Earth Day is upon us, and it is time once again to give our support and attention to environmental protection. With that said, TerraMai will be launching a new sustainable product line of tropical hardwoods that could one day lead to the end of rainforest destruction. Stay tuned!
For me, Earth Day is a not only a time to celebrate this beautiful planet we all call home, it is a time to reflect, to ask ourselves “am I having a positive impact on our planet in my day-to-day life?”. For many in the architect & design community, their entire career is devoted to solving some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems. To them, every day is Earth Day. I reached out to some of these leaders in sustainable design to see if they have anything special planned for April 22nd. Maybe it will inspire you to get out there and make a difference in your community:
- Sandy Musante of L2P will be running the Clear Air Run (go Sandy!), dedicated to clean air and a celebration of Earth Day. L2P is dedicated to sustainability, and has completed almost half of all LEED-CI projects in Philadelphia.
- Miki Sullivan and SOM in San Francisco are dedicating an hour to turn off all lights in the office, and have an initiative to use less PVC in their projects. SOM recently won the prestigious 2019 Green Good Design Award for their Chengdu Tianfu International Airport City Master Plan
- Jean Hansen from HDR in San Francisco will be in DC, working with the AIA to drive a conversation on healthy and sustainable materials. Back at the office, Ruth Abbe (zero waste engineer & expert) will be doing a lunch and learn on recycling/compost best practices in the workplace. HDR is engaged in numerous sustainability partnerships & commitments, including the Architecture 2030 Challenge.
- Jill Hintze and Hager Design International have the day off in observance of Earth Day, which will save electricity and gas, and will be attending an Earth Day event in Vancouver BC. Jill sees a big area for improvement in the use of re-used products in interior design, saying finishes have come a long way but finding things like re-upholstered furniture is rare.
- Dan Heinfeld and LPA will be having an all-hands meeting to discuss their recent 2030 Challenge results. LPA is committed to the Architecture 2030, who’s goal is to achieve a dramatic reduction in energy and greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment. LPA has one of the largest LEED Gold & Platinum project portfolios in the country.
- Kirsten Weeks and Arup in San Francisco have an entire week devoted to Earth Week celebrations. Events include: Earth Day trivia, energy use awareness, zero-waste day, Eat Vegan day, and wrapped up with a Vegan bake-off. Arup is currently developing the Sustainability Master Plan for the Mexico City New International Airport, aiming to become the first LEED Platinum-certified airport
- Natalie Engels and Gensler – San Jose will be participating in a beach cleanup in Santa Cruz. Gensler is on the cutting-edge of sustainable design, employing over 1,200 LEED accredited professionals and completing 700+ USBGC certified projects.
- Kate Stuart and GBD Architects have participated in the EcoChallenge, which offers challenges for various activities related to environmental awareness & improvement, as well as a Spring Cleaning / recycling event with games & prizes. GBD’s work is largely confined to the Pacific Northwest, yet they have just completed their 50th LEED certified project.
Thanks to the above list, and to all of our customers for the work that they do to make the world a better place, for ourselves and future generations.
Happy Earth Day!
Photo by Brianna Santellan on Unsplash