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ISI welcomes Mark Pestrella to its Board of Directors

25-January-2023

Washington D.C., 25 January 2023 — ISI is very pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Pestrella, P.E., the Director of Los Angeles County Public Works, to its Board of Directors. He fills the seat vacated by Gary Lee Moore (City of Los Angeles), who completed his term in 2022. ISI thanks Gary for his tireless leadership and dedication to ISI.

As communities and public agencies look to solutions like ISI’s signature Envision framework to achieve sustainability, equity, and resiliency in the built environment, ISI is fortunate to be able to attract dedicated infrastructure professionals of outstanding calibre to join the leadership team at ISI.

“Mark Pestrella brings nearly four decades of experience providing leadership in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of complex infrastructure systems of every description at LA County Public Works, and his department, from the beginning, has also been a key member and partner for ISI in advancing sustainable and resilient infrastructure practices,” says Anthony Kane, ISI’s president and CEO, and ex-officio member of the Board.

As Director of L.A. County Public Works, Mark Pestrella serves as the Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, the County Road Commissioner, and the County Engineer. With an annual budget of more than $2.7 billion and a workforce of 4,000 employees, Los Angeles County Public Works is the largest municipal public works agency in the United States, providing vital public infrastructure and civic services to more than 10 million people across a 4,000-square-mile service area. Its diverse operations are defined within the following business areas: Water Resources, Transportation, Environmental Services, Construction Management, and Municipal Services.

He was nominated to ISI’s Board by the American Public Works Association (APWA), one of the three national engineering organizations that co-founded ISI, with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). He is a longtime APWA member and advocate for sustainable infrastructure and under his leadership, Public Works has set records in leading a sustainable infrastructure sector. In 2015, Public Works was publicly recognized by ISI as the first government agency in the U.S. to credential 100 Envision Sustainability Professionals, and the number has now grown close to 400. In 2016, he successfully assisted the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in adopting EnvisionTM as the infrastructure standard of the County, making the County one of the first public agencies in the U.S. to do so.

Mr. Pestrella will serve alongside Board Chair Michael Murcha (Madison Metropolitan Sewage District) and Board Members Erin Cooke (San Francisco International Airport), Lauren Evans (Pinyon Environmental), Sergio Pecori (Hanson Professional Services Inc.) and Renee Ring (Environmental Financial Consulting Group).

Envision Review Board Podcast

12-January-2023

Great initiative here from ISI’s Envision Review Board! Richard Fernandez of Aquario Engineering interviewed Margaret Cederoth, Director of Planning and Sustainability at the California High-Speed Rail Authority for a special Envision Review Board Podcast. Have a listen …

 

Welcoming the Envision Review Board’s newest member: Patricia Gómez

6-January-2023

ISI would like to take the opportunity to recognize the newest member of the Envision Review Board: Patricia Gómez, Deputy Chief Resilience Officer with Miami-Dade County. You can learn more about Dr. Gómez in her bio below.

Originally created in 2015, the Envision Review Board is comprised of industry-leading infrastructure professionals representing public agencies, private companies, and general interest groups. The mission of the Envision Review Board is to ensure 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. In this way, Envision is a tool created and overseen by the infrastructure industry itself. More about the Envision Review Board.

Bio: Patricia Gómez

Patricia Gómez, Ph.D., PE, CEM, GBE, LEED AP, has more than 20 years of direct experience working on engineering and sustainability-related opportunities in both the public sector and private industries.

Dr. Gómez currently serves as the Deputy Chief Resilience Officer in Miami-Dade County’s Office of Resilience. During her county career Dr. Gómez has successfully implemented several projects that have increase the sustainability and resilience of the county operations and the community and reduced electricity consumption such as the enterprise-wide utility billing management software, and the Building Efficiency 305 (BE305), the Climate Action Strategy and on-site solar installations for county facilities.

She began her career with Miami-Dade County as an Engineer with the Department of Environmental Resources Management working on the County’s Climate Action Plan. Dr. Gómez is a LEED AP BD+C accredited professional, a Certified Energy Manager and a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. Dr. Gomez holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami.

Ship Canal Water Quality Project in Seattle Earns Envision Platinum Rating

13-December-2022

The Ship Canal Water Quality Project includes a 2.7-mile, 18-ft and 10-in internal-diameter tunnel that will extend from Ballard to Wallingford. Left: Ballard Tunnel Segment. Right: Wallingford Shaft Site. Photos supplied in December 2022 courtesy Seattle Public Utilities.

Seattle Public Utilities’ Ship Canal Water Quality Project has been awarded Envision Platinum for sustainability. This project had verified achievements across several areas of the Envision framework, and in particular, it will bring significant water quality improvements to prevent 75 million gallons of polluted stormwater and sewage from entering the region’s waterways on average each year.

Public Utilities and King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division are completing an underground storage tunnel to reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff and sewage that flows in the Lake Washington Ship Canal, Salmon Bay, and Lake Union from the sewer system.

In some parts of Seattle (as with many other places), stormwater and sewage share a set of pipes — a combined sewer system which, during heavy storm/rain events, overflows when pipe capacity is exceeded. Untreated sewage and stormwater then flow directly into the Ship Canal, posing public health concerns and harming fish, wildlife, and the environment. The Ship Canal Water Quality Project is crucial for keeping the waterways clean and protecting human health and the environment over the long term.

This project is funded in part by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency through the State Revolving Fund and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans. The project’s 2.7-mile, 18’10”-diameter tunnel will be able to capture and temporarily hold more than 29 million gallons of stormwater and sewage during heavy rains. As the heavy rains subside, flows will be sent to King County’s West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Magnolia for treatment.

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

Downtown Redmond Link Extension Earns Envision Platinum Award for Sustainability

8-December-2022

Downtown Redmond Station construction progress October 11, 2022. Photo courtesy Sound Transit.

Sound Transit’s new light rail project that will bring service to downtown Redmond, Washington, has been awarded an Envision Platinum Award, with sustainable achievements across five areas of Envision. Sound Transit is building the extension with parters who include Jacobs (Lead Design Firm), Stacy and Witbeck/Kuney, a Joint Venture; WSP, Hatch LTK, Hensel Phelps, and Modern Railway Systems.

The Downtown Redmond Link Extension Project (DRLE) is a 3.4-mile light rail extension that includes new surface and elevated guideway structures, stations at Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond, a parking garage, and associated utility, drainage, environmental, and roadway improvements. Currently under construction, this project will extend Sound Transit’s 2 line from the future Redmond Technology Station providing residents and commuters in Redmond with direct light rail service to Overlake, Bellevue, Mercer Island, downtown Seattle, the University of Washington, Northgate, Lynnwood, SeaTac Airport and Federal Way.

QUOTES:

“Doing this well on the first attempt at Envision verification is testament to Sound Transit’s long and deep commitment to excellence in sustainability. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing our work to provide environmentally friendly public transit that connects people throughout the Puget Sound region to where they live, work and play.”

— Kimberly Farley, Sound Transit Chief System Officer

“SWK and Jacobs are excited to achieve Envision Platinum for the Sound Transit Downtown Redmond Link Extension project. Exceeding the original goal of Envision Silver and earning Envision Platinum recognition is a testament to the collective vision of Sound Transit, WSP, SWK and Jacobs and their pursuit of continual sustainability improvement,. We are very proud to be a part of this tremendous effort to advance more sustainable and resilient infrastructure and deliver a project that adds lasting value to the region.”

— Zach Adams, SWK Deputy Project Manager

“We are pleased to announce an Envision Platinum Award for the Downtown Redmond Link Extension project. The high level of stakeholder engagement, the emphasis on renewable energy sources, and the importance given to protecting the environment during construction are among the sustainable achievements that have set this project apart.”

— Melissa Peneycad, ISI managing director

This award recognizes Envision-verified achievements on this project related to:

— Providing sustainable transportation options;
— Empowering communities through meaningful engagement;
— Using renewable energy;
— Improving the quality and reliability of infrastructure services; and
— Protecting the environment.

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

York Region’s 2nd Concession Project receives Envision Bronze Award

6-December-2022

ISI has awarded an Envision Bronze Award for sustainable infrastructure to the 2nd Concession Project, a major north-south arterial corridor under the jurisdiction of the Regional Municipality of York (York Region). Located in the Town of East Gwillimbury, this is the second project in Ontario to earn an Envision award for sustainability and the first project in the transportation sector in the province to do so.

The project in brief

The 2nd Concession project—the largest project ever undertaken by York Region’s Transportation Services Department—was a necessary investment in infrastructure to accommodate the tremendous growth in York Region and the Town of East Gwillimbury in particular. The six-kilometer corridor, extending from Bristol Road to Queensville Sideroad, crosses the Rogers Reservoir, a popular conservation area and recreational trail in the East Holland River watershed, which the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority manages.

This project widened the 2nd Concession from two lanes to four and included trails, three bridges, retaining walls, active transportation facilities, and stormwater management.

Some of the unique elements of this project included:

—An elevated wooden boardwalk through wetlands and marshes connecting forests with growing residential communities.
—Benches, bike racks, and a flagstone meeting area.
—A wooden-clad pedestrian bridge in the Rogers Reservoir overlooks the historic canal and lock system, which the project protected and preserved.
—Bridges spanning an active rail corridor and the Holland River.
—Curvilinear and terraced tree-patterned retaining walls.
—Dedicated cycle tracks (the first in the Region).

Quotes

“Congratulations to York Region and its project partners on earning an Envision Bronze award for sustainable infrastructure for the 2nd Concession project. This award results from tremendous teamwork, leadership, and community collaboration. Everyone in the area should be proud of this achievement. Protecting and enhancing the corridor area as an important resource for residents was given high priority in the planning and construction of the project, with a context-sensitive design maintaining or improving the natural systems and community quality of life aspects receiving careful attention.”
—  Melissa Peneycad, ISI’s managing director.

“Yesterday was the first time we took our dogs for a walk along 2nd Concession. The view from the bridge is amazing. The viewing platforms on the bridge are a nice touch. The boardwalk for the trail blends in well with the environment. You and your staff have done a wonderful job on this project.”

— R.W. a long-time resident living in the project corridor

This project had verified sustainability achievements in the following areas, among others: meaningful stakeholder engagement; improved infrastructure integration; improved mobility, safety and access; and wetland restoration.

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

Highlights of ISI’s Record-Breaking 2022 Virtual Conference, Expecting More

22-November-2022

It has been another amazing year for ISI’s signature learning and networking event. Our 2022 conference delivered actionable strategies and insights to advance sustainable infrastructure, with expert panel discussions that connected powerfully to the current operating environment. The event also offered a deep dive into Envision application examples while affording many opportunities for ENV SPs to renew their credential. As we turn the page on this year’s conference, here are some key takeaways.

The hub of a unique community.

Our conference had something to offer everyone in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Professionals from the public and private sectors joined the sessions; among them planners, architects, engineers, developers, owners, constructors, and infrastructure operators.

We lean heavily on our base of engaged Envision champions to deliver this annual conference. So let there be no doubt, we could not have pulled this off without your contributions. We would like to thank the organizing committee, including Justin Waples from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District and John Williams from Autocase for helping develop this year’s lineup of session topics and speakers. We would also especially like to salute our session moderators and speakers who delivered fantastic content throughout this two-day event.

All told, there were over 1,300 registrants, with most sessions garnering more than 500 attendees from every corner of the infrastructure sector across the US, Canada, and beyond!

A big win for learning and credentialing.

Attendees took the opportunity to fulfill their ENV SP credentialing hours. In case you were not able to attend, the recordings of each session will be available in your ISI account before the end of the year. View them there, rather than through your Zoom Events platform, to earn education hours towards your credential maintenance.

These topics and more were explored: Climate extremes and their implications for infrastructure planning; the future of net embodied carbon; tackling 21st-century infrastructure disparities; climate science and Envision at NASA; the current landscape of policy and administrative priorities; sustainable infrastructure financing; lessons from the airport sector; and the ways in which infrastructure owners and partners are “looking beyond” regulatory compliance on projects.

ENV SPs also took advantage of the pre-conference courses held on November 15 to learn about the Envision framework and examples of Envision application. The morning courses qualified for credentialing hours: “Initiating Envision Use for Organizational Readiness”; and “Preparing for Project Success.”

Strong sponsorship.

We received the support of numerous sponsors, and it was thanks to their generosity that we were able to offer the conference free to attendees. We are grateful to all our conference sponsors:

Platinum: AECOM  | HDR  |  MDR Strategy Group Ltd.
Gold: R.V. Anderson Associates Limited  |  WSP
Silver: Ethel G. Rubio | 5engineering, llc  |  RS&H

More ways to connect.

New this year, professionals and students submitted poster abstracts in response to a call from ISI’s Academic Committee. Each day of the conference had a poster and networking session where attendees could join breakout rooms to interact with the presenters. At the close of the conference, on behalf of the committee, ISI’s President & CEO Anthony Kane announced the winners of the poster event, who received prizes in the form of ENV SP training credits.

In the professional category, the winner was Mark Bruder, P.Eng, ENV SP of R.V. Anderson Associates. Bruder and colleagues submitted a proposal describing work done to rehabilitate the Springbank Reservoirs in London, Ontario.

There were two winners in the student category. Kase Poling, a Ph.D. candidate in civil engineering at Virginia Tech, presented his project focusing on recommendations to enable the future design and reconstruction of more resilient communities following the 2016 West Virginia floods. And Naoki Weldon and a team from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo presented a sustainably-designed transitional housing community, named the Coastal Gardens Community, that used the Envision framework for enhanced environmental, social, and economic benefits.

ISI thanks all participants who took the opportunity to present their projects during the poster sessions.

Final word

Last but not least, ISI extends a sincere thanks to all of you, the attendees who are on the “front lines” in leading the change we are seeking. Your commitment helps drive a future of sustainable, resilient, and equitable civil infrastructure!

ISI 2022 Virtual Conference Program

Podcast: Implementing Sustainability through Envision

17-August-2022

Antoinette Quagliata, Manager, Sustainability Services at Dewberry, interviewed Anthony Kane, president and CEO of ISI in a podcast posted by Dewberry. She asked about emerging trends in the types of projects pursuing Envision verification, how ISI activities tie in with federal infrastructure funding, and about what’s next for ISI beyond the U.S.

But Quagliata began the interview with a question about why infrastructure owners seek Envision verification for their projects, and here is part of Kane’s response:

“The number one feedback for them is that they find the verification process leads to better project delivery, better project management, and more effective communication. Additionally, project teams find that Envision verification leads to more innovative solutions, less errors and challenges in the project.”

To hear more of the interview, access the podcast and the accompanying article in the following link: Dewberry podcast.

ISI Releases New Envision Credit Amendments

9-August-2022

Developed in collaboration with ISI’s Envision Review Board, two new credit amendments have been approved and are now on ISI users’ dashboards — amendments #008 and #009 (part of the Credit Amendments (v3) consolidated package under “Verification Resources” at https://v4.sustainableinfrastructure.org/login). Users can refer to the resource shown with a red box in the screenshot below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Envision guidance manual is the official reference for project assessments. Credit Amendments from ISI modify the manual to clarify how Envision credits are assessed and verified in certain situations encountered by real projects.

As a reminder, ENV SPs and other Envision users should periodically check your dashboard every few months to be sure they have the most up-to-date resources as ISI may add or amend resources at any time.

East Side Coastal Resiliency Project Receives Envision Gold Award for Sustainability

1-August-2022

The East Side Coastal Resiliency project uses a series of berms, flood walls, flood gates and raised parklands to create a continuous 2.4-mile barrier to protect 110,000 residents of the Lower East Side in Manhattan from future coastal and tidal flooding.

NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley announced Aug. 1 that the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) Project, which is enhancing parks while creating a 2.4-mile long flexible flood barrier extending from Montgomery Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side up to Asser Levy Playground at East 25th Street, has been awarded “Envision Gold” for sustainability from ISI.

ESCR is a $1.45-billion climate resiliency project that will provide flood protection and improve open spaces for more than 110,000 New Yorkers, including 28,000 residents in NYCHA housing. This is especially significant for neighborhoods in the ESCR project area that were severely impacted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Managed by DDC, the project involves significant upgrades to public open spaces and five parks, including improved waterfront access through reconstructed bridges and entry points. It will also upgrade existing sewer systems to capture and manage precipitation during storms.

Quotes:

NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley: “DDC is honored to bring flood protection and improve open spaces for 110,000 New Yorkers who were affected by Sandy and who live in an area with limited recreational opportunities. DDC and all of City government are taking climate change seriously and targeting our efforts to the communities that need it most. I’d like to thank the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure for recognizing this project with its Envision Gold Award.”

Mayor Eric Adams: “It is affirmational to be honored for our work to protect New Yorkers from the impacts of climate change. In the face of the biggest environmental threat we all face – we will continue to plan ahead, innovate, and get stuff done for New Yorkers.”

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.