translated design goals into real, verifiable results, providing healthier indoor air quality for residents while achieving significant energy and carbon reductions. This project demonstrates how advanced technology, when expertly delivered in occupied housing, can achieve deep decarbonization, healthier indoor air, and a replicable model for multifamily retrofits.

According to the judges, “This highly replicable project is a superb example of how high impact, low-hanging fruit projects can yield real, tangible ROIs for environmental performance, human health, and operational cost savings while maintaining continuity in building operations.”

SUSTAINABLE WHOLE-BUILDING RENOVATION

40 Thorndike
Submitted by Elkus Manfredi Architects

Originally built as a courthouse/jail the major focus of its design was security. Opaque and unwelcoming, with no active edges and only one entrance for the public accessed up a flight of stairs from the street level, 40 Thurndike created a physical barrier in the heart of the community. Courtrooms, some double-height, were stacked on top of each other with the jail located on the top four levels and featured narrow window slots for security.

The design of the building’s adaptive reuse reimagined the existing structure with a new mix of uses that contribute to its neighborhood. The team engaged with the community throughout the project, and all major design decisions were made with community input.

Programming publicly accessible, amenity-rich spaces at ground level creates mutual benefits for both building tenants and the surrounding community. These active spaces foster daily interaction, support a sense of pride and ownership, and enhance safety through consistent use and engagement. By encouraging connection between residents, workers, and neighbors, they help cultivate a culturally rich, vibrant environment that strengthens community ties while adding value to the building itself.

Now a sustainable mixed-use office, residential, and retail destination, the the reimagined 40 Thorndike building has achieved LEED Gold certification. The project represents the rebirth of a deeply difficult and challenging structure that has been transformed by a decade of architectural planning, design, and construction and now takes its place as a good neighbor contributing to the community for the benefit of all.

According to the judges, “This project reinvention is a massive transformation from a brutalist courthouse to affordable apartments and office space. The team’s out-of-the-box thinking created an unexpected community asset that values occupant wellbeing as well as positive climate impact. While the specific situation may not be common, the creativity of the reinvention and the holistic benefits achieved would benefit any renovation.”

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION

Stellata
Submitted by Stantec

Achieving Passive House Certification, Stellata features several innovative aspects, particularly in its use of prefabricated components and mass timber. Stellata is a six-story building that houses 102 public housing rental units, and is the first of the 14 future buildings that will complete the Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment. The project is more than just a new building—it is an essential piece of Boston’s 2030 Housing Plan, and a pivotal effort to provide inclusive, affordable housing for all residents.

Stellata utilizes prefabricated and preclad exterior wall panels, which are detailed to meet Passive House standards, ensuring superior energy efficiency. By incorporating mass timber elements, particularly the 62-foot-long 7-ply CLT panels, the project challenges traditional building practices in urban affordable housing. The use of wood in this context not only enhances sustainability but also supports faster construction timelines and reduced labor requirements, making it a cost-effective solution for future developments.

Stellata’s design, with its prefabricated components and Passive House standards, sets a replicable model for affordable housing projects across the region and beyond. Its ability to integrate wood in both structural and aesthetic ways—while meeting the needs of a diverse community—demonstrates how mass timber can be leveraged in non-traditional building types, making it a viable, scalable option for high-performance housing at a larger scale. This project is paving the way for future affordable housing developments that prioritize sustainability, efficiency, and scalability.

According to the judges, “Utilizing a prefabrication process for mass timber construction, the Stellata team married two methods that provide sustainability benefits in their own right. This combination realized reduced construction time, waste and site emissions whilst providing Passive House–level envelope performance that will ensure reduced impact in operations. The project team further leveraged the solution by optimizing floor heights and creating column-free interiors to reduce production waste and provide flexibility for the lifetime of the structure.”

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR FIT-OUT

Office Deconstruction & Reuse
Submitted by Turner

This project for a confidential global technology client in the metro Boston area included the relocation and consolidation of a collaborative office to a 4,000 SF space within another building on a campus. The relocation included an AI theatre, large conference room, project team and huddle rooms, and lounge. The client was motivated to repurpose some of the materials and equipment in the new space. Working collaboratively with the design team, the construction and trade partners found ways to exceed reuse expectations. The design included the relocation of existing furniture, demountable partitions, casework, light fixtures, AV equipment, and HVAC units. The team furnished all carpet within the space from existing attic stock and returned existing to the manufacturer via take-back program.

Commercial construction, compared to the residential sector, is lagging its adoption of deconstruction and reuse. This successful project has created new allies driving circular strategies while realizing the co-benefits of schedule, cost, flexibility, and timely turnover.

Our intent is that more projects exercise the existing avenues of deconstruction, reuse, manufacturer takeback, recycling and donation while also piloting new methods to divert materials. Market transformation requires a culture shift by all involved; clients, designers and contractors. This project should be an example of what is possible when open minds are willing to think creatively so that these practices become more common.

According to the judges, “The winning project redefines sustainable design by fully embracing deconstruction and material re-use, achieving a balance between aesthetics and carbon reduction. Through a holistic approach that extends beyond finishes to include equipment and system components, it sets a replicable model for intentional low-carbon interiors.”

STUDENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Terra Cura Center
Submitted by Elijah Feliz, Júlia De Lima, Hunter Osborne, Berlens Badin

The ethical and equitable Terra Cura Center was designed to provide local forced labor survivors a safe space for healing and personal development, and to break the forced labor chain within material sourcing in the architectural industry. Working with local and national governments, materials could be certified to be sourced ethically and legally. The project also aspires to work with local suppliers that use ethical practices. The materials reflect the local culture and building methods in the small Brazilian town of Salvaterra, Pára.

The rehabilitation center stands for regenerative and positive impact, from foundation to the way users experience community and healing. Other than setting an example for future global infrastructure and material sourcing, Terra Cura Center uplifts the center’s residents and local communities. The Terra Cura Market provides space and a platform for local and residential vendors. Fruit trees and other agricultural goods grown on site and cared after by residents can be displayed and sold in community events. The Market shines a light on the ethical and local economy of Salvaterra. A sense of ownership gives way for dignity and financial independence for those healing from the inhumane forced labor cycle.

The model doesn’t rely on exclusive resources or technologies but instead on a collaboration with local governments, ethical suppliers, and communities, making it flexible and scalable. This approach can be applied in different contexts by establishing partnerships with local government entities to ensure materials are legally and ethically sourced, and by engaging local suppliers and craftspeople who follow fair labor practices that reflect regional culture.

According to the judges, “The Terra Cura Center was selected as the winner for its holistic and innovative approach to addressing both environmental and social challenges, creating a replicable model that promotes ethical material sourcing, economic empowerment, and community healing while setting a new standard for how design can advance equity, sustainability, and local resilience.”

A note from the judges:

“And an honorable mention to all of the teams that entered their projects in this category. We wanted to recognize the Slow Fashion project submitted by Abby Borges and Angela Lang from Wentworth whose thoughtful and detailed research resulted in a fashion and textiles school design that leveraged several sustainable strategies to connect students and the local community with existing and new buildings through the use of bio-based and recycled materials.”

CHANGE AGENT OF THE YEAR

Marty Josten

Congratulations to Marty Josten, Principal Director of Building Decarbonization at New Ecology.

“Marty’s impact goes far beyond technical expertise, she’s not only advancing building decarbonization, she’s creating a blueprint for how communities can build a resilient sustainable future through collaboration which is so critical for this work…Marty combines rigorous technical insight with deep belief in people. She’s deeply committed to helping environmental justice communities thrive by building one family at a time,” says her nominator, Joyce Losick-Yang.

“Marty leads nationally impactful initiatives that drive climate and economic benefits at scale. Her leadership is rooted in deep technical expertise and a collaborative ethos, working closely with community and external partners to deliver engineering audits, analysis, and scoping services that transform individual properties and entire portfolios… Marty’s professional accomplishments are grounded in a simple and profoundly powerful kindness and compassion for others (along with a wicked sense of humor) that engenders lifelong friendships and encourages the professional development of her peers.”

Green Building Showcase 2025 Digital Gallery

MAJOR THANKS TO OUR AWESOME JUDGES!

Allison Wilson
Ayers Saint Gross

Angi Rivera
Sellen Construction

Brian Turner
CMTA

Cedra Goldman
The Manya Group

Deepa Vedavyas
NOPEC

Karina Hershberg
PAE Consulting Engineers

Kjell Anderson
LMN Architects

Lona Rerick
ZGF Architects

Margaret Montgomery
NBBJ

Maria Perez
Gensler

Michael Brown
HKS

Prairna Gupta-Garg
WRNS Studio

Rob Winstead
VMDO Architects

Sandra Montalbo
Overland Partners

Teresa Rainey
Interface Engineering

Building leadership, building the future with LEED v5 and LEED for Cities

Oct 24, 2025 | Blog

The following post was provided by the U.S. Green Building Council

Two impactful convenings last month in Boston, in collaboration with BE+, demonstrated countless examples of public and private sector leadership in Massachusetts.

In the Local Government Leadership Summit, twenty plus municipalities from across New England participated including mayors, energy managers, climate officers, sustainability planners, city managers and more plus many USGBC members and advocates across the green building community from consultants to NGOs to students. So many inspiring local leaders shared insight into LEED for Cities importance and adoption in Massachusetts.

USGBC Local Leadership Summit - Discussion

Then in the LEED v5 Leadership Series, a dynamic panel of experts who are committed to resilience and sustainability shared insight into LEED v5 strategies and solutions and shared what they’re excited for in this next iteration!

Building on this excitement, USGBC is gearing up for our most powerful leadership convening of the year at Greenbuild 2025.

Greenbuild 2025, themed “Better Buildings, Better Futures,” the global community’s top space for learning, networking and sharing insights, takes place in Los Angeles from Nov. 4 to 7. The event will offer more than 100 sessions on the most critical topics in the industry, including many opportunities to learn more about LEED v5.

The latest version of the world’s leading green building standard, LEED v5, isn’t just about today’s buildings; it’s about creating a better future. LEED v5’s comprehensive framework is designed to guide the market toward a near-zero carbon future that is equitable, resilient, and encourages the responsible, safe use of all resources.

Take a look at a small sample below of the ways to explore LEED v5, and explore the full Greenbuild education program when you register to attend. You can sort by track, topic, learning level and more.

Workshops
Build a Sustainable Future with LEED v5
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1–5 p.m.

This half-day workshop dives into the principles and framework of the LEED v5 Building Design and Construction, Interior Design and Construction, and Operations and Maintenance rating systems so that attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how buildings can contribute to critical environmental and social imperatives through the LEED v5 framework. The session will present the three impact areas—decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration—and how they align with LEED v5 credits to drive real-world change. Review each credit category and discuss key prerequisites and credits, and discover the key changes from LEED v4 and LEED v4.1.

Decarbonize Now: LEED v5 Strategies for Ultra-low-emissions Buildings
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

LEED v5 has been holistically created to guide decisions and actions to move us toward our global climate goals. This workshop focuses on the LEED for Building Design and Construction rating system to provide steps and tools to deliver new buildings with ultra-low greenhouse gas emissions for operations and will concentrate on the first step: operational decarbonization design and planning. It will highlight the LEED v5 “recipe” for achieving decarbonization and clarify the importance of decarbonization plans and how to establish them for new construction projects. Attendees will model designs and factors and learn how to account for wild cards in a green building project.

Unlocking LEED v5: Synergize and Optimize EA Credits for Success
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1–5 p.m.

There are huge changes for LEED v5. The Energy and Atmosphere (EA) credit category has the most potential for leveraging synergies and maximizing points with streamlined workflows. This workshop focuses on documentation and understanding compliance paths to unlock LEED v5 and master EA credits through interactive strategies. Gain a solid understanding of how to implement the new LEED v5 energy credit requirements in the design and construction rating systems, and to fully leverage the synergies built into the EA framework to achieve the project’s decarbonization goals, while optimizing project workflow.

Sessions
LEED v5 in Action: A How-to Session on the New Assessment Prerequisites
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Join a how-to session focused on understanding and using the new Integrative Process Assessment Prerequisites in LEED v5. These new prerequisites are tools to collect data and plan for the right outcomes in all LEED v5 projects. USGBC’s experts on climate resilience, social impact and carbon emissions will unpack the intent, requirements and pathways for compliance. We’ll explore real-world case studies and qualifying examples to illustrate how to integrate these prerequisites into project workflows, drive data-backed decision-making and bolster building performance. Attendees will engage with case studies and practical takeaways to understand how to meet these baseline requirements—and how doing so can unlock broader innovation across the LEED rating systems. Demystify these critical assessment areas and gain clarity on LEED v5’s bold push toward decarbonization, equity and climate resilience.

Leveling Up LEED v5: New Forms, Tools and Enhanced User Experience
Thursday, Nov. 6, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

This session will take the audience on a deep dive into the currently available suite of tools and the vision for what comes next. Tools covered include updated forms, calculators and workbooks for decarbonization, as well as the new assessments for resilience and human impact. These are credit-specific resources serving LEED v5 for Building Design and Construction, Interior Design and Construction, and Operations and Maintenance to support the new prerequisites and key credit advancements. Attendees will see the new Arc platform in action and understand how it integrates performance tracking and project documentation into the user experience. Harness the full potential of LEED’s evolving tool ecosystem and gain insight into USGBC’s ongoing effort to make LEED v5 the most intuitive, streamlined and supported user experience yet.

Lessons Learned: Retrospective on LEED v5 O+M from Iconic Buildings
Friday, Nov. 7, 10:15–11:25 a.m.

Join USGBC and industry experts for “Part II” of their dive into LEED v5. In this session, project team leaders return from Greenbuild 2024 to discuss their experiences with certification through LEED v5 or Operations and Maintenance. They will share lessons learned, financing and actual costs, and goals achieved, and will share a look at how each project is faring post-certification. Speakers will discuss strategies for promoting LEED v5 to diverse stakeholders, emphasizing its alignment with key market drivers such as decarbonization, resilience, health and well-being, and equity. Attendees will also gain practical guidance on financing opportunities and strategies for adoption, along with step-by-step recommendations to help project teams prepare for implementation. Gain the tools and knowledge to champion LEED v5 adoption within your organization and actionable insights for transitioning to the updated rating system.

View the full education lineup.

Living Future Community: October 2025 Roundtable | Circularity and Social Impact: Non-Extractive Economies

Oct 23, 2025 | Blog

The October Living Future Roundtable conversation focused on how the potential prioritization of repair and preservation paired with the use of locally available natural resources are a key part of the essential recipe for living in a less extractive way.

Subject matter experts Ace McArleton, Co-Founder of New Frameworks and author of The Natural Building Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to Integrative Design and Construction, and Lori Ferriss Co-Founder of the Built Buildings Lab, shared their experiences and perspectives on restoration as a sustainable practice and the use of natural materials in modern AEC projects. Conversation was guided by attendee questions voiced aloud or through chat. Questions answered by both subject matter experts with additional commentary from Community Leaders.

Creation as a social activity
Community Leader Jim Newman started the conversation by asking the experts about how they conceptualize the process of building and creation as a social activity and why that is important. Much of the emphasis of the building process is focused on the completion of the build, the time after creation but before habitation. Design is elevated above stewardship. Both Ferriss and McArleton talked about the elevation of maintenance as a key component of preserving our built environment. Buildings and shared spaces need to be valued across time, not just at construction. People engage in relationships with buildings across their whole life cycle, so the whole life cycle has value. Preservation is integral to cyclical stewardship. AEC professionals often show little consideration for the people who live in and maintain the built environment. This lack of consideration can lead to worse outcomes for both people and the buildings themselves.

Natural Materials
The overarching goal of design is the creation of beautiful, usable spaces, but also to think about the holistic impact of the work, while ensuring good long-term outcomes for the built environment. Materials play a crucial role in the creation of these spaces; they become the interfaces that building users interact with on a daily basis, and form much of the environmental footprint of the building process. Working with natural and native materials more strongly ties architecture to place and reduces the environmental footprint of the building process. People have used the natural materials around them for all of time. From the wood and mud Takienta houses of Togo and Benin to the bamboo Madhesi houses of Nepal, taking from the resources in the environment of a place ties culture and environment back into the building process. There is value in incorporating and using natural materials in the green building industry.

In a risk averse industry like AEC, prioritization of new materials, technologies, and techniques can sometimes take the back burner, but all it takes is one person demonstrating that it can be done for change to begin. Ace’s company, New Frameworks, works to incorporate straw materials into the building process. The straw panels are created with materials easily and readily available in the Vermont landscape he calls home. There are materials that are local to everyone, no matter where they live or come from. By remembering how to use local resources, the green building community can foster better connection to place, reduced building footprint, and environmental longevity.

Ace McArleton — People as Priority
McArleton was drawn to the AEC community because he aims to make beautiful things for people in ways that take care of the people doing the actual building, and prioritize the comfort of the people that use the environments he creates. He values comfort, safety, and inclusion of everyone involved with a project over the prestige or isolated “success” of the building as a creation removed from the humanity that utilizes it.

Lori Ferriss — Preservation as Practice
Growing up in Southern Louisiana, Ferriss spent time in historic Cajun buildings with strong ties to history, and a greater connection to the environment around them than many modern buildings. The work she does today straddles the line between preservation and design. Ferriss founded the Built Buildings Lab to highlight the gaps in data, in stories, and in policy that are preventing the current built environment from being a more central resource to modern efforts to green the built environment. She prioritizes a culture of repair, human comfort, and preservation of historical knowledge in her work.

Conclusion
Relationships with buildings should bring joy. People interact with the spaces, places, for so much of their lives that it should add to their lives and personal capacities. Going forward, Ferriss and McArleton urge the green building community to focus on storytelling as a mechanism for implementing these practices. The data supports restoration and preservation, but the data cannot stand alone. The narrative is how relationships are built, and relationships are how change is initiated to promote a greater culture of maintenance, preservation, and continuous care of the built environment.

Get Paid for Workforce Training: What You Need for your Express Grant Application

Oct 6, 2025 | Blog

The Commonwealth Corporation’s WTFP Express Program provides employers fast, simple access to grant-funded training, helping businesses in Massachusetts respond to emerging needs. Built Environment Plus helps facilitate this funding to enable more attendees to take advantage of our education programs.

Businesses with 1-50 employees can receive up to 100% reimbursement, and those with 51-100 employees up to 50% reimbursement. If you have more than 100 employees, you should apply to the General program.

Who Can Apply?
The Express Grant program is available to Massachusetts employers with 100 or fewer employees, but eligibility depends on a few key factors. To qualify, your organization must:

1. Have a physical MA-based location
2. Pay into the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) system.

For-profits, Non-profits and Sole proprietors are typically eligible if they have W2 employees, while government agencies and community colleges are not eligible. To check your eligibility and learn more, visit this page.

Here’s the Process for Applying for Express Grant Funding for Eligible Courses:
1. Pick a Course from the BE+ Catalog
2. Gather Application Materials (COGS from MA DOR; Cert. of Compliance from DUA; W9)
3. Apply for Funding
4. Accept your Award & Sign Contract
5. Attend or Send Employees to Training
6. Request Reimbursement

New Eligibility Requirements for Application Materials:
Effective July 2025, Express Grant applications require a NEW Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), in addition to the prior documentation required (including a Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue and signed Form W9; read more about obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing here).

The new Certificate of Compliance is required to:

(1) Verify compliance with DUA UI/UHI contributions
(2) Confirm that your organization pays into the Workforce Training Fund
(3) Verify the latest number of Massachusetts payroll employees that were filed with the DUA

How to Request the Certificate of Compliance
Businesses can generate a Certificate of Compliance that will confirm whether the business contributes to WTFP and is eligible to apply (assuming all other compliance requirements are met) via a self-service option on the DUA’s Unemployment Services for Employers portal. See here for instructions to access the Unemployment Services for Employers portal.

Important Notes:

- The DUA is now using MyMassGov login for its Unemployment Services for Employers portal, which has replaced the UIOnline portal. You will need to create a “MyMass.gov” login FIRST, before you can get access to your DUA account.
- You must select the entity type “Commonwealth Corporation” when requesting a Certificate of Compliance through the DUA self-service portal. The Commonwealth Corporation has outlined detailed steps to obtain this certificate.
- The Certificate of Compliance is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and must be valid at the time of the grant application.
- You must ensure you request the version of the Certificate of Compliance that confirms compliance with the DUA, and ALSO verifies that your organization pays into the Workforce Training Fund or your most recently filed employee count.
  - Please ensure you indicate that you need your certificate for “Commonwealth Corporation” compliance by following the detailed guide linked above.

Questions?
For assistance with resolving compliance issues related to your DUA account, please contact the DUA Revenue Enforcement Unit directly at revenue.enforcement@mass.gov, or 617-626-5075, Option 4.

Reach out to the BE+ Education team at education@builtenvironmentplus.org with questions about completing the Express Grant application to take our courses for free!

Brand New Building Decarb Intervention Award to Premier at 2025 Green Building Showcase

Sep 25, 2025 | Blog

We have extended the deadlines to purchase and submit Building Decarb Intervention award entries to 5pm on Monday, October 6th. Apply promo code DECARB100 for your discounted entry.

Built Environment Plus has launched a new award category for the 2025 Green Building Showcase to recognize strategies and interventions that increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions of existing buildings.

As part of its work developing the Massachusetts Building Performance Exchange, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, this new award will shine a bright light on the innovative and impactful work already underway to transform large, out-of-date existing buildings into modern, energy efficient and healthy buildings.

To better promote this new award, BE+ is offering deep discounts on all entries to this category. All award entries for the Building Decarb Intervention Award will be just $100 instead of the typical $350 entry fee, and will also include one ticket to the October 30th GBS Awards Program & Celebration in the Seaport. See below for details.

As buildings account for around 35% of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, and roughly 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built, we have to get really smart about how we tackle the carbon emissions of our existing building stock. The submitted project should have a product or practice that is high impact, innovative, and replicable, in order to help Massachusetts cut emissions at scale.

This new award builds on the success of the Existing Building Interventions and Innovations track at the 2025 Building Tech Forum, which had 39 submissions for 15 presentation slots. Attendees heard Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC, lay out Massachusetts’ leadership role in developing a thriving climatetech ecosystem to address some of the biggest challenges facing the Commonwealth. It’s the perfect complement to our re-named Sustainable Whole-Building Renovation award, and we look forward to including both in future GBS awards programs.

The deadline for all Award Entry purchases is 5pm on September 30th. The September 30th deadline for award submissions will be extended for this category only, but only if the entry is purchased by the deadline.

For more details you can visit the GBS ‘25 Awards Program webpage or download the Call for Entries.

For the discount, apply promo code DECARB100 to an Award Entry purchase here.

About the Building Performance Exchange
BE+ is working with MassCEC to accelerate market transformation for larger building energy retrofits through knowledge sharing, training, peer-to-peer interaction, and targeted research. The Exchange will make retrofitting existing buildings easier through a library of guides, case studies, and webinars. It will create a community of professionals with the expertise to transform large, out-of-date existing buildings into modern, energy efficient and healthy buildings. https://builtenvironmentplus.org/exchange

About Green Building Showcase
Once a year, the BE+ community gathers to celebrate industry success in greening the built environment. The evening consists of a cocktail reception in a showcase of project boards, short presentations, discussions, and the awards program. Attendees include architects, engineers, contractors, developers, owners, facility managers, building users, lenders, suppliers – everyone who plays a role in designing, operating, and constructing the built environment.
https://builtenvironmentplus.org/greenbuildingshowcase

Welcome Our Fall 2025 Interns!

Sep 19, 2025 | Blog

Welcome Fall 2025 interns Ella Hubbard and Molly Neu! We’re excited to have them on board to help strengthen the BE+ community and support our mission to advance sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operations of the built environment. With their diverse backgrounds, fresh perspectives, and early contributions of energy and insight, Ella and Molly are already making an impact—we’re looking forward to all of their many contributions to the BE+ community throughout the fall!

Ella Hubbard

My name is Ella, and I am very excited to be working as an intern with BE+ this fall! I am entering my senior year at Tufts University where I study Community Health and Environmental Science with a concentration in Sustainability and Policy. I am on the sailing team at Tufts and enjoy knitting and drawing in my free time. I am passionate about creating living spaces that benefit both the environment and human health. I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to learn more about green urban design and the green building community during my time with BE+.

Connect with Ella Hubbard on LinkedIn

Molly Neu

My name is Molly and I am excited to be working as an intern with BE+ this fall! I’m a recent graduate of Smith College where I double majored in Architecture & Urbanism and Computer Science with a concentration in Sustainable Design. I am passionate about advancing decarbonization and climate resilience in the built environment. I am particularly interested in how data, tools, and community outreach can be used to promote the implementation of green building techniques in new and existing buildings. I look forward to supporting the Education and Research teams at BE+!

Connect with Molly Neu on LinkedIn

Building Toward Green: The 2025 BE+ Building Tech Forum and MassCEC Driving a Greener Massachusetts

Jul 31, 2025 | Blog

The 2025 BE+ Building Tech Forum packed the Joyce Cummings Center at Tufts University on July 17th with over 300 people gathering to explore the latest and greatest breakthroughs in building technologies, products, and innovations.

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the Existing Building Interventions & Innovations Track focused on forward-thinking solutions to improve, decarbonize, and extend the life of existing buildings—an area that is crucial as 35% of MA’s emissions come from the building sector.

Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC, addressed the full audience to lay out the progress Massachusetts is making towards leading the world’s climatetech industry and making our homes, workplaces, and schools healthier, safer, and more efficient.

“It was an honor to talk about this opportunity, and it was especially powerful to hear impressive presentations from many of MassCEC’s grantees and partners”, said Dr. Reichert.

MassCEC CEO Dr. Emily Reichert speaking at 2025 BE+ Building Tech Forum

The evening then packed in 45 5-minute lightning talks on cutting edge developments and innovations advancing the sustainability of the built environment, in three different track rooms.

The forum was a high-energy event involving the exchange of ideas that will continue influencing the building practices across Massachusetts and beyond. Attendees and presenters were offered networking opportunities with industry leaders, innovators, practitioners, and key decision-makers.

“MassCEC has greatly impacted the building industry in Massachusetts as they cultivate and partner with a growing ecosystem of industry leaders who keep pushing the bounds of what’s possible,” said Meredith Elbaum, Executive Director of BE+. “This year’s Tech Forum was by far the most impactful, thanks in large part to our increased collaboration with MassCEC as we launch the Massachusetts Building Performance Exchange.”

This new program will be a centralized hub for building professionals, building owners and other large building stakeholders to find information on how to improve building efficiency and health, utilize educational resources, and get support with decarbonizing existing buildings.

MassCEC continues to invest in supporting owners approach building decarbonization and electrification, through programs like their Building Electrification Transformation Accelerator (BETA) which provides no-cost building audits.

We are thrilled with the progress and excitement that events like Building Tech Forum mark, as we bring together the green building community to share and explore cutting-edge innovations and strategies. We see very clearly the transformation of this vital industry and are continually inspired by the collaborative potential that helps drive meaningful change within the built environment.

2025 BE+ Building Tech Forum Lightning Talk

View photos from the event.

Reaching New Heights: Josiah Quincy Upper School is Boston’s First LEED Platinum Public School

Jul 10, 2025 | Blog

HMFH Architect’s design of the new Josiah Quincy Upper School for the City of Boston has recently earned LEED Platinum certification. It is only the second MSBA-funded school project in Massachusetts, after our design of the Saugus Middle High School, to earn this designation.

This significant achievement reflects the school’s high standards for efficiency, resiliency, and environmental health as one of the first projects to open under the Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools initiative.

Fossil Fuel Free & Efficient

The building is powered entirely by electricity with efficient heat pump technology, meaning no fossil fuels are used for heating, cooling, or cooking in the school. A well-insulated envelope and optimal window-to-wall ratio minimize energy use from heating and cooling, while most academic spaces have north- or south-facing windows to create optimal daylighting conditions and reduce the need for artificial lighting. Daylight controls and vacancy sensors in classrooms and offices further limit energy expenditure by automatically dimming lights when there is sufficient daylight and turning lights off when a space is unoccupied.

Indoor Air Quality

With few buildable sites for a new school building in Boston’s dense downtown core, JQUS was conceived as a high-rise school on a constrained urban plot adjacent to two highways. From the outset, mitigating the effects of the site’s air pollution was key to creating a healthy and successful learning environment. An efficient displacement ventilation system, enhanced air filtering, and intakes located on the school’s roof and away from the most significant pollution sources assures that clean outdoor air is supplied to all interior spaces.

Design for Equity & Well-Being

JQUS is a middle high school with a 96% minority student body. The school’s auditorium, black box theater, gym, and media center are designed to serve all students in grades 6-12 as well as the community for after-hours events. Despite the constraints of the school’s less than one-acre urban site, the design fosters a connection to nature and prioritizes student well-being through the design of an accessible landscaped rooftop. Complete with an outdoor STEM classroom, gardens, and walking paths, the rooftop provides space for movement, hands-on project work, and mindful contemplation. Gardens with native species of meadow grasses and hardy wildflowers connect students with the local ecology and student planting beds provide hands-on experience growing food.

Resiliency & Water Conservation

All critical mechanical equipment is raised above the first floor to ensure the building’s continued operation and mitigate risk in a potential flood or large storm event. JQUS is designed to preserve groundwater levels with a stormwater detention system under the building that recharges stormwater back into the ground. In addition, the plantings on the roof help to slow stormwater runoff, reducing the chance that drains would be overloaded in a storm event, and low-flow fixtures throughout the building conserve about 240,000 gallons of water annually.

Welcome Our Summer 2025 Interns!

Jun 24, 2025 | Blog

Join us in welcoming our Summer 2025 interns, Jason Dias and Madison Clowes! We’re thrilled to have them on board for the summer to strengthen the BE+ community and advance our mission to drive the sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment. Jason and Madison have already brought high energy, insight, and talent to our team, and we’re looking forward to all we’ll achieve together.

Jason Dias

My name is Jason, and I’m a recent graduate of Centre College with a Bachelor of Science in Economics & Finance and concentrations in Accounting & History. I was born in Boston, but lived in Brazil for a few years as a kid. There, I spent a great amount of time on my parents’ farm, where I learned to appreciate our beautiful earth. I’m excited to serve as an intern with the education team at BE+ and immerse myself in the sustainable architecture space before heading to graduate school in the fall. I enjoy running, reading historical fiction, and trying out new smoothies.

Connect with Jason Dias on LinkedIn

Madison Clowes

My name is Madison, and I am so excited to be working with the BE+ team this summer! I am entering the final year of my undergraduate degree at Tufts University where I study Environmental Studies with minors in Urban and Architectural Studies. My interests exist at the intersections of these areas of study, and I am most passionate about the creation of communities which are livable and sustainable for all. I am looking forward to bringing my research and design skills to the work BE+ does for the green building community, and learn more about the industry while doing so!

Connect with Madison Clowes on LinkedIn