Our preparations for Greenbuild are kicking into high gear. The conference is now less than two months away! But we'd like to take a moment to thank our second round of Greenbuild Tours sponsors!
For more information about our other Greenbuild Tours sponsors click here. For a full list of tours and to register visit greenbuildexpo.com. If your organization is interested in joining our growing group of tour sponsors you can find more information on our Greenbuild Tours page!
The Residential Green Building Committee gathered on September 11th, 2017. We had some new faces, so it was great to meet folks in the green building space, working towards the same goal.
We had a guest presentation from Peter Lawrence, President and co-founder of Biomimicry New England, a nonprofit organization. He presented on biomimicry and how bioinspired buildings come to fruition and remain resilient.
First off, what is biomimicry? It is about learning from nature, as Peter explained. He gave a formal definition of “Conscious emulation of natural forms, processes and systems to solve problems.”
Peter mentioned Sir Joseph Paxton, an exemplary figure who practiced biomimicry through his building design, most notably the Crystal Palace. He was inspired by what he had witnessed in the natural world, during his work as a gardener for the 6th Duke of Devonshire.
Peter continued to list some examples of existing technology, with its origination based on the nature that surrounds us. See below for examples of innovative companies, practicing biomimicry:
Take bees for instance, as they instinctively act in such a way that benefits the entire swarm they are part of. Encycle has created a product based on this swarm intelligence, via Swarm Logic. This technology allows RTU units on buildings to communicate independently, just like the bees communicate without direction from their queen bee.
Sharklet Technologies, Inc. is another firm, that produced a product that mimics the way sharks keep algae from collecting on their coats, and applies it to hulls of submarines and ships.
NBD nano manufactures a coating, that replicates the same sensation that occurs on the back of the Namib Desert Beetle. The beetle has a hydrophobic surface that rejects water, and as a method of hydration for the beetle, the surface of the beetle’s back allows water to roll down and into its mouth.
Brent Constantz at Blue Planet, created a carbon mix which uses less energy than manufacturing the conventional concrete we use so much in buildings. This carbon block production emulates coral in the ocean, which harvests Carbon Dioxide naturally.
Peter went on to tell us about projects he is working on. Biomimicry and Resilience is a course his company ran earlier in June, and are looking to expand their courses and teacher base. Feel free to reach out to someone on the RGBC committee or Peter directly, if you would like to learn more.
Peter noted that understanding nature’s process is integral to biomimicry, especially when creating product based on this practice. We should not be fighting nature, but rather learning how to live like the natural world around us.
The Living Building Challenge is a leading example of biomimicry practices at its finest. Speaking of, come join us for the “Introduction to the Living Building Challenge” on September 28th (register HERE). Also, come join the chapter for the “September Greenbuild Mixer with JLL” on September 21st (register HERE).
Catch you at our next RGBC meeting on October 16th!
Skanska announced that Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has signed a 150,000-square-foot lease for its state-of-the-art, elliptical office tower, 121 Seaport. Alexion will move its headquarters from New Haven, CT, to Boston.Since launching its commercial development business in the U.S. in 2009, Skanska has invested nearly half a billion dollars to self-finance smart, sustainable developments in Boston. The company has two additional developments in the Seaport: 101 Seaport, the North American headquarters for PwC; and Watermark Seaport, a 300,000-square-foot, LEED Gold residential building with ground-floor retail, which is more than 95 percent leased. Skanska also developed 150 Second Street, a lab and office building in Cambridge, MA, and is currently developing The Harlo, a luxury residential tower at 1350 Boylston Street in the Fenway, where both Tatte Bakery & Café and Oath Craft Pizza will be opening this fall.
August 26th, the USGBC Emerging Professionals MA Bike Team selected the Allston/Brighton neighborhood of Boston for this year’s tour because of the area’s influx of new, sustainable development. The route varied from public and private community spaces, to mixed-use, mixed-income, transit oriented developments (TOD) in the post construction, lease-up phase. All stops on the tour were chosen to highlight Allston/Brighton’s vibrant and unique neighborhood as well as compliment team member’s professional backgrounds and interests.
The first stop of the Bike Tour was Boston Landing’s Warrior Ice Arena, 90 Guest Street, a state of the art ice rink facility. Both The Boston Bruins and the public can use the gorgeous rink, hours of use are listed on their website.
Pictured Above: Warrior Ice Arena
Facility manager, Marissa Marwell, gave an enlightening tour of the rink explaining the science behind the rink and the igloo-like window design. The rink also recycles the heat distributed from the chilling process under the ice and distributes that warm air into the function rooms and other areas of the facility that require heat. All the equipment used in the facility is electric to improve the indoor air quality.
Warrior Ice Arena opened one year ago this month and is open for public skating on the weekend. Check out the “Rock n’ Skate” on Fridays from 8-10pm or some of the other fun events on the master schedule!
Pictured Above: The Bike Tour group at Warrior Ice Arena
Marissa also detailed the growth of Boston Landing including the adjacent New Balance Headquarters, new Boston Landing Commuter Rail Station, 280+ condominium units at the Residences at 125 Guest Street, restaurants, retail and upcoming track for the New Balance Running Team. The New Balance Headquarters is attaining LEED v2009 Platinum and is the only building in the US to achieve all IEQ credits. There are several unique features to this building that can be viewed during one of the Greenbuild building tours. Learn more about the TM11 – Developers Changing the Status Quo tour!
Next we biked to Allston’s newest condominium community, Trac 75. Addressed 75 Braintree Street, Trac 75 is a LEED silver, 80-unit condominium building. It has an expansive roof deck, with views of the City and surround area. The new building also has a landscaped dog park named Bark Park, dog spa and on-site fitness center.
Pictured Above: The Bike Tour group at 430 Cambridge Street
Then we rode over to 430 Cambridge Street. A mixed-used, mixed-income rental apartment style building in Lower-Allston. Minutes from the Pike, numerous bus lines and Harvard Square, Cambridge. This building is in the final construction and lease-up stages. Designed to have almost as many bike spots as there are vehicle spaces- reflecting the City’s urge to reduce vehicle dependency.
Pictured Above: The Bike Tour group at Continuum
Next we learned about the sustainable design of Continuum, located at 219 Western Ave, from a previous EP Ryan Montoni, Project Manager at The Green Engineer. Continuum is v2009 LEED Gold mixed-use, mixed-income rental apartment complex adjacent to Harvard University’s Business School and athletic facilities. There is a large, beautifully lit terrace between the two buildings, as well as a large bike storage facility and fitness center on site. A Trader Joe’s, coffee shop and Jewish deli, Our Father’s Deli is opening in Continuum’s retail space.
Pictured Above: The Bike Tour group at Library Park
We rode over to the Raymond V. Mellone Library Park, on North Harvard Street, to take a sustainable lunch break in the serene gardens of Allston. Located behind Allston’s Public Library, this lesser-known park is an oasis from the ever busy streets of Allston. As part of the Harvard University Lower Allston Master Plan vision, this 1.75 acre of reclaimed green space serves as an anchor to the future green corridor to connect Lower Allston to the Charles River. The park highlights many sustainable features including salvaged material use, native plantings and stormwater mitigation through groundwater recharge and an extensive rain garden. Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates designed this park with funding from Harvard University.
Pictured Above: The Bike Tour group at HBS Tata Hall
With refueled energy, we road to the Harvard Business School Tata Hall. Built in 2013, Tata Hall is LEED Platinum and a mixed- use building. It has thick glass sidings to maximize natural light and transparency to the green spaces surrounding the building, providing panoramic views of the Charles River. Tata Hall provides 48% water saving compared to an Energy Policy Act of 1992 baseline. Also a notable 43% reduction in energy costs compared to the baseline standard (ASHRAE 90.1-2007), estimated via energy modeling.
Pictured Above: The Bike Tour group at the Warrior “#selfiestick”
We closed out our bike tour riding along the Charles Esplanade, enjoying the views and knowledge gained from our tour guides and friends at Boston Landing and Continuum. Thank you to Jenna Dancewicz, Ben Silverman, Aminah McNulty and Moira Cronin, for planning the tour! Thank you once again to our sponsor, NB Development Group!
We are honored to announce Embue as our newest Advocate Level sponsor!
Embue is a group of engineers and entrepreneurs that are obsessive about making apartments work more efficiently through automation, remote control, and alerts. Embue delivers solutions to owners, managers and residents that meet expectations of the smartphone culture for speed, information, and mobility. The Embue team is highly engaged in creating what it means to live in, manage or own tech automated apartments.
Embue's mission is to make apartment building operations more efficient, comfortable, and cost-effective.
The company's goal? Intelligent buildings that automate management tasks, optimize resource use, and protect against loss, while providing a healthy comfortable environment tailored to residents’ individual needs.
Embue aims to transform multifamily portfolio, property management and resident experience in all segments of market through thoughtful application of technology. Embue’s cloud platform delivers building automation and analytics with a portfolio-wide dashboard and in-building network of smart devices. The Embue Sensor replaces the home thermostat and can adjust household temperature according to weather, humidity, occupancy and energy use patterns. The benefit? Cut a monthly bill by up to 25 percent, by not supplying energy where, or when, it’s not needed.
With experience in real estate tech, HVAC, energy efficiency, system/network architecture, full stack engineering, hardware supply chain, and scaling internationally, Embue has 6 patents issued to date and currently works in the Boston, New York, and Washington D.C. markets.
Welcome to our sponsoring partner community, Embue. We are proud to have you as a partner and look forward to accomplishing great things together.
During the conference, Mr. Thomas may discuss the Company’s current operating environment and strategy; development, redevelopment, acquisition and disposition activity; and other business and financial matters affecting the Company.
Mr. Thomas’ participation in the panel discussion will be webcast live in audio-only and available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.bostonproperties.com under the heading “Events and Webcasts.” A recording of the panel discussion will be archived and available through Saturday, March 10, 2018 in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.
Boston Properties is a fully integrated real estate investment trust that develops, redevelops, acquires, manages, operates and owns a diverse portfolio of primarily Class A office space totaling 48.4 million square feet and consisting of 164 office properties (including six properties under construction), five retail properties, five residential properties (including three properties under construction) and one hotel. The Company is one of the largest owners and developers of Class A office properties in the United States, concentrated in five markets – Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
Green Apple Day of Service kicks off this month! The Day of Service is an opportunity to join schools across the world in celebrating the central role that schools play in preparing the next generation of global leaders. Since 2012, more than 790,000 volunteers in 73 countries have participated in events, affecting the learning environments of over 7 million students and teachers. With 1 in 8 people around the globe attending a school every day, there is more work to be done!
Every event is chance to give students hands-on experience with sustainability and to strengthen civic leadership, environmental literacy, and project management skills.
This year, participants make a commitment at the start of school and name their own project date for any time throughout the school year. To help with fundraising, Green Apple Day of Service is using the DonorsChoose.org platform to drive donations to schools, and the Center for Green Schools and its partners are providing thousands of dollars in match funding to projects that receive donations from their communities. Projects receive tailored guidance for their specific project date and project type, and they are eligible for prizes just by keeping up with planning and executing their project.
You can learn more about Green Apple Day of Service and sign up at greenapple.org.
Information and questions you may have
What is it?
Green Apple Day of Service is a unique moment to join schools across the world to celebrate the central role that schools play
in preparing the next generation of leaders in sustainability. A school’s event is an opportunity to give students hands-on
experience with sustainability, strengthening civic leadership, environmental literacy, and project management skills. Since it
began in 2012, the Day of Service has inspired almost a million people in over 70 countries to act in support of sustainability
at their schools.
How does it work?
Green Apple Day of Service is your day of action on a specific day that you choose during the school year. Starting on
September 1, schools register their project on greenapple.org and name their date. Day of Service projects commit to making
measurable change on one or more of the three pillars of a green school: environmental impact, health and wellness, and
environmental and sustainability literacy. Projects make this impact at a school in a way that directly and positively affects
the students.
What’s in it for our school?
Green Apple Day of Service provides direct value to teachers and schools that sign up to participate. Participants will receive
tailored guidance for their specific project date and project type, and they’ll be rewarded with prizes for keeping up with
planning and executing the project. Green Apple Day of Service is also using the DonorsChoose.org platform to catalyze
donations to schools, promoting local projects through our volunteer network and providing thousands of dollars in match
funding to projects that receive donations from their communities.
A Green Roof is a layer of vegetation added to the roof of a building. Green roofs absorb and filter rainwater, improving water quality and reducing the risk of flooding. They also improve air quality, lower building heating and cooling costs by mitigating the urban heat island effect, provide valuable green space in densely developed areas, and serve as a habitat for birds and other species. Because of its many environmental and energy-savings benefits, a green roof can be an important component of a green building’s LEED certification.
Green roofs come in all shapes and sizes, and can be found on commercial buildings, residential homes, parking garages, and university rooftops. Some are private gardens or workplace retreats; others are museum showpieces or urban farms. Some are planted with thin, lightweight plants and are intended to improve a building’s energy efficiency while being enjoyed from afar. Others are built like parks with trees and benches, and are meant to be enjoyed up close.
Because of the many environmental, social, and economic benefits of adding vegetation to rooftops, green roofs (also called living roofs or roof gardens) have risen in popularity over the past several years. Here are 10 of the best green roofs in Massachusetts.
10: The Burnham Building, Downtown Crossing, Boston
The half-acre roof of the Burnham Building provides environmental benefits for the neighbors and visitors in the streets below. (Source:Recover Green Roofs)
As part of the new Millennium Tower development at Downtown Crossing, the historic Burnham Building was retrofitted with a half-acre, multi-level sedum rooftop. Designed by renowned 20th-century architect Daniel Burnham, this former site of the Filene’s department store was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The green roof and other building efficiency improvements were therefore incorporated into the building with great care. Besides creating an enjoyable view for nearby offices and apartments, these green rooftops decrease wind speeds and reduce flooding and water polluting during rain storms, creating a more enjoyable outdoor experience for Downtown Crossing shoppers, commuters, and sunny-day-strollers below.
9: Twin Rooftop Patios: Residential Getaways in Cambridge
Two Cambridge homeowners prove you can have your green backyard and your city view too. (Source: Recover Green Roofs.)
It can be a tough call for city-dwellers: keep your city apartment with easy access to all the urban amenities, or retreat to that green suburban oasis and enjoy your own private backyard? Green roofs ask a different question: why choose? Thanks to a new zoning code easing restrictions on building developments, Cambridge is leading the charge on residential green roof patios. These two homeowners were the first in Cambridge to buildgreen roofs on their homes for personal use. The two roofs include playspace for the kids, a vegetable garden, relaxing patio areas, and of course an excellent view of the city. Building a green roof as your own private city oasis in the city is the newest trend in green building development.
8: Avigilon Offices at 450 Artisan Way, Assembly Row, Somerville
An Office Oasis overlooks the Mystic River at Assembly Square’s new transit-oriented development. (Source: Recover Green Roofs/Patrick Rogers Photography.)
Green roofs are good for the environment, improving water quality and reducing energy costs, but they are also good for people, improving health and morale: some green roofs, like this one, are able to accomplish both. Formerly a brownfield site, Assembly Row in Somerville is quickly developing into a booming mixed-use development featuring shops, offices, and apartments, alongside the Orange Line and the Mystic River. 450 Artisan Way, the first LEED Gold office building in Somerville, is one of three rooftops in Assembly Row topped with energy-saving green roof technology. This green roof filters rainwater and contributes to the currently-underway clean-up and revitalization of the historically polluted Mystic River. Pedestrian paths and benches give visitors and office workers a place to relax and enjoy the view. Designed by Copley Wolf Design Group and built by Recover Green Roofs, this rooftop green space features shade and wind-tolerant plants and an excellent view of the river.
7: North Shore Community College Green Roof, Danvers
The green roof on the Health Professions & Student Services Building at North Shore Community College is one of many green roofs used as educational tools at Massachusetts schools. (Source: Recover Green Roofs.)
Colleges and Universities are excellent locations for green roof installations. Their large institutional buildings offer ample roof space for greenery, and energy efficient buildings with rooftop gardens make for an attractive and enjoyable campus environment. Most importantly, green roofs in educational spaces serve as research and educational tools for students and raise awareness about the technology in the general campus population. The North Shore Community College Health Professions and Student Services Building, the first state-owned zero-net energy building in Massachusetts, was built with a green roof not only to qualify for LEED Gold Certification but also to act as a teaching tool for students. Designed by Copley Wolff Design Group and maintained by Recover Green Roofs, the building’s green rooftop features modular trays with different green roof species plantings. These trays are intended to serve as teaching and research tools for students in biology and plant science courses. Other Massachusetts universities and colleges that have installed green roofs for educational and research purposes and general student and faculty enjoyment include Smith College, Tufts University, Simmons College, MIT, Harvard University (see #3), and many more.
Atlantic Wharf’s Green Roof Terrace overlooks Fort Point Channel. (Source: Halvorson Design/Ed Wonsek.)
Situated on the Boston Harborwalk, Atlantic Wharf is the first skyscraper in Boston to achieve LEED Platinum Certification. With help from a green roof terrace on the 8th floor, Atlantic Wharf uses 33% less energy and 69% less water than other downtown office towers. The green roof terrace tops the historic Tufts building, which was restored and incorporated into the Atlantic Wharf complex. Not only do the rooftop plants provide an enjoyable view for building visitors and office workers, but the roof also features crushed stone paths to welcome visitors right on the roof.
Produce grown on the roof of this Lynnfield Whole Foods Market is sold directly in the store below. (Source: Recover Green Roofs/Maureen White Photography.)
There is nothing quite like the sensation of buying food right where it was grown. With urban agriculture on the rise, many rooftops are now seen as prime real estate for food growing ventures. While some rooftop farms (see item #1) grow food in raised beds and nutrient-dense soil media, the Whole Foods Farm in Lynnfield, MA features crops grown directly in the soil on a 17,000-square-foot parcel of the grocery store’s roof. Designed and installed by Recover Green Roofs and farmed by Green City Growers, this rooftop farm uses locally sourced compost and soils to grow 10,000 pounds of produce each year. Amazingly, this “hyper-local” produce is sold in-store year-round (thanks to a solar tunnel) and at about the same price as other in-store vegetables.
4. 101 Seaport Roof Terrace, Seaport District
90 planting segments cover a 15,640 sq. ft roof terrace on top of Boston’s 101 Seaport Boulevard LEED Platinum Office Tower. (Source: Apex Green Roofs)
Green Roofs should be recognized not only for their environmental benefits, but also for the benefits they provide to human health and quality of life. In dense urban pockets where green space is hard to find, green roofs provide a much-needed respite from the urban lifestyle. Designed by Apex Green Roofs and Copley Wolff Design Group, the Roof Terrace at 101 Seaport Boulevard is one of many living roof decks in downtown Boston (see #8) that raises morale for the workers in the office buildings below. Office workers can spend their lunch breaks enjoying the view alongside two-dozen species of native plants adorning one third of their office building’s rooftop. This green roof is planted in single-species blocks unique to Apex Green Roofs’ design style, and has provided an opportunity for green roof designers to test which plant species are most suited to sky-high living conditions.
3. Harvard Business School Innovation Lab, Cambridge
Batten Hall Green Roof at Harvard Business School, Cambridge. Installed by Apex Green Roofs in 2014. (Source: Apex Green Roofs)
Originally the site of the WGBH-TV studio, Harvard University’s Batten Hall re-opened in 2011 retrofitted with a new green roof crown and a LEED gold certification. It is part of a larger Harvard green roof network that provides environmental benefits and cost savings while providing pleasant views for students from their dorms and classrooms. Of the five vegetated roofs at Harvard Business School, only Batten Hall’s roof is “intensive,” meaning it is built with enough soil depth to support multiple, deep-rooting plant species. What was once a plain, gravel-covered roof now boasts 19 wild plant species and plays host to several beehives. In addition to water savings, the roof insulates the building from the sun, reducing energy and money spent on building heating and cooling costs. With nearby solar panels providing the Innovation Lab with all its energy needs, it is no wonder that Harvard refers to Batten Hall as Harvard’s Greenest Roof.
Honorable Mention: The Harvard Business School McArthur/McCollum Building by Recover Green Roofs and Omni Ecosystems. Its unique design involving ultra-light soils and diverse native plantings is intended to mimic a natural meadow.
2. Norman B. Leventhal Park, Post Office Square
Norman B. Leventhal Park, a street level green roof on top of a parking garage, is enjoyed by patrons of Post Office Square. (Source: Halvorson Design, Ed Wonsek.)
OK, we know what you’re thinking: a park at ground level is hardly a roof. In fact, the centerpiece of Post Office Square was a parking garage until the 1990s, when Norman B. Leventhal and several community groups organized around the idea of moving the parking garage underground and topping it with a street-level park. With its flowing fountain, trellised benches, and glass café, this garage-roof park brings together tourists, commuters, city-dwellers, and office workers on their lunch breaks. The park even provides yoga classes, free sitting cushions, and a mobile library. The park also reduces air and noise pollution, and the bathrooms in the parking garage below run on recycled water. Good for the environment and good for the community – and you still have a place to park in the building below.
Honorable mention: the Rose Kennedy Greenway, an innovative tunnel-top park that runs through Boston, was the perfect green topping for the Big Dig project to move I-93 underground, and it makes a nice change from the busy highway that is now housed beneath it.
1. Fenway Farms: the Fenway Park Rooftop Garden
A 7,000-sq. ft organic farm overlooking Yawkey Way. Organic produce is available to Fenway Park patrons. (Source: Recover Green Roofs)
What better place to celebrate urban green space than atop Boston’s greenest landmark? What was once a boring, sweltering-hot black roof overlooking Yawkey Way is now a riot of plants and organic vegetables. Installed by Recover Green Roofs and tended by Green City Growers, the Farm at Fenway Park makes for a pleasant and delicious view for fans catching the game. Since it opened in 2015, Fenway Farms has improved air and water quality for the neighborhood, conserved energy for the Red Sox front offices, and provided 4,000 lbs. of organic produce each year for hungry fans at EMC Club and in the ballpark. All leftover produce is donated to the community group Lovin’ Spoonfuls. Next time you go to catch a game, don’t forget to check out this garden in the sky.
Honorable Mention: Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm, a brand new 2017 installation by Recover Green Roofs, provides morale-boosting green views for hospital patrons.
These are ten of our favorite green roofs in the Commonwealth – but what are yours? Tell us about the great green roofs we may have missed or that you wish had been included in the comments below.
Additional information provided by Sadie Ide, Apex Green Roofs, and Serena Galleshaw, Recover Green Roofs
Excitement is growing for Greenbuild, which is now less than 70 days away. USGBC MA is especially excited about showcasing the region's most innovative and sustainable buildings to an international audience during Greenbuild Tours! Massachusetts has such an amazing green building community and we can't wait to show it off. We've planned more than 30 tours that cover 80 sites in the region. But we can't do it all alone, so we'd like to take this chance to give a special thank you to our first round of Greenbuild Tours sponsors!
For a full list of tours and to register visit greenbuildexpo.com. If your organization is interested in joining our growing group of tour sponsors you can find more information on our Greenbuild Tours page!
Skanska announced today that it has achieved the “topping out” milestone at 99M signaling the last pour on the roof level of the concrete, 11-story, 234,000-square-foot Class A office building currently under construction in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood.
Located at the corner of 1st and M Streets, SE, 99M is steps from both Navy Yard-Ballpark Metrorail entrances and seven blocks from the U.S. Capitol. It will include approximately 220,000 square feet of office space, with approximately 11,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space on the ground floor. Skanska has announced agreements with office tenants PYXERA Global and the Credit Union National Association, and two restaurant tenants, CIRCA and Open Road, of the Metropolitan Hospitality Group (MHG). The building will feature a green roof and rooftop terrace, a club-grade fitness facility, secure bicycle storage and four levels of underground parking.
Annie is widely regarded within the marketplace as an expert in third-party verification and sustainable program development. She previously held positions like Vice President of Certification Services at GreenCircle Certified, LLC until starting her own independent organization in 2017. She sits as a technical advisor to: the US Green Building Council’s Materials and Resources TAG, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), Clean Production Action and the GreenScreen Program, the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council, the ASTM E 60 Committee, and the Collaborative for High Performing Schools National Technical Committee.
LAUREN HILDEBRAND
Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates
Lauren Hildebrand is a Sustainability Director at SWA. Her work focuses on sustainable and high performance residential and commercial building design, construction, renovation, and operation. Ms. Hildebrand’s expertise includes: sustainable design integration; indoor air quality and energy performance testing; and implementing project certification for both commercial and residential programs, such as LEED®, ENERGY STAR®, NYSERDA, NJ Clean Energy, and Enterprise Green Communities. Awards presented to her clients include the 2013 USGBC NJ Urban Green Project Award. Ms. Hildebrand works as a LEED® for Homes Green Rater and verifies implementation of the LEED® for Homes criteria. She is an integral part of the initial strategic planning sessions and workshops with builders, architects, and homeowners based on the LEED for Homes program. She also partners with and implements criteria for Enterprise Green Communities (EGCC), NYSERDA’s Multi-Family Performance Program, and the ENERGY STAR® Multi-Family High-Rise Program Certification. Ms. Hildebrand also has experience with a variety of commercial and mixed use projects, including LEED® for New Construction, Commercial Interior, Core and Shell, and Schools. In addition to her project experience and program guidance, Ms. Hildebrand manages classroom training and curriculum development for architects, owners, developers and building management staff on green and high performance building design strategies, cost effective building system operation, and energy-saving maintenance practices.
MICHAEL GRYNIUK
PE | Associate, LeMessurier
Michael Gryniuk, PE is a Structural Engineer at LeMessurier in Boston. As the leader of LeMessurier’s Sustainability practice, he is responsible for strategy, project consulting, and education for LeMessurier. He is currently on the Steering Committee of Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Sustainability Committee of ASCE and currently serves as Chair of the Structural Engineers (SE 2050) Commitment Program Working Group whose aim to establish a national commitment program for structural engineers for the purpose of achieving net zero embodied carbon in structural systems by 2050. Mike taught for many years at the Boston Architectural College. His current projects include the 2 million square foot Hub on Causeway development as well as upcoming developments of Kenmore Square. Mike has also led several other projects for institutions including Boston College, Holy Cross, RISD and UNH. Mike attended Syracuse University and Tufts University.
ANNE PECK
Vice President, AEW’s Architecture & Engineering group
As Vice President in AEW’s Architecture & Engineering group, Ms. Peck is responsible for physical property inspections, engineering and mechanical system evaluations and environmental audits on potential investments for all commercial property types. She is also responsible for the review and analysis of energy audits and LEED gap analysis with respect to acquisitions, and oversees the scope and results of third-party due diligence reports on property acquisitions. For development projects, Ms. Peck is responsible for the evaluation of construction documents to assess the constructability and recommend sustainable products and practices. She is responsible for overseeing the construction of new development projects from AEW’s initial involvement through closeout and warranty completions. Ms. Peck assists asset managers with large capital improvement projects or physical problems at various properties. In addition, Ms. Peck Co-Chairs AEW’s Sustainability Committee and provides guidance and assistance with most sustainability initiatives with the objective of reducing operating costs, improving indoor air quality and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. She sits on the GRESB Real Estate Benchmark Committee in North America and assists with all sustainability reporting for AEW. Ms. Peck is a licensed Massachusetts Construction Supervisor with LEED AP Certification, and passed her FE exam towards a mechanical engineer/registered professional engineering license.
ANDREA ALAOWNIS
Interior Designer, Jacobs, Boston
Andrea Alaownis is an Interior Designer with the Jacobs, Boston, MA office. After graduating from Radford University, she has concentrated on commercial projects through all phases of design and construction. As a WELL Accredited Professional, she participated in assisting the Jacobs Boston office to achieve WELL V1 Gold, Fitwel 3 Stars, and LEED V4 Gold certifications and continues to educate the design community and clients on wellness through design.
KIMBERLY LEWIS
Senior Vice President, Market Transformation and Development U.S. Green Building Council
As Senior Vice President for Market Transformation and Development in North America, Kimberly Lewis knows better than anyone that market transformation begins with community. Kimberly is laser focused on diversity, inclusion, equity and advancing transparency and excellence. By honing our community’s focus on collaborative impact, Kimberly incorporates people‐centric strategies to provide the organization and movement with a strong foundation of stakeholder based support.
Kimberly’s efforts encourage innovation in the market and challenge all of our community members to go above and beyond what was possible yesterday, to define the built environment of tomorrow. Kimberly knows that when we celebrate our leaders and advocate for growth across sectors, regions, and programs, taking care to bring our best to underserved populations and communities, we achieve real and lasting market transformation of the highest order.
To this end, Kimberly directs all of USGBC’s local communities, volunteers, and emerging professionals around the world, delivering on the USGBC mission to improve the quality of life for all through more sustainable cities and communities worldwide.
Kimberly was the founder of the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, which is now globally represented in five international markets. She has served on the advisory boards of Starwood Hotels, Marriott International Hotels and the convention and visitors bureaus in New Orleans, Atlanta, and Denver. She is a member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), where she has served on the CSR task force.
Kimberly serves on the board of directors for Groundswell and is the former chair of the board of trustees of the Green Building Foundation. Committed to healthy communities and equitable access to green buildings regardless of income level, Kimberly has been recognized with numerous awards. In April 2011, Kimberly received prestigious recognition as the White House Champion of Change for Clean Energy. She was also named Glamour Magazine 70th Anniversary 70 Women Leaders to Know in Sustainability. Most recently Kimberly was recognized with GB&D Magazine’s 2018 Women in Sustainability Leadership Award.
JIM STANISLASKI
AIA LEED AP BD+C | Senior Associate, Gensler Boston
Jim Stanislaski, AIA LEED AP BD+C is an Architect at Gensler in Boston. As co-leader of Gensler’s northeast region Design Resilience practice, he is responsible for strategy, project consulting, and education for over 1,000 staff in four offices. He is currently a Director on the Board of USGBC MA and a member of the Architecture Boston Magazine Editorial Board. Jim is a former President of AIA MA and has served on two National Academies research panels for renewable energy and energy efficiency at airports. As a past co-chair of the Boston Society of Architects Committee on the Environment (BSA/COTE), Jim led the AIA 2030 Professional Series at the BSA, serving to educate local designers on strategies to achieve net positive energy goals for buildings. Jim has also testified before state and city government committees to advocate for environmental legislation and regulation. Jim started his career as a US Air Force officer and attended Syracuse University.
CARLIE BULLOCK-JONES
LEED Fellow, WELL AP | Founder and Principal, Ecoworks Studio
Carlie Bullock-Jones, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, is the founder and managing Principal of Ecoworks Studio and has dedicated her entire career to bringing about a greener, healthier built environment. As a nationally known expert in sustainability, Carlie has facilitated on numerous award-winning projects. With a passion for green sports, Carlie has spearheaded LEED certification efforts for several stadiums, arenas, and training facilities for the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS and higher education projects. Most notably, Carlie was the LEED consultant for the new home of the Atlanta Falcons, Mercedes-Benz stadium, which achieved the highest LEED Platinum score of any sports facility in the world.
As a LEED Faculty mentor for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the first external WELL Faculty for the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), Carlie is a highly sought-after speaker and writer for national events and publications. She has been extensively involved in the development of LEED standards over the years, serving as a Subject Matter Expert for USGBC and GBCI, assisting in course curriculum, exam development and reference guide creation. In 2012, Carlie was inducted by USGBC as a LEED Fellow, one of 77 in the world at that time. Carlie is also one of the first WELL Accredited Professionals on the planet, demonstrating expertise and extensive knowledge of human health and wellness in the built environment. As an early adopter of the WELL Building Standard, Carlie facilitated WELL certification efforts for the 27th, 37th and 100th WELL certified projects in the world (Silver, Gold and Platinum respectively). Most recently, Carlie was the recipient of the 2018 Inaugural IWBI WELL Leadership Recognition Award.
KOMAL KOTWAL
AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Komal Kotwal is a Sustainable Design Leader and Project Manager at HOK with over 13 years of experience. Komal has led sustainable design and LEED Certification efforts for over 2M square feet including 1+M sf. of LEED Platinum projects and two Net-Zero projects. With the intent of bringing the human connection to sustainability, Komal currently focuses on intentional design to address human behavior and foster physical, mental, and emotional health. As a WELL AP, Komal is one of HOK’s leads in promoting and practicing health and wellness in architecture. Komal has served on the AIA Houston Chapter’s Board of Directors, Texas USGBC Regional Council and on USGBC’s Greenbuild Program Committee among others. A strong advocate for equity and inclusivity, Komal serves on HOK’s firm-wide Diversity Advisory Council and is a recent addition to HOK’s Management Board.
Speaking Engagements
TSA Convention 2016: Design for Healthy & Livable Communities
Gulf Coast Green Conference 2015: Integrating LEED ND Communities
CSI Chapter Annual Meeting 2014 : 2030 Commitment and how to get there
American Society of Indian Engineers ( ASIE) 2016: Getting to LEED Platinum
University of Houston, 2018: Staying Ahead of the Commercial Energy Code
Texas A&M University, 2016: Integrating Sustainability: A path to Net-zero
ANITA SNADER
LEED AP BD+C | Environmental Sustainability Manager, Armstrong World Industries
Anita Snader is the Environmental Sustainability Manager of Armstrong World Industries in Lancaster, PA. She manages the sustainability strategy for Armstrong Ceiling and Wall Solutions, and serves as an internal environmental advocate, and environmental spokesperson. She is a LEED accredited professional, and well versed in the LEED rating systems and USGBC initiatives. As co-chair of Armstrong’s LEED EB team, she led the corporation to a LEED EB Platinum for their Headquarters building in Lancaster, PA in June 2007, and served on the team obtaining LEED EB recertification in 2014.
Recently, Anita has led Armstrong in a new initiative focusing on the Health and Wellbeing of occupants called Better Spaces. She drives the material health and transparency efforts, and created and manages Armstrong’s commitment through our SUSTAIN™ portfolio of high performance ceiling systems.
Anita joined Armstrong in 1997. Her experience is in Marketing, Research, Product Development and Customer Satisfaction both in the consumer goods, hospitality, building products and advertising industries. Her passion centers in developing strategies for reducing our impact on the environment through product and process innovation, and is always looking at opportunities to share knowledge and innovation with others.
Speaking Engagements: • Mindful Materials Series (2018 – NYC, Chicago)
• USGBC Central PA – 2017 – Green Con – Healthier Buildings
• USGBC GreenBuild – 2016 – Los Angeles, CA – LEEDv4 and Material transparency
• Living Future – Seattle 2016 – Declare and Living Building Challenge
• Costa Rica Green Building Congress – May 2015 – Materials and LEEDv4
• Canada Green Building Conference – June 2015 – Panel on Material Transparency
• USGBC GreenBuild – 2014 New Orleans, PA – two sessions
• State of Green Business – 2011
• PA Green Growth Partnerships, Pittsburgh, PA 2009
• PennTap, Green Workshop, Harrisburg, PA 2008
• Central PA USGBC Chapter Construction Waste Workshop, 2008
• LEED for Existing Building Workshop, Lancaster, PA, November 2007
• NeoCon East, Green Building Workshop, Baltimore, MD, October 2007
• ICA International Conference – Madrid- Acoustics and Green Building, September 2007
• ASHRAE ‘007 Conference – Long Beach, CA – Acoustics and Green Building, May 2007
• GreenBuild 2006 – Got LCA?, November 2006
• Local Green Building Council of PA –LEED for Schools Workshop, October 2006
• Various Recycling Summits throughout the nation
• Customer and sales presentations each month
Tune in:
Listen to a podcast interview with Anita Snader here.
DR. JOSEPH ALLEN
Assistant Professor of Exposure Science | Director of the Healthy Buildings program
Dr. Allen researches community and occupational exposures and health risks related to a broad range of chemical, biological, physical and radiological stressors. In particular, he focuses on the built environment, emissions from building materials and consumer products, and building system performance, each of which has the potential for both positive and negative impacts on human health, well-being and productivity. He is the Director of the Healthy Buildings program at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health and faculty director of the Harvard Sensors for Health research group. Dr. Allen teaches a class on the Impact of Buildings on Human Health, and is the faculty advisor for a new initiative out of Harvard’s Office for Sustainability – the Harvard Healthier Building Materials Academy.
HEATHER HENRIKSEN
Managing Director, Harvard University Office for Sustainability
Heather Henriksen has served as Harvard University’s chief sustainability officer since 2008, advising the President and senior leadership on strategy and building an organizational change enterprise. Heather leads the Office for Sustainability which oversees the implementation of the Harvard’s comprehensive Sustainability Plan (co-created with faculty and students in 2014) and the University’s ambitious new Climate Action Plan (to be fossil fuel-free by 2050 and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026) which builds upon the 2016 achievement of Harvard’s initial science-based climate goal.
The Office for Sustainability has expanded a multi-disciplinary living laboratory research program that partners with faculty and students to use the campus as a test bed for piloting and sharing innovative solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. A nationally recognized leader in healthier building materials, Heather is leading an effort with faculty within Harvard to translate research into practice related to heath in the built environment including a focus on addressing the use of chemicals of concern in common building products. Through this work, Harvard is partnering with business and non-profit leaders as they strive to transform the marketplace for a healthier built environment. Heather also advises courses throughout Harvard College and the professional graduate schools and speaks nationally and internationally on sustainability.
Heather is on the Board of Directors of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative. Heather serves as Advisory Committee Co-chair of the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), and she is a member of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). Heather holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
LAUREN M. WALLACE
Principal & Director of Certifications and Consulting, Epsten Group, Inc.
Lauren M. Wallace is a Principal and the Director of Certifications and Consulting at Epsten Group, Inc., where she has helped facilitate sustainability and wellness measures for thousands of projects around the globe. Ms. Wallace is a USGBC and WELL Faculty member, WELL AP, LFA, LEED AP BD+C, LEED Project Reviewer, BREEAM USA In-Use Assessor, Fitwel Ambassador, Parksmart Advisor, and TRUE Advisor. With a background in Architecture, Ms. Wallace has more than ten years of experience in sustainability. She speaks regularly to audiences with varying expertise about implementing change in the building industry, focusing on technical information and application.
BECCA RUSHIN
Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Jamestown
Becca Rushin is the Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at Jamestown where she leads ESG initiatives through the Jamestown Green program and the Jamestown Charitable Foundation. Prior to joining Jamestown in 2012, Ms. Rushin worked as a local government consultant for Clark Patterson Lee, where she served as Community Development Coordinator and Sustainability Commission Staff Liaison for the City of Dunwoody. She is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and holds a LEED AP O+M credential. Ms. Rushin is an active volunteer with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Environmental Policy from Sewanee: the University of the South and a Master of Science in Sustainable Development: Environmental Policy and Management from Utrecht University.
JODI SMITS ANDERSON
Director of Sustainability Programs, DASNY | LEED AP BD+C
Jodi Smits Anderson is the Director of Sustainability Programs for DASNY, an architect, LEED AP BD+C, AIA member, lifetime member of NESEA, past regional and national U.S. Green Building Council committee member, wife, mom, hiker, kayaker, knitter, and storyteller. She has spoken at the ILFI unconference in Seattle, WA, at the NACUBO conference in Austin, TX, at the first Wellness in Design conference in San Diego, CA, and several times each at Greenbuild, NESEA’s Building Energy Boston, and the NYS Green Building Conference, and has been a guest teacher at SUNY ESF, RPI, Ithaca College, NYU, Cornell, and SUNY Albany. She is a NY Energy Code trainer, the 2018 recipient of the Green Building Advocate award, and has assisted in research and writing for Project Drawdown, which cites the 100 market-proven ways we already have in our toolkit to reduce CO2 in our atmosphere. She has a featured article appearing in the Journal of Green Building’s V14 N3 in July of 2019, on Excellence in Building Envelopes, and is currently working on a ZNE renovation to an existing residence hall, a project intended to change how we do renovation projects in New York state. Jodi’s goal is to understand and incorporate informed sustainable practices into design, construction, and living, and to share whatever she has learned and learn still more from whomever will talk with her.
JIM NEWMAN
Founder and Principal, Linnean Solutions | LEED AP, O+M; EcoDistrict AP
Jim is the Founder and Principal at Linnean Solutions, a mission-driven firm that helps local governments, organizations, and communities reach sustainability and resilience goals. Jim’s twenty years of experience includes carbon mitigation planning and life cycle assessment; sustainability and resilience building certification; climate action and adaptation planning for municipalities, agencies, and organizations; resilience analysis, policy, and design standard development; EcoDistrict planning and management; and stakeholder engagement processes to strengthen communities. As a Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems (LENSES) Facilitator and Trainer, Jim regularly leads community planning workshops, and trains others in becoming effective facilitators.
Previous to Linnean, Jim worked with BuildingGreen as the Director of Strategy, where he led the development and introduction of most of BuildingGreen’s online products including LEEDuser.com, BuildingGreen Suite, and the High Performance Buildings Database. Jim is a founding board member of the Resilient Design Institute, and a key author of several influential resilience reports and tools—including the Building Resilience in Boston report and
the Enterprise Community Partners’ Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience manual. He is a member of the RELi/USGBC Steering Committee, where he has worked to bring a social equity lens to the development of the new certification standard for resilient buildings.
JULIE JANISKI
Associate Principal, BuroHappold Engineering
Julie Janiski leads integrated teams of engineers, designers, analysts, and subject-matter experts at BuroHappold Engineering for projects with ambitious goals related to design innovation, building performance, and the health, wellbeing and experience of building occupants and community. Julie’s recent work includes: Cornell Tech’s new Verizon Executive Education Center with Snohetta; Glenstone Museum with Thomas Phifer and Partners, St. Ann’s Warehouse theatre in Brookyln with Marvel Architects; a number of U.S. Embassy projects internationally for the U.S. State Department; a new corporate headquarters campus in Baltimore for Under Armour; an integrated “roadmap” plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by the year 2050 (80×50) for the City of New York; and The House at Cornell Tech – a residential high-rise in New York City which is certified Passive House. Julie also teaches at Columbia University’s GSAPP in the first-year core studio, and has been a guest critic/lecturer at other universities including MIT, Tulane, and NYU.
SARA NEFF
Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation
Sara Neff is Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation. Sara took Kilroy from having no sustainability program to being named the #1 publicly traded real estate company on sustainability in North America by GRESB, and under her leadership the company recently committed to becoming the first carbon neutral real estate company in North America by the end of 2020.
At Kilroy, she oversees all sustainability initiatives such as solar and battery deal-making, the implementation of energy and water efficiency initiatives throughout the existing and development portfolios, the integration of sustainability standards into annual financial reports, the launch of the Kilroy Innovation Lab, and the award-winning green leasing program. She holds a BS from Stanford and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
TRISTAN ROBERTS
Co-Founder, Facilitator at The Laurentia Project | LEED AP BD+C, LFA
Tristan Roberts is responsible for leading staff support for HPDC’s Technical Committee, education programs, and the evolution of the HPD Open Standard. Mr. Roberts is a leader in the advancement of green building practices. Prior to joining HPDC in May 2018, he was part of BuildingGreen, Inc. for eleven years, where he most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer, moderating and leading the community development of LEEDuser forum which supports over 10,000 users. He is the author of hundreds of articles and in-depth reports on building industry trends and technologies, and is a frequent speaker and educator in the areas of green building and sustainable design. His objective stance and focus on practical tools has earned him the trust of a wide spectrum of stakeholders in the industry, including architects, sustainability professionals, manufacturers, and nonprofit groups. Mr. Roberts has taught sustainability and building science at the Boston Architectural College.
TIM CONWAY
Vice President of Sustainable Development, Shaw
As a flooring industry expert, Tim Conway is focused on the positive affects that sustainable flooring products have on our buildings, and more importantly, the people that occupy and live in the spaces we design. Tim has worked closely with Bill McDonough and the internal team at Shaw for the past twelve years developing and maintaining Shaw’s Cradle to Cradle certifications, HPDs and EPDs. His unique role at Shaw enables him to drive the communication between clients’ requirements and the product development team at Shaw. He has presented at GreenBuild, Living Future, and Design Future Council and has been an integral part in the development of healthy carpet specifications for clients all over the world. Tim is passionate about collaborating with clients to develop flooring specifications that are safe throughout a product’s entire supply chain, from raw material chemical building blocks to end of life replication. He has a unique ability to translate complex systems like Cradle to Cradle and HPDs into simple stories that empower change and deliver buildings that have positive intent for the future of our people and our planet.
BILL WALSH
Founder and President, Board of the Healthy Building Network
Bill Walsh is the Founder and President of the Board of the Healthy Building Network (HBN). Since 2000 HBN has been defining the leading edge of healthy building practices that increase transparency in the building products industry, reduce human exposures to chemicals in building materials, and create market incentives for healthier innovations in manufacturing. He has been Visiting Professor at Parsons The New School for Design, is a Fellow of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts, and a founding board member of the Health Product Declaration (HPD) Collaborative. Bill and HBN have been awarded the Design for Humanity Award by the American Society of Interior Designers (2019); WEACT for Environmental Justice Leadership Award (2018); Healthy Schools Network Hero (2013); US Green Building Council’s Leadership In Advocacy Award (2012). Previously he served as a national campaign director at Greenpeace USA, and held staff attorney positions with the US Public Interest Research Group and the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown University Law Center. He holds a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and LLM in Public Interest Advocacy from Georgetown University.
BRENT TRENGA
Building Technology Director, Kingspan North America
Brent has truly run the construction industry gamut serving in various roles including Architect, Construction Manager, Developer and even project owner, allowing him to fully understand the sustainability ecosystem. As Building Technology Director for Kingspan North America, Brent is committed to reducing the environmental impact of business operations, products and services through continuous improvement and environmental transparency.
JENNIFER TARANTO
LEED® AP ID+C, BD+C, USGBC Faculty, WELL® AP, WELL Faculty and Fitwel Ambassador Structure Tone, Director of Sustainability
Jennifer Taranto ensures the principals of sustainability, wellbeing, and Lean construction are incorporated into client projects and everyday work practices throughout the STO Building Group.
Jenn is a passionate advocate for reducing environmental impact of the built environment and enabling organizations to improve people’s health and wellbeing while reducing the construction and operating costs of facilities. She gets involved in the early stages of client projects to define the needs and the overall sustainability goals in order to create an internal road map to team success.
Jennifer brings more than eighteen years of experience in the commercial real estate and construction industry, and joined Structure Tone in 2001. Her previous roles included superintendent and project manager prior to becoming Structure Tone’s Director of Sustainability in 2008.
As a founder of the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter and the former Chair of the Chapter’s Board of Directors she is recognized as a leader in the sustainable built environment. She has lectured at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Boston University and spoken at Labs21 Conference (I2SL), Delaware Valley Green Building Council’s Sustainability Symposium, Living Futures and Greenbuild. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Jennifer has a Bacon number of 2.
LEIGH STRINGER
Workplace Strategy Expert and Researcher, EYP
Leigh Stringer is a workplace strategy expert and researcher whose work has been covered recently by BBC News, The Globe and Mail, Fortune, CNN and Good Morning America. She works for EYP, an architecture and engineering firm. She is the author of two best-selling books, The Green Workplace and The Healthy Workplace. Leigh is currently collaborating with Harvard University’s School of Public Health on a new Health and Human Performance Index and the Center for Active Design in New York on their Fitwel building certification program to create new tools, connect like minds and blur the boundaries across industries in order to advance our improve our well-being at work. Leigh is on the board of directors of a new non-profit, Global Women for Wellbeing, an organization that aims to give women a voice to create better health and wellbeing for themselves, their businesses, and their communities.
CHARLEY STEVENSON
Principal, Integrated Ecostrategy
Charley Stevenson has been delving deeper and deeper into healthier building materials since beginning work on his first Living Building Challenge project in 2011. With the team at IES, he has developed process and software to integrate better materials selections into all project types and to transform the market as quickly and easily as possible. The Red2Green platform has reduced Red List research and documentation effort by a factor of three while building up a library of over 10,000 products screened for compliance.
PETER SMITH
Senior Vice President, International WELL Building Institute
Peter is engaged with leading organizations and institutions seeking to transform their real estate portfolios to enhance health and business metrics. As Senior Vice President at IWBI, he leads a team driving the global growth and adoption of the WELL Building Standard, the first performance-based building standard to exclusively focus on human health. Peter is also an active speaker and educator, promoting health in the built environment through industry events and technical workshops. Previously, Peter served as Vice President of Delos Solutions, a team of consultants and subject matter experts incorporating health and wellness strategies into the pioneering WELL Certification projects. Working closely with Delos Labs, an internal research group, he identified best-in-class design solutions, products and technologies to improve the built environment and optimize for human health, well-being and environmentally sustainability. Peter has an extensive background in building science and energy efficiency. Prior to joining Delos and IWBI, he worked as a Sustainability Consultant at Steven Winter Associates, an industry leading green building consulting firm. Focusing on affordable housing in the greater New York City area, Peter worked with multifamily developers to implement sustainable design principles and energy efficiency measures into new construction projects and validate high-performance building criteria. Peter holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in Environmental Economics. He also maintains accreditations for WELL AP™ and WELL Faculty™.
JASON JEWHURST
Principal, Bruner/Cott
Jason’s passion for reconnecting with the natural environment informs all of his work as a specialist in sustainable and high-performance building design. With a strong technical background in building systems, technology, and sustainability, Jason is driven by a deep respect for craftsmanship and the art of making and by the possibilities created by merging tested traditions of construction with new fabrication technologies and material production. He leads design teams to explore possibilities inspired by a shared set of values and goals to create high-performance contemporary architecture that is beautiful and inspiring. He is a recipient of a 2017 Living Hero Award.
BLAKE JACKSON
Architect, Associate, and Sustainability Design Leader, Stantec Architecture and Engineering
Blake Jackson is an architect, Associate, and Sustainability Design Leader with Stantec Architecture and Engineering in Boston, Massachusetts. His work focuses on the nexus between sustainability, wellness, and resiliency, and he has over fifteen years’ experience in planning, retail, hospitality, labs, healthcare, commercial, higher-education, and multifamily projects. Blake is a prolific author and speaker on his three main areas of focus, is an adjunct faculty at the Boston Architectural College and at Mount Ida College, and he currently serves as the Vice President for Advocacy for the Boston Society of Architects. He was named a national top “40 Under 40” built environment professional by Building Design and Construction Magazine in 2015.
ANNE HARNEY
FAIA, LEED Fellow, Long Green Specs
Anne Hicks Harney has over 30 years of experience, focusing on high quality design imbued with a solid technical and sustainable foundation. Formed in 2016, Long Green Specs provides sustainability focused construction specifications and building science material expertise to Architectural firms across the country. She is a member of the AIA COTE Advisory Group. She was a founding co-chair of the Baltimore – Building Enclosure Council, chair of the AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group, and a member of the USGBC Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group. In 2016, Ms. Harney was awarded fellowship by the AIA and became a LEED Fellow.
Speaking Engagements
Living Future unconference 2019 – Using the AIA COTE Toolkit to Elevate Every Project –
Living Future unconference 2019 – Entering the material pool – deep end jump or shallow slide?
2019 AIA Women’s Leadership Summit – Go Forth and Prosper, While Changing the World
Greenbuild 2018: Chicago IL, November 2018 – Closing the Transparency Loop: Collaboration in Action
AIA Conference on Architecture 2018, New York NY: Holding Ourselves to Higher Standards – Healthy Materials Every Time
BRENT EHRLICH
Products & Materials Specialist, BuildingGreen
Brent is the products & materials specialist at BuildingGreen, where he has been researching and writing about green building products, materials, and their health and environmental impacts for more than a decade. He brings a nuanced understanding of materials, their constituents, and lifecycles to his work as a consultant and speaker and leads a team of editors that selects products for the company’s BuildingGreen Approved database and annual Top 10 Products Award.
Speaking Engagements
• Annual BuildingGreen’s Top 10 Products award at Greenbuild (8 years as presenter)
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association: NESEA 2014: The Forest and the Trees
• NESEA 2011: Materials Track Chair + Cool New Products presentation
MATT EDLEN
Director of Acquisitions and Development
Matt Edlen oversees acquisitions and development in the Midwest and East Coast for Gerding Edlen’s various investment funds. Matt is responsible for sourcing, negotiating and executing on investment opportunities across key urban markets within those regions.
Prior to his role in acquisitions, Matt was focused on the development and management of the firms internal multifamily marketing and sales platform. His efforts have helped the firm invest over $1 billion worth of real estate across the country in cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago.
Matt currently serves as national chair of the board for Design Museum Foundation and as a board member for Boston’s NOAH (Neighborhood of Affordable Housing), and The Oregon Sports Authority. He has also served as board member and chair of the site selection committee for PHAME Academy, board member and co-chair of the Arts Connector Program of Business for Culture and the Arts, and alumni board member of Young People’s Theater Project. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago.
MIKHAIL DAVIS
Director of Restorative Enterprise, Interface
Mikhail Davis is Director of Restorative Enterprise at Interface, a world-leading modular flooring company with a fully integrated collection of hard and soft flooring. Interface’s mission, Climate Take Back™, invites industry to commit to making a profit in a way that is restorative to the planet and creates a climate fit for life. Mikhail is responsible for advancing Interface’s mission in the Americas by building internal leadership capacity, facilitating strategic alignment of efforts, and creating external partnerships that shift the marketplace toward sustainability. He leads Interface’s product transparency efforts in the Americas and was lead author and editor of Interface’s Radical Industrialists column at GreenBiz.com for two years.
An expert in sustainable materials and NGO collaborations, he represents Interface in many organizations focused on sustainability innovation, closed-loop systems, recycling, and chemicals of concern, including serving as 2016-18 Chair of the US Green Building Council’s Technical Advisory Group on Materials and Resources (MR TAG), Co-Chair of the Materials Working Group of BizNGO and Program Advisor to the Next Generation Bio-based and Sustainable Chemicals Summit.
STEVEN BURKE
Sustainability Manager, Consigli Construction Company
Steven is a Sustainability Manager at Consigli Construction Co., Inc., an 800+ person construction firm based in Massachusetts. His position involves management of company sustainability processes and sustainable construction projects at Consigli. He has a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, and has delivered many presentations on how to integrate health and wellness into the design and construction of the built environment.