Net Positive Symposium at the R.W. Kern Center 2019

Campus construction projects using healthier materials have become both leading-edge and attainable, as a growing data reservoir, increased market pressure and refined processes have slashed the required time and effort by two thirds. Along with fostering a brighter future for all, creating healthier buildings offers novel educational opportunities; a fresh, values-driven initiative that excites donors; and a framework to draw in and engage diverse constituencies.

We begin with the “why” of focusing on materials, including the ways healthier buildings underscore an institution’s social justice message, burnish school brand and reputation, provide more productive workplaces to work and reduce amortized building costs, including lowering remediation costs for renovations or at end of life.

The “how” of healthier materials examines pitching greener buildings to decision makers, maintaining healthy materials buy-in from owners and teams and shrinking the materials palette within and among projects (including how this is beneficial and how to do it). An overview of making the best material choices presents simple strategies for incorporating healthier building materials, explores top product categories for the largest impact, identifies specific healthy building products and where to find more, and explains reasons for using specs as the basis for a transition to healthier materials.