Our Seven Year Milestone

NORTH ADAMS, MA—As anyone with a seven-year-old will tell you, that age is an important milestone. Integrated Eco Strategy, a North Adams-based consulting firm is now seven, and hitting many significant markers of its own

From Red List to READYLIST

Building Energy / Spring 2017 / Jonathan A. Wright “Fundamentally, the vetting process is a continuous, three-way collaboration between architect, construction manager and materials consultant. Early on, I asked Charley Stevenson of Integrated Eco Strategy, who would actually be accountable for securing materials documentation, and he said we would collaborate. Hmmm. Who, and how, exactly? The process evolved…

Water Conservation

Architectural Record / March 1, 2017 / Joann Gonchar Some regions seem especially receptive to the LBC and its water-conservation imperative. In Western Massachusetts, there are four completed projects pursuing certification or already certified: Smith College’s off-campus Bechtel Environmental Classroom, in West Whately; the Class of 1966 Environmental Center, at Williams College in Williamstown; and the Hitchcock Center…

Buildings Can Give More Than They Take

High-performance construction products manufacturer Prosoco, explains the significance of helping create a Living Building the R.W. Kern Center at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA. IES managed all imperatives of the Materials Petals for this building, which is open and currently in its performance period.

Kern wins 2017 COTE Top Ten Award

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) named the Kern Center at Hampshire College a winners of its Committee on the Environment (COTE) 2017 Top Ten Awards. This award honors buildings that “highlight projects that exemplify the integration of great design and great performance.” For this project 

College Center is as Green as a Building Can Be

Inhabitat / September 2, 2016 / Lacy Cooke According to Bruner/Cott, all the building materials are “Red List compliant” and they avoided products containing toxic chemicals. The building materials aren’t the only green aspects of the Kern Center. A rainwater harvesting system allows for net-zero water, and the roof is decked out with large solar…

Tour of Hampshire College’s ‘Living’ Building

MASS Live / April 15, 2016 / Dave Roback Hampshire designed the building with the goal of becoming only the ninth building worldwide certified under the most advanced green building standard, the Living Building Challenge (LBC). The standard aims to break society’s dependence on environmentally harmful practices, to protect not only the environment but also the…

Greener Than Green

Greener Than Green: The Class of 1966 Environmental Center is working to meet the Living Building Challenge / Williams Magazine / Summer 2015 “In fact, it’s possible Williams won’t meet the standards initially. “LBC is a learning process as much as it’s about living within our means,” says Mike Evans, assistant director of the Zilkha Center. “There are risks…