ICMQ, ISI’s partner in Italy, has announced that two railway stations along the Adriatic Coast have earned Envision Silver awards in recognition of their sustainable redevelopment efforts. These two projects represent one half of the four total pilot projects chosen by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), the owner of Italy’s railway network, to be certified using the Envision framework and rating system for sustainable infrastructure. The RFI team chose to use the Envision framework to better orient all project stakeholders toward a perspective that incorporates historical, environmental, social, and economic sustainability throughout the planning, design, and implementation of these renovation projects.

The renovation of the Cattolica Railway Station, located near the historic center of Cattolica, Italy, will allow it play a progressively more central role in the community. Instead of serving only as a transit area, it will now provide better amenities for pedestrians and other visitors, as well as an improved connection to the local city park. The front courtyard will offer more green space, irrigated by a new rainwater storage tank system, and space will be dedicated for electric vehicle charging stations and a new Velo Station to encourage alternative transportation. The renovation will utilize sustainable building materials, and photovoltaic panels will be installed on the new shelters to generate energy on site.

The Pesaro Railway Station, the main station in the Italian province of Pesaro-Urbino, is strategically located near the seaside, the city park, and the city’s historic center. This location allows the station to serve as one of the main gateways into Pesaro, which has been recognized as the Italian Capital of Culture for 2024. The renovation of this station will improve integration with the surrounding community through more connected roadways and greater access to alternative transportation options, like bicycles. It also represents part of a larger effort to integrate two parts of the city, which are currently divided by the bundle of railway tracks. The railway station building, shelters, underpass, and platforms will be upgraded to facilitate more functional passenger services, and the outdoor areas will be enhanced to promote better access and improved safety, livability, and attractiveness. The project team has also planned to optimize water and energy consumption, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions, throughout the development and lifespan of the project. This station will serve as the hub of an integrated and sustainable “Mobility as a Service” (Maas) system, becoming a key part of the urban framework and enhancing Pesaro’s quality of life and commercial appeal.

These innovative railway station renovations represent environmental, social, and economic sustainability improvements that will create better access to the stations and improved integration with the surrounding communities, while reducing vehicular traffic and enhancing quality of life for the local neighborhoods.

Read the project profile for the Cattolica Station.

Read the project profile for the Pesaro Station.

Washington, D.C. and New York City — The Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency – Battery project located in New York, New York, has earned an Envision Platinum award. This project is part of the larger Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience initiative aimed at reducing flood risk from coastal storms and sea level rise. Led by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) on behalf of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), this project will rebuild the existing deteriorating wharf structure at a higher elevation to protect against sea level rise while integrating it with the iconic waterfront park at the southern tip of Manhattan.  

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“With sea levels rising and storms growing stronger and more frequent, it is vital that we invest in protecting our city from the effects of climate change,” said Sue Donoghue, Commissioner of New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. “Our innovative plans for the Battery are helping to ensure that the Lower Manhattan waterfront is well-prepared for the 21st century’s extreme weather and rising tides, without sacrificing New Yorkers’ access to this historic and beloved greenspace. The challenges of climate change affect cities across the country and around the world, and I’m so proud that New York City is setting an example with this creative and exciting approach, which rebuilds our critical infrastructure while minimizing waste and utilizing local, recycled materials.”

“As New York City advances coastal resilience projects in a dense urban environment, it is essential that we minimize harmful emissions from our construction and waste sent to landfills,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director, Elijah Hutchinson. “With NYCEDC’s Envision Platinum Award, the city has met and exceeded our Clean Construction Accelerator goal of reducing embodied emissions in infrastructure projects by 50%.”

“The Battery protected Manhattan against threats from the sea when its shoreline forts deterred foreign navies,” explained Warrie Price, President and Founder of The Battery Conservancy. “Today, The Battery is called to serve again – to defend the city we love from the sea itself. The Battery Conservancy is proud to work with New York’s leadership to ensure that this storied public space will continue to attract and comfort water-gazers and garden-lovers.”

“With The Battery’s rich history and cultural significance, this project demanded a holistic approach to sustainable and resilient design,” remarked Greg Sprich, Principal at Stantec Consulting Services Inc. “The team rose to the challenge and delivered a project that not only provides much needed coastal protection to lower Manhattan, but also serves as a case study for reducing waste and embodied carbon for future infrastructure projects.”

“Resilient and sustainable environments are the result of collective effort and vision, which is at the core of the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency – Battery Project,” said Ethan Smith, Project Manager and Envision Lead at Hunter Roberts Construction Group. “This award recognizes the extensive planning, design, and coordination efforts made by the team to showcase sustainable, resilient infrastructure and green construction practices.”

“As communities invest in infrastructure projects, it’s crucial to incorporate sustainable and resilient features that account for the projected impacts of climate change,” said Kristi Wamstad, ISI Verification Director. “This project is an outstanding demonstration of how a project team can successfully work with a variety of community stakeholders to assess infrastructure vulnerability and use the Envision framework to plan for resiliency.”

The North Rock Solar Project has been awarded Envision Platinum for sustainable infrastructure. An estimated 50-megawatt (MW) solar energy generation project located on 426 acres in Rock County, Wisconsin, this outstanding Alliant Energy – Burns & McDonnell project earned high levels of achievements across all five of Envision’s sustainability categories.

The project exemplifies the use of clean energy technologies to offset energy generation  by fossil fuels, contributes toward improved ambient air quality, increases the quality of surrounding ecologically sensitive areas and demonstrates high levels of leadership and collaboration for sustainability.

North Rock consists of a 50 megawatt (MW) solar array, substation, and an approximately 1.5 mile-long gen-tie line on approximately 426 acres. It will generate enough clean, low-cost energy to power around 13,000 homes annually and serve as a significant source of new local tax revenue for the Town of Fulton and Rock County in Wisconsin. The project, supported by EPC contractor Burns & McDonnell, is part of a portfolio of Alliant Energy solar projects in Wisconsin that will move the state closer to realizing its clean energy goals. Previously, Bear Creek Solar and Wood County Solar earned Platinum Awards.

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“Congratulations to infrastructure owner, Alliant Energy, and the entire North Rock Solar Project team on this Envision award. This is a terrific project that makes strong contributions to environmental sustainability, develops a valuable new source of clean and renewable energy, and adds significant community quality of life benefits.”
— Kristi Wamstad, ISI’s Verification Director