Quinn Middle School - Green Building Tour

In Hudson, Massachusetts, in the evening of May 29th, the USGBC MA Central Mass Committee convened an amazing tour of a recently finished super-green school. Quinn Middle School demonstrates the kind of care and concern for the "crystalized pedagogy" that all schools can be. At any given moment, students and others in the school are exposed to great lessons on how they relate to the greater world. The building went for the LEED innovation credit to provide educational signage throughout, and the teachers and staff are committed to using the school's green features as an educational tool.

Over 40 people, many of them students, showed up for the evening tour. We went through to different parts of the building to explore features representing the different LEED credit categories. One of the students was taking notes in order to write up an article for their school newspaper - we'll try to get that connected to this blog in the future.

It was a great to see the Central Mass Committee working together on this tour - I think we're all looking forward to the LEED Plaque ceremony sometime this fall for a mini-reunion.

Thank you to the project-related sponsors who put together and facilitating the tour, especially David Harris from OMR Architects for leading the event.

The sponsors were:

• Platinum: Bacon Construction
• Gold: OMR Architects
• Silver: Brown Sardina & Chandler Architectural Products

Thank you to the sponsors:

Member Spotlight: Adam Kreitman

Our First EPMA Member Spotlight

It's been a short while since we had a member spotlight and we are very pleased to speak with Adam! As usual we ask a few questions to get acquainted with him.

USGBC MA: What is your current job and how does it differ from past jobs in Sustainability?

ADAM: I am currently working on a new construction project in the heart of Boston as an Assistant Project Manager for Lee Kennedy Co. Inc. The project is projected to be LEED Silver. My role hasn't changed much in regards to sustainability but I am impressed with Lee Kennedy's focus on making sure that we surpass any LEED credit requirements given to us. It takes a good team from start to finish to manage this process on a large scale and we have a good team.

USGBC MA: When did you first become interested in Sustainability?

ADAM: Honestly it clicked in my senior year of college. There was a contractor at WPI that was teaching a class on Sustainability and I decided to give it a shot. The class opened my eyes from just the standard brick and mortar of a building. It really taught me how these mega structures live and breath; and their impacts on all the environment around us. Something as simple as wood flooring can really devastate a habitat thousands of miles away.

USGBC MA: Why are a you a member of the MA chapter and how did you get there?

ADAM: My first experience with the MA Chapter of the USGBC was at a networking night where NEREJ sponsored a "Twitter" instructional. I wasn't sure what to expect but within 5 minutes of being there I knew that this was a great organization to be a part of. Thanks to the candid discussions on sustainability, the general positive nature of everyone I talked to and hearing about the great lobbying efforts of this chapter, I decided to try out EPMA. 

USGBC MA: How are you an environmental steward?

ADAM: If you ever had the chance to meet me, you will know that I am not the most earthy-crunchy guy. I don't buy hemp clothes and I don't own a garden. But I do make sure we are doing the right things daily. I try to make a conscious effort to not only inspect materials we bring in but educate those around me why it is important to do so. If there is one person I can teach on-site why it's important to buy recycled materials or restore habitats then that's one person more that can help teach someone else. That's how we get "more green buildings". [editor's note: YEAH!]

USGBC MA: How do you help raise environmental awareness?

ADAM: One person at a time. Usually I do this through casual conversation. I don't like slamming people with my agenda and telling people that they should only ride bikes or fuel-efficient vehicles. When I see that people are open to the idea of getting more involved or what to know more that's when I open up and discuss what can be done and also the cool events that the USGBC MA has going on.

USGBC MA: If I needed to find you on a Saturday afternoon, where would it be?
ADAM: Either throwing the ball with my over-active dog or supporting a local establishment somewhere in the city of Boston.

At the next EPMA event, don't be shy and say HI to Adam!

Weekly Bulletin to 5/30/14

For a full listing of upcoming events, take a look at our May 2014 Digest.

Coming up next week:

LEED Learning & Networking in Eastham, MA (Cape Cod), Tuesday June 3

Combined Quarterly Committees Gathering in Boston, Tuesday June 3

Any ideas where this might be?

Anyone recognize these guys?

You may have seen information about sea level rise and Boston here and there. The Nature Conservancy is hosting a program on June 9th: "Weathering the Storm: Boston's Future Climate" from 5:30-8pm at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts at 527 Tremont St. Speakers include the Boston Harbor Association President Vivian Lee and Brian Swett, Chief of Energy, Environment and Open Space for the City of Boston.

LEED ND: Beyond Buildings Attracts Neighborhood Professionals

By Bob Weiss, Sustainable Neighborhood Development Working Group, USGBC MA


Before a spirited crowd filling the seats in the Atlantic Wharf’s Fort Point Room, the USGBC MA Chapter, in conjunction with the Boston Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA), presented a half-day program on LEED ND in Massachusetts communities. Billed as not-a-LEED-101-course, experienced professionals in neighborhood development provided insights and true accounts of their applications of USGBC’s platform to fellow professionals.

After opening comments from the USGBC MA Chapter Chair Jim Newman, LISC’s Bob Van Meter and the APA MA’s Bob Mitchell, the day began with an overall retrospective of LEED ND from the USGBC MA Chapter Vice Chair Neil Angus. Attendees were brought up to date with LEED ND’s evolution including the changes in V4.

Neil then moderated a panel presentation on two LEED ND pilot projects from 2008. The 11 acre Jackson Square project in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain was presented by Carolyn Edwards, Real Estate Project Manager with Urban Edge,who discussed how the project is bringing healthy sustainable living to a mixed-income inner city area with new commercial spaces, community facilities and transportation alternatives to an area that 40 years ago was going to be surrendered to the interstate system. Greg Sampson, a Land Use Attorney with Robinson & Cole presented The Village at Taylor Pond in Bedford, a great example of how LEED ND can be a tool for sustainable development in suburban areas.

Mike Davis, Program Officer with LISC Boston, moderated a panel discussion introducing three new projects illustrating how LEED ND will help build sustainable neighborhoods for the future. Darcy Jameson with Beacon Communities and Lauren Baumann of New Ecology, Inc. noted how Old Colony housing, a traditional public housing project in South Boston used LEED ND to create a holistic approach in transforming it into a neighborhood integrated into a larger urban community. The Neighborhood Developers’ Emily Loomis described how Chelsea’s Box District is turning an older industrial area into a pedestrian oriented community with enhanced transportation that will connect it with the metropolitan area. Paul Malkemes, a local resident and community advocate gave a great resident perspective of how LEED ND was used to drive quality-of-life improvements to Codman Square NDC’s Talbot Norfolk Triangle. Paul said LEED ND was used as a “framing mechanism” and helped residents embrace sustainable development.

Neil, along with Tad Read of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, brought the program together in their presentations on using the LEED ND rating system as a tool to enhance the sustainability of local projects, regulations and development codes.

The audience initiated discussions on several LEED ND subjects such as quantifiable requirements, how to use the system’s formulas to facilitate a project and the importance of public education and outreach. There were detailed questions on using program credits to compliment other credits. Though the event ran to its noon finish, many attendees remained for an informal improvised networking. Chapter organizers have more LEED ND events planned and will be announcing them shortly.