Healthy Materials Summit 2016 Speaker Bio: Blake Jackson

By Alex Landa


With the Healthy Materials Summit 2016 later this month, it's time to get to know the speakers. This professional gathering event held at Google's Kendall Square HQ in Cambridge, MA, covers all grounds for understanding healthy materials in the construction process, and why you should care about it. The ultimate goal of the Healthy Materials Summit is to bring the issues relating to building materials into light, in hopes to inspire commercial leaders, designers, and builders, and manufacturers and product vendors to increase their supply and demand of transparent, healthy building materials and products.

Blake Jackson is an architect, educator, and Associate at Tsoi/Kobus and Associates, a Cambridge MA-based architectural practice focusing on healthcare, labs, higher education, and commercial structures.He is at the forefront of promoting sustainability and human health across his projects, in education as an adjunct faculty at the Boston Architectural College, regionally as co-chair of the BSA Committee on the Environment, as both a LEED and WELL Faculty member, and in his role on the Healthy Materials Summit steering committee since its inception.

It isn't too late to register for the Healthy Materials Summit 2016! You can find more info here.

Wednesday, October 26th, 2016
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Google Cambridge Headquarters
5 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA, 02142

Come To Our October LEED Exam Prep Course Tomorrow!

By Alexander Landa


Are you serious about your dedication to sustainable building? Come to our Green Associate course next week on Wednesday, October 19th, in our Boston office!

Anybody that's serious about sustainable building should definitely have their LEED Green Associate accreditation! And we'd be happy to help you prepare for your Green Associate Exam. In fact, we're hosting an exam preparation course which would be perfect for you next month! This is also the perfect opportunity because we will be transitioning to an updated version of LEED next year, and this will give you a better grasp of the updated
certification information for the new version. 

Already a LEED Green Associate or Accredited Professional? Invite a friend or colleague who still needs their accreditation!

This is a fast-paced class for real estate professionals, architects, engineers, students and anyone else interested in green building practices and LEED.  The majority of attendees have little previous knowledge of the LEED rating system, green building operations and green building construction.  Upon completion of the class employees will be eligible to sit for the LEED Green Associate exam at a local testing center.  Please note that the national office has lowered their student rate to 100 dollars, read more at usbgc.org. By passing the exam, employees will earn the LEED Green Associate credential. If interested in attending a LEED Green Associate Exam Prep class, please email celis@usgbcma.org, groups welcome. 

In addition to this course, there are a few other ways you can prepare. You can catch up with the LEED Green Associate Handbook, and the LEED Core Concepts Guide, for starters.

Wednesday, October 19th, 2016
50 Milk Street
18th Floor, Hemingway Room
Boston, MA

Register here.
Learn more about the course here.

Join Women in Design Boston for our Third Event in our Negotiation Series

By Grey Lee, Executive Director


Financial Savvy, Throughout Your Career:

Just getting your first job in the field? Moving into a principal role? Coming back after an extended absence? Throughout our careers we face different opportunities and challenges regarding personal and professional finances. Join us as we hear from a panel of industry experts on their advice and observations of financial planning and negotiation strategy.  

Panelists:
Jane Weinzapfel – Principal at Leers Weinzapfel Associates
Tamara Roy – Principal at Stantec Architecture
Daniel Gaudet – CPA Principal at DiCicco, Gulman and Company, Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors
Maren Reepmeyer – Senior Associate at CBT Architects
Kyla Astley – Marketing Manager at Perkins+Will
Emily Grandstaff-Rice – Event Moderator, Senior Associate at Arrowstreet

Sponsors:
BSA, Payette, Stantec, Finegold Alexander Architects

Sign up: Here!

Tuesday, November 1st, 2016
6:00PM-8:00PM
BSA Space
Fort Point Room
290 Congress Street
Boston, MA, 02210


Come To The USGBC MA Sponsored Sessions At ABX 2016

By Alexander Landa


Coming up November 15th to 17th will be ABX 2016! As part of the Northeast's largest building industry conference and tradeshow, the USGBC MA Chapter will be sponsoring multiple panels this year. Below, you can see all of the events that we're directly involved with, and how to attend them. We hope to see you there!

Before ABX properly begins on Tuesday the 15th, join us for a fun pre-mixer on Monday, 11/14. ILFI's Amanda Sturgeon will be here to discuss the Living Building Challenge, and drinks & appetizers will be served as well. Learn more here and register here.

If you're looking for a mid-week networking event, please also attend the Quebec is Quality Reception for food, drinks, and to meet a diverse group of ABX attendees. You can register here and learn more about the Quebec is Quality session here.

A05: Good Medicine: the WELL Building Standard, Tuesday 11/15, 8:00AM-9:30AM. This session provides a deeper review of the WELL Building Standard and the certification process. The medical basis for the concept categories is explored along with design and construction strategies to create healthy buildings. Whitney Austin Gray (Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Delos) will speak.

A25: Integrative Design (LEEDv4 IP): Where the rubber meets the road, Tuesday 11/15, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. This workshop is a practical and applied look at how your firm can capture the value provided by institutionalizing IP. Successfully implementing IP requires a clear, shared understanding of what integration means in your firm culture, how individuals in different roles participate and alignment with consultants around your project delivery objectives. Barbra Batshalom (Founder & CEO at Sustainable Performance Institute) will speak.

A44: Beyond Inspiration: Implement a successful biophilic project, Tuesday 11/15, 1:00PM-2:30PM. How do designers go above superficial references to nature and use of natural materials to design environments that are truly connecting, inspiring, and regenerative? Amanda Sturgeon (CEO of International Living Future Institute) will speak.

B04: Ask the Experts: Live up to the Living Building Challenge, Wednesday, 11/16, 8:00AM-9:30AM. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the Living Building Challenge-a philosophy, advocacy tool, and certification program that addresses development at all scales. Speakers will be Deborah Frieze (Owner at Old Doak Dojo), Shawn Hesse (Boston Office Leader Emersion DESIGN), Julie Johnson (Executive Director at Hitchcock Center for the Environment), DiAnn Mroszczak (Designer at Prellwitz Chilinski Associates), and Carl Weber (Interim Director of Facilities & Grounds at Hampshire College)

B25: Transforming Inertia, Wednesday, 11/16, 10:00AM-11:30AM. There is a huge opportunity for practitioners to learn how to change firm culture and overcome inertia in order to pursue sustainability in their projects. The presentation will cover the insight of those outside of a firm but working on this issue with firms, as well as the perspectives of those in an architecture and engineering firm. Speakers are Barbra Batshalom (Founder & CEO at the Sustainable Performance Institute), Jacob Knowles (Director of Sustainable Design at BR+A Consulting Engineers), and Andrea Love, (Director of Building Science at Payette).

B44: Mapping the Materials Universe: Lessons and Strategies, Wednesday 11/16, 1:00PM-2:30PM. We explore the hardest specification sections and the most opaque market sectors, inviting discussion and exploration of the greatest challenges. Speakers are Lisa Carey-Moore (Sustainability Analyst at Integrated Eco Strategy), Lisa Goodwin-Robbins (Architect Specifier at Kalin Associates), Jason Jewhurst (Senior Associate at Bruner/Cott & Associates), and Charley Stevenson (Principal at Integrated Eco Stategy).

B68: Designing for Net Positive Water and Energy, Wednesday 11/16, 3:30PM-5:00PM. Net positive energy is a key component in the battle against climate change. Buildings emit nearly 50% of carbon emissions, and architects can play a leadership role in moving beyond incremental reductions to regenerative design now. Speakers are Jason Forney (Principal at Bruner/Cott Architects) and Jason Jewhurst (Senior Associate at Bruner/Cott & Associates).

C21: How Green Building Make Your Clients Smarter – Harvard Study, Thursday 11/17, 10:00AM-11:30AM. Green Buildings have measurable positive effects on brain function. The ability to provide data on how design impacts occupant productivity is key to moving client towards valuing and advocating for green building features. Speakers are Joseph Allen (Assistant Professor of Exposure Assessment Science at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health), Piers MacNaughton (Project Manager at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health), and John Spengler (Director and Proram Director at Harvard T.H. School of Public Health).

Stay tuned for more updates on ABX and the speakers!

Healthy Materials Summit 2016: Healthy Materials 101

By Alexander Landa, Outreach and Communications Manager


The Healthy Materials Summit 2016 isn't far away now! Since there's a lot going on that day, we want to walk you through some of the events that will be going on. In addition to the two other breakout sessions – The Supply Hackathon and The Demand Hackathon – the third session will be simply titled Healthy Materials 101.

We know that the new concepts of healthy materials are still fresh for many, and the explanation for why the topic matters so much (and what to do about it) may have never been succinctly offered. This session will look at the increasing science and research substantiating the need for healthy building materials, what is currently happening in the marketplace in the building industry and beyond, and how you can participate.

Healthy Materials Summit
October 26th, 2016
8:00AM – 8:00PM
Google Cambridge HQ
5 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA, 02142

Learn about our speakers:
Barbra Batshalom
Monica Nakielski
Brent Ehrlich
Gregory Norris

See Grey's Thoughts on Healthy Materials Summit here.
Blake Jackson's Call To Action
Steven Burke Wants To See You At HMS

Register and learn more here.

Attend CSI Boston Chapter's 10/19 Event 'Overcoming LEED v4 Materials Quandaries'

By Alexander Landa, Outreach and Communications Manager


Please join Construction Specifications Incorporate (CSI) on October 19th for an evening meeting that will include a presentation and panel discussion covering solutions through collaboration of any dilemmas you may have with LEED v4 materials. This event will also include dinner, drinks, and a networking session.

You can register here. Networking session and dinner costs $30 to attend; members of the Boston Chapter can attend for free. The presentation at 6:30PM is free for both guests and members.

Those who attend this presentation will receive one CEU or AIA credit. The 6:30 presentation will feature four presenters:

Moderator Carrie A. Havey, Sustainable Design Consultant at The Green Engineer Inc.
Steven Burke, Sustainability Manager at Symmes Maini & McKee Associates
Conor McGuire, Director of Sustainability, at Columbia Construction Company
Lisa J. Goodwin Robbins, Architect/Specifier at Kalin Associates.

The presenters will discuss what tools and processes they developed to work with the new materials requirements into the specifications and examine case studies. They will stress the importance of team collaboration to successfully complete LEED v4 projects.

You can read more about this event and LEED v4 concerns here.

Register for the event here.

 

USGBC MA Emerging Professionals + BSA EPNet: HallOlympics Oct. 27

By Alexander Landa, Outreach and Communications Manager


Join the Emerging Professionals of the USGBC and BSA Emerging Professionals for some Healthy competition in your best sports costume, at the HallOlympics

Nothing says healthy building like its healthy participants. Come together at the Peabody Office Showroom to challenge each other to some corn hole, ping pong or other fun games. Our guest sponsors will share some tips and information on creating Healthy Buildings with Healthy Materials to add to the fun. Come dressed as your favorite athelete or health enthusiast! 

6:30-7:00: Check in and Networking

7:00-7:15: Sponsor Introduction. Hear a word from our Sponsors: Peabody Office Furniture, Keith Peterson and Behr Paint/Kilz Primers

7:15-8:30: Networking and Games. Brush up on your skills, we'll have Supersize Jenga, Ping Pong, Cornhole and a few surprises. Bring your A-Game! Light hors d'oeurves and drinks will be provided.

Thu, October 27, 2016
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Peabody Office Furniture
234 Congress Street #1
Boston, MA, 02110

Learn more and register here!

What To Expect From Healthy Materials Summit 2016: Supply And Demand Hackathons

By Alexander Landa, Outreach and Communications Manager


The Healthy Materials Summit 2016 isn't far away now! Since there's a lot going on that day, we want to walk you through some of the events that will be going on. In the morning, there will be two Hackathons – Supply and Demand.

Guided by facilitators and panelists from the earlier session, the Supply Hackathon will have participants work together to brainstorm solutions on increasing the availability of products utilizing disclosure documents. Certain manufacturers have chosen to be early adopters in the materials transparency movement, but some are still sitting on the sidelines. How can we push those manufacturers and all collectively benefit, and how can we reward the early adopters?

For the Demand Hackathon, this session will have participants work together to brainstorm solutions on increasing the demand for availability of products utilizing disclosure documents. Current market demand for materials transparency standards may be siloed within sustainability professionals and projects pursuing green building certifications. How can we push to make this a more standard product demand and all collectively benefit, even becoming better sales-persons and advocates for transparency?

Learn more about the Healthy Materials Summit 2016 here.

Register here.

More On Why You Should Care About Healthy Materials

By Steven Burke


Members of the local green building community should go to the Healthy Materials Summit in two weeks to become more informed of the transparency movement that is evolving so rapidly. Coming to this event will help individuals orient themselves in the transparency landscape and guide their organizations in the right direction through access to the best and most current knowledge of the design and construction process.

Contributing your time and enthusiasm will help to continue pushing the industry forward as we strategize on how to make materials transparency more universally accessible for both designers and building product manufacturers – both of whom will be attending this event at Google.

With expert panelists and hands-on workshops, we hope that people will leave this conference with a reinvigorated sense of purpose for and understanding of the materials transparency movement, and will feel as though they have made a direct contribution to advancing the conversation forward.

If your career, education, or passions in any way relate to green buildings or another environmentally-conscious industry, you owe it to yourself – and to your community – to attend the Healthy Materials Summit 2016 and to learn more about how everyone can make a difference. Whether you're designing a new building or taking another approach to helping our world, the process is the same – one building block at a time.

 

Healthy Materials Summit
October 26th, 2016
8:00AM – 8:00PM
Google Cambridge HQ
5 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA, 02142

Learn about our speakers:
Barbra Batshalom
Monica Nakielski
Brent Ehrlich
Gregory Norris

See Grey's Thoughts on Healthy Materials Summit here.
Blake Jackson's Call To Action

Register and learn more here.

LEED Prep Course and Healthy Materials Summit Are Star Events October 2016!

By Alexander Landa, Outreach and Communications Manager


October 2016 is an insanely busy month for the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter – in a good way, though. This month, we have a few great events going on, focusing on education in the green building industry.

Wednesday, 10/19: LEED Exam Prep Course
Get ready for your LEED exam with this day-long educational workshop.

Thursday, 10/20: UMass Boston University Hall Building Tour
Come join your green building colleagues for a tour of the University of Massachusetts Boston’s new University Hall.

Wednesday, 10/26: Healthy Materials Summit
Are your clients concerned about the materials in their buildings? Of course they should be. You can help them stay on top of the subject. Come join us at Google's Cambridge HQ for this deep dive into the health implications of building materials and finishes.

Thursday, 10/27: USGBC MA Emerging Professionals + BSA EPNet : HallOlympics
Join the Emerging Professionals of the USGBC and BSA Emerging Professionals for some Healthy competition in your best sports costume, we're having HallOlympics!