ISI Welcomes Six New Additions to Its Envision Review Board

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) welcomes six new members to the Envision Review Board: Bob Beinstein (AECOM), Michael Bloom (R. G. Miller Engineers), Quin MacKenzie (luuceo consulting), Jennifer Ninete (HDR), Lourette Swanepoel (Calibrate Collaborative), and Justin Waples (Central Contra Costa Sanitary District).

Margaret Cederoth (California High Speed Rail Authority) was elected the 2022 Chair of the Envision Review Board. She will be supported by Richard Fernandez (Aquario Engineering) as Vice-Chair. Other members of the Envision Review Board who are continuing to serve include Hélène Dubé (SNC-Lavalin), Silvia Ciraci (ICMQ), Erika Jozwiak (New York City Mayor’s Office of Resiliency), Lindsay Motl (Kohl’s), Amanda Schweickert (WSP), Scott Smith (Metrolinx), and Sofía Zuberbühler-Yafar (New York City Department of Design and Construction).

We are sincerely grateful to the Envision Review Board members who completed their terms at the end of 2021 after serving with distinction, including Michaella Wittmann (HDR) who served as the Envision Review Board’s inaugural Chair for two terms, Andreas Georgoulias (Environmental Financial Consulting Group), Elizabeth Heider (Heider Sustainability Advisors), Martin Janowitz (ret. Stantec), Floren Poliseo (Town of Jackson), and Sharon Wright (City of St. Petersburg).

The ERB is made up of industry leading infrastructure professionals representing public agencies, private companies, and general interest groups who are appointed to the Envision Review Board by ISI’s Board of Directors.

“I could not be more impressed with the caliber of this year’s cohort, or more grateful for the members of the Envision Review Board who recently completed their terms,” says Melissa Peneycad, ISI’s managing director and ex-officio member of the Envision Review Board. “The future of the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework remains bright under their oversight.”

The mission of the ERB is to assure the continued integrity and efficacy of Envision and its associated tools, resources, and documents to provide for consistency in interpretation and development; and to assure the ongoing relevance of the tool and its associated best practices to the highest standards of scholarship and practice. The Envision Review Board meets quarterly and is responsible for drafting and approving Envision credit amendments, providing strategic director for Envision development, and ensuring material is consistent with the overall intent and character of Envision.

To learn more, please visit the Envision Review Board page on ISI’s website or contact ISI at info@sustainableinfrastructure.org.

Download the Announcement

ISI Welcomes Lauren Evans and Sergio Pecori to its Board of Directors

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) welcomes its newest board members Lauren Evans, President of Pinyon Environmental Inc., and Sergio Pecori, Chairman and CEO of Hanson Professional Services Inc. They will fill the seats vacated by past-Chair of the Board John Williams (Autocase), and Gregs Thomopulos (Stanley Consultants), who completed their terms at the end of 2021 after serving for seven years with distinction. ISI thanks John and Gregs for their tireless leadership and commitment to ISI.

Lauren Evans has more than four decades of experience in the environmental industry with a focus on environmental regulations, remediation, and sustainability. She is a long-standing champion of raising public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the engineering profession.

Sergio Pecori has led Hanson’s efforts to provide sustainable and resilient design services and served as chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies from 2017-2018. He is also a recipient of the American Society of Civil Engineer’s OPAL Lifetime Achievement award.

Michael Mucha is the newly elected Chair of the Board. Michael is the Chief Engineer and Director for the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. He has dedicated his nearly three-decade career in local government to building public trust through sustainability.

“I am delighted to welcome Lauren and Sergio to the ISI Board of Directors,” says Anthony Kane, ISI’s president and CEO, and ex-officio member of the Board. “We are fortunate to be able to attract such top talent to lead our organization, especially during these exciting times when the whole world is looking for solutions like ISI’s signature Envision framework to achieve sustainability, equity, and resiliency in the built environment.”

Erin Cooke (San Francisco International Airport), Martin Janowitz (ret. Stantec), Gary Lee Moore (City of Los Angeles), and Renee Ring (Environmental Financial Consulting Group) will continue to serve on the Board alongside its newest members and newly elected Chair.

For more information, please visit the Board of Directors page on the ISI website or contact ISI at info@sustainableinfrastructure.org.

Download the Announcement.

Clearwell 9 Replacement Project Recognized with Envision Verified Rating for Sustainability

The City of Evanston’s $20M Clearwell 9 Replacement Project includes the replacement of a five million gallon treated water storage reservoir with a new similarly sized facility, a new overflow, a new submersible pumping system, and site piping modifications. A parking lot was also converted into green space as part of this project.

The original Clearwell had been operational since 1934. After decades of serving the community, the project deteriorated, which prompted the city of Evanston to determine its long-term needs for treated water storage. A lifecycle cost analysis was undertaken to determine the best course of action for the facility: repair it or replace it. The study concluded that it would be most cost-effective to replace the Clearwell. In addition to a badly deteriorated roof, the characteristics of the existing pumps in the system were such that the bottom several feet of the reservoir could not be pumped out. This meant the city of Evanston was not able to utilize the full stored volume of water.

Many factors contributed to this project’s Envision award, including improving views, enhancing community aesthetics, adding new public space, engaging stakeholders, and protecting the natural world.

Learn more about the sustainability of this project in the Project Awards Directory.