Megan Baker
Username
Megan Baker
Proposer First Name
Megan
Proposer Email
megan@thegbi.org
Proposer Last Name
Baker
Proposer Company/Organization
Green Building Initiative
Proposer Phone
(971) 256-7174
Proposer Job Title
AVP, Engagement
Boston 2023 Areas of Focus
Proposed Session Description
The effects of climate change disproportionately affect certain populations. Sustainable, healthy, and resilient buildings should not only be accessible to those who can afford this “luxury,” rather, they should be available to everyone, regardless of location, property type, or socioeconomic status. The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is dedicated to the widespread distribution of free and low-cost green building resources, by providing educational tools and assessments that can be applied to all building types. This presentation will highlight the sustainability features of Roxbury’s Nubian Ascends project and will demonstrate how to support walkable density and provide accessible workforce training opportunities to an underserved site.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
This presentation emphasizes the importance of inclusion for sustainable, healthy, and resilient buildings. Green building assessment and certification should not be reserved for projects with the largest budgets in the most affluent communities – they should be available and accessible to all types of projects. Everyone deserves to live, work, and recreate in a healthy building, and the design and operation of all types of building impact climate change regardless of who occupies them. The more buildings who participate in sustainable building, the greater impact we will make towards our goals. The effects of climate change do not affect each population equally, and it is our responsibility to ensure we are protecting those most vulnerable.
Learning Objectives
Recognize that sustainability, healthy, and resilient facilities should be available to all types of tenants.
Describe the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes certification, and understand how it can be applied to all types of commercial and multifamily real estate.
Understand that the Green Building Initiative is removing barriers to entry for green building assessment and apply this concept to current and future projects.
Recall the Nubian Ascends project and how sustainability and accessibility was deeply engrained into the design and layout.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists
Session Format Details
Two 20 minute or two 30 minute presentations followed by Q+A
Recommended Length
60-minute session
90-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2023
Comments about your speaker roster
Emily Bowers from GBI will present as well as someone from either the Stantec team, who is designing the Nubian Ascends project locally in Boston.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
We are looking forward to the opportunity to share GBI's free and low cost resources to support a more sustainable, healthy, and resilient built environment. The project featured in the case study is an incredible community benefit project that is bringing opportunity to the Roxbury community in a variety of ways.
Reviewer 1
Greenberg, Asher
Reviewer 2
Greenberg, Asher
Proposal #
194
Committee Decision
Being Considered
Presenters
Full Description
It is imperative to think about sustainability as a holistic approach that is incorporated into each building design and operation. It should not be regarded as an afterthought that simply results in a shiny plaque on the wall. The Green Building Initiative allows commercial and multifamily projects of all types to participate in green building assessment and certification. The process is deliberately collaborative and educational so that the project team can use what they learned during one assessment and apply it to subsequent projects. Green building certification isn’t reserved for Class A office buildings – it can and should be applied to all project types with varying tenants. Previously underserved communities should have access to biophilic design, healthy indoor air quality, and efficient systems. This session provides a case study to share how accessibility and opportunity increase the overall sustainability of a community project.