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Osborn Street Plaza Project in Brooklyn Receives Envision Verified Award

25-January-2024

(Long Island City, NY – January 25, 2024) The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today that the Osborn Street Plaza project in Brownsville, Brooklyn, which will create an inviting new public space for the community, has been selected to receive an “Envision Verified Award” for sustainability from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). DDC is managing the project for DOT, and the plaza will be maintained by the Brownsville Community Justice Center (BCJC).

“Osborn Street Plaza will expand and enhance an important public space, improve accessibility for community residents and increase access to nearby public transportation,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “At the same time, all of our designs are moving toward resiliency and sustainability, and this project will also include features to curb flooding in the area and reduce heat by planting new trees, adding shade furniture, and changing pavement from asphalt to concrete. I thank the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure for honoring this project with its Envision Award.”

“The Osborn Street Plaza Project demonstrates how a section of under-used public space can be thoughtfully reimagined as a community asset with high regard for sustainability and resiliency,” said Kristi Wamstad, ISI Verification Director. “ISI congratulates the NYC Department of Design and Construction, the NYC Department of Transportation and all of the project partners on the success of this project.”

“Every New Yorker deserves safe streets and welcoming spaces where they can meet with family and friends or enjoy public events that help build community with their neighbors,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “The Osborn Street Plaza will dramatically expand space for pedestrians and calm traffic at nearby intersections while implementing a climate-forward design. We thank the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure for recognizing this project with its esteemed Envision Award.”

“We believe in the transformative power of community-led initiatives,” said Ionna Jimenez, Project Director, Brownsville Community Justice Center. “The Osborn Street Plaza Project, a testament to years of collaboration and community input, reflects our commitment to public safety, empowering local youth, and enhancing the physical fabric of our neighborhood. Together, we’ve shaped a space that not only embodies our mission but also serves as a symbol of resilience and positive change since the inception of the Osborn Street Plaza in 2015.”

The $2.3 million project will reconstruct the dead-end segment of Osborn Street south of Belmont Avenue, turning it into a pedestrian plaza with a raised intersection to calm traffic in the area, and will include new pavement, sidewalks, curbs, streetlights and landscaping. The plaza will include bike racks and benches, granite seat blocks, raised trapezoidal planters, moveable chairs and tables with umbrellas and an accommodation for a potential future kiosk. The plaza will provide direct pedestrian access to the NYCHA Langston Hughes Houses.

DOT has an agreement with Brownsville Community Justice Center (BCJC) to maintain the plaza after it opens. BCJC will also offer diverse programming in the plaza to residents.

Top: The Osborn Street Plaza will be used as a community gathering area that will allow for programming from nearby non-profit, events, and more. Above: the plaza will be adjacent to the NYCHA Langston Hughes Houses and next to the Brownsville Community Justice Center. The organization will offer programming in the plaza.

Sustainability and resiliency features will include the installation of two new bioswales and five catch basins, to better manage stormwater. The new trees, shade furniture and the change in paving from asphalt to concrete will reduce the negative heat island effect.

Construction for the project is expected to begin March 2024 and is projected to be completed by summer 2025.

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure developed and manages Envision, a framework that encourages systemic changes in the planning, design and delivery of sustainable, resilient and equitable infrastructure through education, training and third-party project verification. The Envision sustainable infrastructure framework assesses project sustainability across five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World and Climate and Resilience. To earn an Envision Verified award, a project must achieve a range of sustainability and resilience outcomes. The Osborn Street Plaza project was cited by ISI for improving quality of life, preserving underdeveloped land.

DDC’s Phase II of Broad Channel Infrastructure Project in Queens, East Side Coastal Resiliency project and Starlight Park projects have previously received Envision Awards.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $28 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.

About the NYC Department of Transportation
The New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of our primary customers, City residents. NYC DOT’s staff manage an annual operating budget of $1.4 billion and a ten-year $33 billion capital program, along with 6,300 miles of streets and highways, over 12,000 miles of sidewalk, and approximately 800 bridges and tunnels, including the iconic East River bridges. NYC DOT’s staff also installs and maintains nearly one million street signs, 13,250 signalized intersections, over 315,000 street lights, and over 350 million linear feet of markings.

About the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure
The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) is the organization that developed and manages Envision, a framework that encourages systemic changes in the planning, design, and delivery of sustainable, resilient, and equitable civil infrastructure through education, training, and third-party project verification. A nonprofit education and research organization based in Washington, DC, ISI was established in 2010 by the American Public Works Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Council of Engineering Companies. ISI then partnered with the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at Harvard University to develop the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework and rating system.

— text of the announcement from NYC DDC (January 25, 2024).

ISI Announces New Board Chair

22-January-2024

Washington D.C., January 22, 2024 — The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure ushers in the new year by recognizing outgoing board chair Michael Mucha for his outstanding nine-year tenure on the board, and by welcoming a highly experienced sustainability leader, Erin Cooke, as its new chair.

“We have been privileged to benefit from Michael’s esteemed leadership on our board over many years,” remarks Anthony Kane, President & CEO of ISI. Michael’s tenure coincided with key developments like the launch of Envision Version 3 in 2018, ever-increasing demand for ENV SP training offered virtually and in-person, and accelerating interest in a verification program that now counts nearly 160 completed projects. “Michael was instrumental in guiding all of that growth, ensuring that we fulfilled our mission to support systemic changes in the planning, design and delivery of sustainable civil infrastructure.”

With over three decades of experience working in local government, Michael Mucha, P.E., ENV SP, Chief Engineer and Director of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, holds that a commitment to sustainability is the best way to build trust with the public, and this mindset made him well-positioned to support ISI’s leadership and vision. “When we think about sustainable infrastructure,” he has said, “we are really talking about the next generation.”

Michael is a professional engineer, with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington-Seattle. He also serves as chair for the US Water Alliance’s One Water Council and teaches courses in sustainable infrastructure management and adaptive leadership at the University of Wisconsin and Edgewood College.

“Just as Michael helped to pave a strong path forward for our organization,” says Kane, “we are now eager to embark on a new chapter of growth and advancement under the leadership and expertise of Erin Cooke.”

An ISI board member since 2020, Erin is the Sustainability and Resilience Director at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), where she supports the design, management, and administration of sustainability and resilience policies, projects and programs that achieve net-zero outcomes for energy, carbon, and waste and help to prepare the campus for a climate-impacted future.

Erin previously served the City of Cupertino as its Deputy City Manager, where she drafted and activated the City’s first Climate Action Plan and launched a countywide community choice aggregation program (Silicon Valley Clean Energy), Silicon Valley Collaborative Energy Procurement program, and Silicon Valley’s Climate Adaptation & Resilience Plan. Erin was also a member of stewardship and climate planning teams at the Conservation Law Foundation, Goddard Institute of Space Studies, and National Park Service. She currently serves on the Board of LightHawk and leads key task groups for the Airport Council International and North American Committees and the American Association of Airport Executives. Erin holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Earth Institute and two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

“I’m honored to support ISI and its mission to deliver climate-leading and resilient infrastructure that improves communities by providing vital services and enabling better economic opportunities for all,” says Cooke. “The ISI Board, ISI’s incredible staff, and the Envision system itself are supporting the low-carbon transition of our key infrastructure during a critical time for our planet. I’m so eager to continue my service to ISI this next year as we continue to grow Envision’s sphere of influence to ensure the survivability of our shared pale blue dot.”

As Chair of ISI’s Board of Directors with a term that began January 1, 2024, Erin will serve alongside Lauren Evans (Pinyon Environmental), Feniosky Peña-Mora (Tecnológico de Monterrey), Sergio Pecori (Hanson Professional Services Inc.), Mark Pestrella (Los Angeles County Public Works), Renee Ring (Environmental Financial Consulting Group), and new member, Dr. Cris Liban (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority).

Apply to Become an ENV SP Trainer!

18-January-2024

Are you an ENV SP who wants to share your knowledge with other professionals in your industry? ISI is now accepting applications from credentialed ENV SPs for our upcoming Train-the-Trainer course in March. This course is designed to prepare participants to plan and deliver their own Envision workshops, and completion of the course will qualify participants as certified Envision Trainers. Applications are due March 11, and this live virtual course will be held March 25 – 28 from 12 – 5 PM EST each day. Enrollment is limited, so click below to get started!

 

Click here to download the Train-the-Trainer application.

ISI Joins TRB Panel Discussion on Equity

10-January-2024

ISI staff contributed to a panel discussion on “Planning for Environmental Justice and Equitable Outcomes at Airports and Beyond,” at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington DC this week. Speaking about Envision, CEO & President Anthony Kane and Verification Specialist Kailey Eldredge discussed how the framework supports equity and environmental justice efforts in airport planning and project delivery. They also highlighted the Envision Credit dedicated to Advancing Equity and Social Justice — Quality of Life 3.1 — and identified project lessons learned.

They were joined by experts from PRR, Inc., The Ohio State University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Speakers all referenced tools and methodologies that assist in understanding equity issues but one of the overarching themes was that the tools help, but do not replace, direct human engagement within the community.

Considered the largest global gathering of transportation professionals and researchers, with a focus on innovative solutions for all modes of transportation, the TRB Annual Meeting is taking place from January 7–11, 2024.

ISI membership: Look who’s celebrating an anniversary

11-December-2023

ISI is recognizing all organizations that have been with ISI for ten years, as of December 2023. The growth and development of the Envision framework and of the Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP)  credential would not have been possible without the steadfast support of the following public agencies and A/E/C companies. They’ve moved the needle for sustainability on infrastructure projects of all types, they’ve supported the development and use of Envision as a sustainability framework and planning tool, and many of them have significant cadres of staff who are active ENV SPs.

Your next project is just around the corner. Get to know Envision® for sustainability, and understand the benefits of an ISI membership

See our Envision Qualified Companies directory for information on the many Envision-rated projects these organizations have led. On the list of 10-year members, as well, are some long-time ISI/Envision public agencies such as New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), Los Angeles County Public Works (LACPW) and the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR). Thank you for your continued support!

ISI is also giving special recognition to member organizations who are at the 5 year and 3 year mark with ISI as of December 2023. These are truly milestones worth celebrating, marking TEN YEARS of phenomenal growth for a sustainable infrastructure community powered by Envision®!

Celebrating Our Ten-Year Members

 

5engineering, Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, LLC, Avant-Garde Engineering LLC, Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), Carollo Engineers, CDM Smith, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LLC, DIPRA, Economides Consultants, Gresham Smith, HNTB, KEI, Lamp Rynearson, Los Angeles County Public Works (LACPW), Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), Pare Corporation, Port of Long Beach (Calif.), QK, R. M. Towill Corporation, Shrewsberry & Associates, LLC, Smith & Gardner Engineers, Stanley Consultants, Inc., Stantec, Transystems, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Volkert, Inc.

Celebrating Our Five-Year Members

Aero Aggregates of North America LLC, AKRF Inc., Argonne National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy), CES Consultants, Inc., City of Lakewood Department of Water Resources (Fla.), City of Largo (Fla.), City of Red Deer (Alta.), City of Tempe (Ariz.), Colorado School of Mines, Francl Architecture Inc., KS Engineers, P.C., LiRo Engineers, Lumsden Associates, P.C., Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Pavement Technology, Inc., Port of Portland (Ore.), Powell CWM, SANPEC Inc., Société de transport de Montréal, Sound Transit, and the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (Ariz.)

Celebrating Our Three-Year Members

Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, Being Here Landscape Architecture, Calibrate Collaborative Inc., Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Texas), City of Bellevue (Wash.), City of Brisbane (Calif.), City of Eugene (Ore.), City of Renton (Wash.), City of University Park (Texas), City of Westminster (Colo.), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Federacion Mexicana de Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles, Global Infrastructure Basel, Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (Conn.), Grimshaw Architects, Halifax Port Authority (Nova Scotia), Hampton Roads Sanitation District (Va.), Indianapolis Airport Authority, King County Metro Transit (Wash.), McCarthy Building Companies, Mead & Hunt, MSI Marine Solutions, Omaha Public Power District, Orange County Government, FL, Philadelphia Water Department, Quonset Development Corporation, Salt Lake City Municipal Corporation, San Bernardino Community College District (Calif.), Sundt Construction, Town of Innisfail (Alberta), Two Trails, Inc., United States Military Academy, Village of Key Biscayne (Fla.), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington State Ferries, and WT Infrastructure Solutions Incorporated.

Seeking Public Input? This Study Lends Support to Envision’s Role

13-September-2023

Envision’s ability to capture the interlocking benefits and trade-offs of infrastructure improvement options, clearly and compellingly, is one of its key strengths. By setting a common language and metrics, the framework is valuable in stakeholder decision-making, as practical experience—and now research—is demonstrating.

One example is a new study looking at how aiding the public to construct preferences may help increase their willingness to support green stormwater infrastructure (e.g., incorporating elements like bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavements) over conventional stormwater infrastructure.

Mo Hu, an assistant professor in the department of construction science, Texas A&M School of Architecture and her co-author conducted a national survey with 946 participants in the U.S. Their views were sought on two stormwater management options: one using traditional pipes and pumps and another using natural systems.

Half of the participants were encouraged to think about sustainable design before making a decision, based on a prompt developed using questions from Envision. This group was presented with five Envision credits that were applicable to the case study, as well as an Envision stormwater project example (Buffalo’s Willert Park Green Infrastructure Project), as a guide.

Helping to shape preferences

Among the findings: those who were encouraged to think about the advantages of sustainable design rated the green infrastructure option as significantly more beneficial, and were more likely to recommend it. (When the participants in this experiment were engineers, in a 2022 study by the researchers, the results were similar).

The latest finding is noteworthy, because decision-makers with little prior knowledge or experience tend to construct preferences as they evaluate options, write the authors. Other impediments can also arise. In one study, Krisha Dhakal and Lizette Chevalier showed that people tend to fixate on the traditional functions of stormwater runoff reduction, which can lead to a more pro-traditional mindset.

Professor Hu and Professor Tripp Shealy from Virginia Tech write that their findings help illustrate how “interventions to this preference construction process for the public can help encourage them to adopt more green infrastructure design.”

[Note: The authors, who are not affiliated with ISI, published the study in J. Env. Psych, June 2023]

On a wide variety of infrastructure projects, the Envision framework is providing a consensus-based system and a common language around sustainable design objectives, and similarly with this study, considering sustainable design earlier encourages support for sustainable infrastructure by offering an attractive, well-articulated justification for decision-makers.

In this study, simply asking the public to consider how each option contributes to achieving predefined sustainability goals prior to making other judgements about cost, risk, or benefits “significantly increases their preference for the more sustainable design option.”

For information on Envision, view the Use Envision page and the Envision packet.

A Week of ISI Outreach: Capital Hill Briefing, Virginia AWWA, CFD Breakfast

7-September-2023

Anthony Kane with ASCE Executive Director Thomas Smith, Jennifer Goupil, Chief Resilience Officer, ASCE, and  Carol Haddock, Director, Houston Public Works following a congressional briefing on Sept. 12.

Sept. 11 – 15 marked a busy week of outreach for ISI. President & CEO Anthony Kane took part in a Capitol Hill Briefing for congressional staff on Sept. 12, joined by speakers from ASCE and the City of Houston. He had the opportunity to provide a short presentation on the Envision framework at this briefing. ASCE Executive Director Thomas Smith, Jennifer Goupil, Chief Resilience Officer, ASCE, and Carol Haddock, Director, Houston Public Works also presented.

On Sept. 11, Anthony was in Virginia Beach, Va. for the WaterJAM 2023 Event. This is the Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Water Environment Association and the Virginia Section of the American Waterworks Association, and there is a special “Envision for Water/Wastewater Projects Workshop” on the agenda this year. Anthony joined in a discussion with seasoned professionals in the water sector, from Prince William County Service Authority, HRSD, Ulliman Schutte Construction, Arcadis, Arlington County Government, and Hazen and Sawyer. https://www.vaawwa.org/events/waterjam2023

On Sept. 13, Anthony attended the Committee For Dulles’s 2023 Sustainable Infrastructure Breakfast in Herndon, Virginia. A panel of technical experts, industry influencers, stakeholders, and community leaders will examine opportunities and challenges ahead in sustainability and resilience: Robert W. Lazaro, Jonathan Matheny, Emily Feenstra, Matt Reiffer, Anthony Kane, and J. Michael Sawyers (moderator). https://www.committeefordulles.org/events/sustainable-infrastructure-2023

Bear Creek Solar Project Obtains Envision Platinum

5-September-2023

A 50-megawatt (MW) solar project in Richland County, Wisconsin, Bear Creek Solar will produce enough clean, low-cost energy to power approximately 13,000 homes. It is the second Alliant Energy project announced this year to receive an award, with the Wood County Solar Project earning Envision Platinum award in April.

The Bear Creek Solar Project is one of Alliant Energy’s 12 utility-scale solar projects in Wisconsin. In all, the company expects to add nearly 1,100 MW of solar generation in the state by mid-2024. It’s part of the company’s transition to a more diversified energy mix that includes adding more clean energy generation, as outlined in its Clean Energy Blueprint.

Soundbites:

“This Envision Platinum recognition from ISI supports our decision to transition to cleaner energy through projects like the Bear Creek Solar Project,” said Barbara Tormaschy, senior vice president of sustainability and regulatory strategy at Alliant Energy. “The sustainable development and construction of renewable projects allows us to create a healthier environment while providing the reliable energy our customers expect.

Read the full announcement here.

Fairview Cove MCEF project in the Port of Halifax is awarded Envision Verified

9-August-2023

The container ship ONE Magnificence at PSA Halifax Fairview Cove. Photo credit Steve Farmer.

Earning high levels of achievement across several Envision sustainability credit areas, this project will improve efficiency, safety and operations of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at the Port of Halifax.

The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) had long identified the need to decrease port congestion and plan for future increases in container processing demand. But the Fairview Cove Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF) project will go much further, delivering speedier turnaround times, enhanced port security, and significant environmental and community benefits.

SOUNDBITES

“Integrating sustainability into our core business practices is essential for future success,” said Captain Allan Gray, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority. “The completed Marine Container Examination Facility will improve overall operational efficiency while advancing our sustainability goals. It can serve as a framework for future projects on our path to becoming One Port City.”

“This project is a milestone for the Halifax Port Authority and a reflection of the dedication to sustainability, collaboration and moving beyond “Business as Usual” practices,” said Jill Roth, Project Lead ENV SP.

Kristi Wamstad, ISI Verification Director, said: “ISI congratulates the Halifax Port Authority and the project partners on the success of the Fairview Cove Marine Container Examination Facility project. It optimizes rapid and reliable container inspections and helps to achieve the Port’s net-zero emission goals.”

Read more about the Fairview Cove Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF) project.

Tampa International Airport Master Plan Phase I Project Awarded Envision Verified

8-August-2023

The Tampa International Airport Master Plan Phase I Project, led by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA), has earned an Envision Verified award for sustainable infrastructure. This project enhanced community mobility, emphasized mitigation against climate change impacts, and advanced many other sustainability goals across multiple Envision credit areas. Phase I was completed in 2018 after three years of work at Tampa International, which is the 23rd-largest US airport, serving nearly 22 million passengers annually (2023 figures).

QUOTES:

Jeff Siddle, Vice President of Planning & Development:

“This Envision-verified certification for Tampa International Airport’s Master Plan Phase 1 is a tremendous achievement for Tampa International Airport. All of TPA’s leadership is proud of this organization’s planning and development processes and its focus on our sustainability program. TPA is known for its consistently excellent customer experience, but we also want to give our travelers the peace of mind that we are devoted to protecting our surrounding natural resources and maintaining them for the future.”

Eric Caplan, Sustainability and Resilience Program Director:

“Earning this honor for these critical projects was a difficult feat, particularly because we launched our certification efforts after the completion of these projects rather than during the development process per industry standard. This is a testament to how we’re able to effectively display our commitment to sustainability through detailed documentation, and it highlights just how well we organically integrate best practices into our processes.”

Read the full announcement.