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Username
Amanda Lehman Garvey
Proposer First Name
Amanda
Proposer Email
AGarvey@thorntontomasetti.com
Proposer Last Name
Garvey
Proposer Company/Organization
Thornton Tomasetti
Proposer Phone
(207) 749-8501
Proposer Job Title
Senior Associate
Proposer Additional Info
Moderator for session
Proposed Session Description
When it comes to toxic chemicals in the built environment, there is an urgent need for market transformation. It takes institutions and firms, like the ones on this panel, committing to be change agents. Fence line communities are being contaminated by the chemical manufacturing industry, which raises concerns about environmental racism and injustice. We have the ability to support these communities by reducing and eliminating classes of chemicals, like PFAS and phthalates, from our buildings. This session will hear from the perspectives of three entities who have stepped up to the challenge: MIT, Colby College and Shepley Bulfinch. Each panelist will share their story: 1) What initially motivated them to specify/procure healthier materials? 2) What internal conversations occurred at the onset? How did they get internal buy-in? 3) What commitments have they made? 4) What process(es) are they using to research/pilot healthier alternatives? 5) What is working? What is not? 6) Where do they hope to be one year from now? Five years from now? Each panelist will share a different approach, but the goal is the same: Create a market demand for healthier products. Following the panel discussion, participants will break into smaller groups to begin developing roadmaps for their own firms or institutions.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
We are proposing an all-female panel with various backgrounds - Sustainability consultant, Higher-ed Sustainability Director, Higher-ed Project Manager, and local Boston Architect. Additionally, Shepley Bulfinch is a woman-owned architecture firm in Boston. This session also addresses racial and economic justice.
Learning Objectives
After this session, participants will have the knowledge to teach others about the urgency of individual and organization action towards chemical reform in today's materials market.
After this session, participants will have the knowledge to share the latest research, standards, tools, databases and case studies used to create a demand for healthier building products.
After this session, participants will have the knowledge to develop a roadmap to healthier materials on their own project, or a healthier initiative at their own campus or workplace that considers education, transparency, key partnerships, internal commitments, occupant engagement, and pilot projects.
After this session, participants will have the knowledge to implement a process informed by lessons learned from institutions and firms that have stepped up to the challenge.
Has this session been presented before?
Yes
When and Where?
AASHE Virtual Conference 2020 - Adapted version that was directed more towards sustainability directors at higher-ed institutions
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 1 - No prior knowledge needed.
Session Format Details
15-minute setting the stage (answering the "Why" question), 30-minute moderated panel discussion with Colby College, MIT and Shepley Bulfinch (Storytelling, how these firms and institutions are approaching healthier materials initiatives), 30-minute break-out group discussion focused on creating a roadmap for healthier materials (i.e. how to take action within your own firm or institutes), 15-minute closing and report-out

Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2021

Comments about your speaker roster
Amanda Garvey - Setting the stage and moderator for panel discussion Nikki Imbergamo - Panelist, sharing her story about process/steps for implementing a healthier materials initiative at MIT Sandy Beauregard - Panelist, sharing her story about curriculum integration, student internships and the healthier material decision-making process at Colby Siiri Julianus - Panelist, sharing her story about implementing a healthy materials subcommittee for her firm and committing to specify healthier materials
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
The importance of this topic is growing, and we are seeing many institutions trying to figure out how to establish healthier materials commitments. Arming local architects, engineers and owners with this knowledge is very relevant. Our goal is to create a united front when it comes to manufacturer outreach and requests, and ensure we are aligned in a way that reduces/eliminates the worst-in-class chemical classes from our local buildings. A class-based approach to chemical removal will be a big focus, although Red List will be referenced as a tool used by these panelists as well.
Reviewer 1
Veerkamp, Danny
Reviewer 2
Veerkamp, Danny
Curator
Smith, Greg
Proposal #
138
Session #
703
Committee Decision
Accepted
Full Description
This is a social and environmental justice issue. Our decisions affect the well-being of people using our building, people building our building, people living near our buildings, and people living near facilities making products for our buildings. People living in cancer alley (i.e. primarily lower income households and communities of color) are 50x more likely to get cancer than the average American. Why? These neighborhoods are located next to 150 petrochemical plants producing polyvinyl chloride and other chemicals used to make building materials. Covid-19 is the latest threat to these communities since cases are more severe to people with health conditions aggravated by pollution. This is just one example. Toxic chemicals are affecting the environment and fence line communities throughout our country and federal regulations are behind. It is time to step up, show support, and commit to specifying healthier materials. This session is meant to ignite change through storytelling, provide tools for implementing healthier material initiatives and examples of how other firms and institutions are stepping up to the challenge.