Event Wrap: ISI’s Zofnass Research Workshop in Los Angeles
20-June-2025
ISI delivered a hugely successful Spring Zofnass Research Workshop, May 15–16 in Los Angeles — a unique event packed with learning, networking and field visits tied to sustainable infrastructure and Envision.
Bringing together experts from leading public agencies and engineering consulting firms, this first-of-its kind workshop offered valuable project perspectives and case studies from the Los Angeles area, a region with one of the highest concentrations of experienced Envision users and agencies.
Click to view a PDF with photos from each day of the workshop
ISI will build on this event’s success to continue developing a mix of Zofnass Research Program workshops; both public and invitation-only.
The L.A. workshop featured:
- Presentations on the impact of recent fire disasters, the need for resilient infrastructure, and the solutions and strategies best able to prepare assets and communities now and in the future.
- Case studies and firsthand project lessons from public agencies and engineering consulting companies involved in sustainability and resiliency planning across the LA region and insights on the tie-ins with Envision application.
- Discussion of research on the costs and benefits of implementing Envision — highlighting insights into the time, effort, and financial investment required for verification, and how project teams are measuring value.
- Social activities and opportunities for attendees to network with industry colleagues.
In the Field
Opportunities for applied learning continued on the ground on Day 2 with guided field visits to a range of Envision-related projects across Los Angeles. These projects included:
- LA Metro stations
Click to view a PDF with photos from each day of the workshop
- Sixth Street Viaduct Seismic Improvement Project
- Los Angeles Street Services Asphalt Plant No. 1
- South Los Angeles Wetlands Park
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Park Stormwater Capture Project
- Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant (HWRP); Biogas-to-energy project; and Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF)
- Projects at Los Angeles International Airport:
- Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) Facility
- Central Utility Plant
- LAX Automated People Mover
- Intermodal Transportation Facility (ITF)
- LAX/Metro Transit Center
The tour stops offered lessons learned and real-world context to help attendees better understand the implementation challenges and the long-term benefits of sustainable infrastructure.
Clockwise from top left: the LAX Automated People Mover, the Central Utility Plant at LAX, the South Los Angeles Wetlands Park, the Sixth Street Viaduct, the Roosevelt Park Stormwater Capture Project, and the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant
Thank You!
ISI would like to extend a sincere thank-you to all the presenters and host agencies who made this experience possible:
California High-Speed Rail Authority, HNTB, LA County Public Works, LA Metro, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Stantec, Bentley Systems, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, LA Sanitation and Environment.
And a special thanks to our Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory Board for supporting this event: HNTB, NV5, Stantec, Bentley Systems, En3 Sustainability Solutions, and Greenprint Partners.
ISI was also honored to host a delegation from China during the workshop. This group included sustainable development experts and representatives from engineering consulting companies across China, many of whom are ENV SPs actively working on Envision-supported projects in China. Learn more about the China delegation visit.
Session Recordings
In case you had planned to be in LA for the Spring 2025 Zofnass Research Workshop but were not able to attend, session recordings are available to users in their ISI accounts, under Education > All Courses.
Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility Earns Envision Platinum
14-April-2025
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has earned its third Envision Award, this time for the Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility situated between San Francisco and Oakland, California.Read more
14-April-2025
LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE: Federal Way Link Extension
16-May-2024
Project expands light rail from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Des Moines, Kent, and Federal Way
Seattle, Washington and Washington, D.C. – The Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) project has earned an Envision Platinum Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). This recognition, the highest possible Envision award level, was received for the project’s achievements related to sustainable transportation, mobility and access, stakeholder engagement, infrastructure integration, and multiple other areas of sustainability. FWLE is only the seventh transit project in the U.S. to earn Envision Platinum.
The project extends light rail transit service 7.8 miles further south into King County and is part of a larger transit expansion in the Seattle metropolitan area, recognized as one of the most ambitious in the nation at present. FWLE demonstrated through its submission how the project responds to the specific needs of both host and adjacent communities to support sustainability, equity, and resilience.
Quotes
“This award is a testament to Sound Transit’s long and deep commitment to sustainability and to the high levels of collaboration achieved with our project partners during challenging times,” said Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Goran Sparrman. “We are proud of this achievement and look forward to many more sustainability milestones as we build public transit that connects our region to the places we live and work.”
“As a global leader in infrastructure, Parsons is transforming the rail and transit sector by providing innovative, tailored solutions that modernize transportation systems and deliver long-lasting, sustainable benefits to our clients,” said Mark Fialkowski, president, Infrastructure North America for Parsons. “Our contribution to the Federal Way Extension project represents Parsons’ combined engineering expertise and enterprise-wide commitment to sustainability. We are honored to be part of the team that achieved this award by creating a lasting, valuable public asset for the region and community.”
“Kiewit is proud to be the design-build contractor for Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension, a project that showcases innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Strong partnerships, particularly with the community, are essential to our success,” said Kiewit Corporation Executive Vice President Doug Glaser. “We would not be able to accomplish what we did without the remarkable people we had on the team, including the 400 local union tradespeople and the 200 subcontractors and suppliers who came together with our construction and engineering staff to achieve a common goal.”
“We are honored to present the Envision Platinum award to the Federal Way Link Extension project, recognizing its outstanding commitment to sustainability, equity, and resilience,” said Kristi Wamstad, ISI’s Verification Director. “This achievement underscores the project team’s dedication to creating a transit system that prioritizes environmental stewardship and social equity while meeting the needs of the community.”
The project in brief
FWLE expands regional light rail south from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) to Des Moines, Kent and Federal Way in King County, Washington. The route follows Interstate Freeway 5, from Angle Lake Station in the city of SeaTac, terminating at a new station — Federal Way Downtown (FWDS). Studies along the project corridor established the need for reliable, efficient peak and off-peak transit service to connect with the region’s growth centers. The corridor also has a high concentration of transit-dependent populations who need efficient and reliable regional transit connectivity, which FWLE directly addresses.
The line will include at-grade, retained fill, retained cut, and elevated structure guideway types. Construction of interim stations will be necessary, for continuity of service, at Kent/Des Moines, just south of the existing Angle Lake Station, and at South 272nd Street located to the north of FWDS. In addition, a maintenance facility will be constructed adjacent to FWDS to be used for vehicle inspection and interior cleaning. Parking, bus stops, and bike lockers and racks will be provided at the stations and other locations, further contributing to the project’s role in expanding mobility and improving connections to the regional multimodal transportation system. FWLE is forecast to be completed in 2026 and to raise ridership to approximately 29,000 – 34,000 daily riders.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION: Los Angeles River Way, San Fernando Valley Completion Project (Vanalden to Balboa)
7-November-2023
A transformational bicycle path and greenway project along the L.A. River corridor has earned an Envision Gold award from ISI: the Los Angeles River Way, San Fernando Valley Completion (Vanalden to Balboa) Project.
Read the project profile to learn about this project’s sustainability achievements, including ones related to quality of life and mobility, responding to habitat fragmentation, preparing for long-term adaptability, and improving infrastructure integration.
The project was featured by Andrew Nickerson, Vice President and Principal at Psomas, in the session “Head of the Class: Three Trailblazing Sustainability Projects, on Day 2 of ISI’s Virtual Conference (November 8, 2023). This session will be available as a recording in your ISI member account.
ENERGY PROJECT: Bear Creek Solar
23-August-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.
PORT INFRASTRUCTURE: Fairview Cove MCEF
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.
WASTE PROJECT: BioPiattaforma di Sesto San Giovanni
28-June-2023
An innovative waste-to-energy plant in the Milan-area municipality of Sesto San Giovanni is the latest project to be awarded Envision Platinum in Italy, through ISI’s Italian partner ICMQ. With two production lines that combine waste treatment and water purification, the BioPiattaforma plant establishes a more sustainable, environmentally friendly process based on circular economy principles and the goal of regional self-sufficiency in waste management.
ROADS & HIGHWAYS PROJECT: Caltrans U.S. 101 Project
18-May-2023
The Caltrans U.S. 101 Project has become the first Envision-rated project to successfully complete the post-construction review stage of Envision verification. Retaining its Envision Silver Level awarded in 2021, the Caltrans U.S. 101 Project creates 22 miles of express lanes from the San Mateo County/Santa Clara County line to I-380 in South San Francisco. The project improves traffic conditions and travel times for motorists along the major commute route between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, advances air quality and quality of life goals and delivers a sustainable and efficient transportation network.
Post-construction review is the final Envision verification stage to confirm that commitments (i.e., pending credits) submitted during design were carried out successfully through construction to maintain the Envision Award.
QUOTES:
“Caltrans is committed to the four P’s – People, Programs & Projects, Partnerships, and Planet. We are proud to promote a sustainable method to construct 22 miles of express lanes in each direction on Highway 101 to reduce traffic congestion and encourage carpooling. We have also implemented a first-of-its-kind equity program which will serve historically underserved communities in San Mateo County,”
— Mohammad Suleiman, Caltrans Project Manager
“Retaining Envision Silver through this last stage of the third-party Envision verification process is truly an achievement that the project owner and project team should be proud of, as it affirms that commitments made during the initial design review were carried forward during the construction phase. With this milestone, it is worth celebrating the many sustainability achievements that have been demonstrated on this project.”
— Melissa Peneycad, ISI Managing Director
