As the Greenbuild 2013 posters, web cafés and stages are removed from the Convention Center in Philadelphia, attendees and exhibitors from across the country have been reenergized in thinking about green building, sustainability and resiliency. From November 18-22, Philadelphia was painted green by thousands of professionals from all sectors of the sustainability movement. Here is a brief recap of the week’s activities and some comments from attendees and exhibitors.
- Over 700 exhibitors presented their sustainable design, products and construction during the two-day expo including regional industry leaders such as W.S. Cumby and Revolution Recovery.
- Green Building tours highlighted Philadelphia’s best sustainable buildings and neighborhoods including the Tastykake Bakery, The Stable, US Airways Ground Support Equipment Maintenance Facility, Morphotek’s Pilot Plant, Longwood Gardens, the Morris Arboretum, the Navy Yard, Temple University and Penn Charter School, just to name a few.
- Onion Flats, a Philadelphia based developer and design-builder, showed off their LEED and “Passive” certified row homes throughout the City that are changing the way Philadelphians think about urban living.
- The U.S. Green Building Council outlined the themes, strategies, and key elements of the LEED v4 green building program; which it launched at Greenbuild.
- Members of the public sector from the City of Philadelphia to federal government entities, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. General Services Administration, explained how sustainability practices are being implemented into their design, procurement and building.
- On Thursday evening, the Greenbuild keynote address was delivered by former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton who spoke about the importance of sustainability on a world stage. Secretary Clinton also detailed her efforts in creating a greener White House when she was the First Lady, and later ensured that all future U.S. embassies be built to a minimum of a LEED Silver standard.
Heather Blakeslee, the Deputy Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council (“DVGBC”), had this to say about the week:
DVGBC always looked at Greenbuild as a way to showcase the region’s work. We had an absolutely impressive showing of local companies at the Expo, an unprecedented number of local presenters who are leaders nationally and internationally, and the most robust tours program to date for Greenbuild. We’re looking forward to building on that momentum by continuing to work on initiatives that make our communities stronger.
Although Greenbuild will be moving onto New Orleans, Louisiana in October 2014, the lessons learned from the week in Philadelphia will continue to be seen and implemented. For starters, CSPG&F partners John Greenhall and Lane Kelman served on the DVGBC’s Legacy Project Committee that created a youth-built “Adventure Playground” at Smith Memorial Playground in East Fairmount Park. The playground includes loose parts that allow children to continuously build and re-imagine the space.
If you are interested in presenting at Greenbuild 2014, check out the “Call for Proposals.”
Lane F. Kelman is a Partner with the Firm and a member of the Construction Group and chair of the Green Building and Sustainability practice group. He represents developers, general contractors, construction managers and the different trades in complex matters ranging from bid protests, contract negotiations and claim prevention & management.
Jennifer R. Budd is an Associate with the Firm and a member of the Construction Group