Hello, Hola, 嗨!
Welcome to GREEN TEAM Asia Pacific! We are a small but diverse group hailing from Spain, the United States, and Singapore! Paula, Jennifer, Larissa, and Joyce comprise our dedicated team working to educate, encourage, and implement sustainable practices throughout HOK. We’re participating in the firm-wide sustainable road map by incorporating “green” into our daily routines.
We have recently commenced weekly LEED study sessions to help our colleagues prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam. We’ve equipped our office with all of the proper resources including LEED reference guides and practice exams to maximize our learning potential!
We’ve also made an effort to stock our kitchen with recycled paper and corn products as well as eliminating all …
Mary Ann Lazarus snapped this shot on her iPhone at the AIA’s National Convention in Miami last week. Pictured are Bill Odell (HOK St. Louis), Colin Rohlfing (HOK Chicago) and Wyatt Frantom (HOK Houston) who, on behalf of the hundreds of HOKers who worked on this amazing project, accepted the AIA Committee on the Environment’s “Top 10 Green Projects” award for the design of the LEED Platinum-certified King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Here’s the KAUST case study on the AIA’s site.
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Just as the number of conversations about sustainability has risen, the sophistication of how we talk about sustainability has, as well.
I recently came across a new report from Greener Buildings on the “green” impact of LEED that had some really fun examples.
As advancers of sustainability in the built environment, we’re excited when we are able to move forward on a commission that seeks to further our sustainable mission. We’re ecstatic when those plans could help set a precedent for the federal government in the modernization of their building portfolio.
Cue the Excitement
On February 18, the GSA presented Mortenson Construction with a signed solicitation offer and award document for the Design/Build Modernization of the Byron G. Rogers Federal Office Building. A pursuit that began in August, six months prior to the award, it involved two phases – Phase I to show our qualifications and Phase II to present our design …
I reported back in March 2009 that our London staff have moved to a new location in the heart of Fitzrovia. Well now I am now very excited to report that HOK’s London office is now officially the 16th HOK office to become LEED Certified. HOK’s London office has been awarded a Gold certification – a first for a UK commercial interior project.
Shashi Narayanan, Head of Sustainable Architecture in the London office (and whom I’m lucky enough to sit next to!) said, “the design team were set the challenge of achieving a high LEED rating within normal budgetary constraints for a commercial office interior. An examination of recycled content of …
HOUSTON, TEXAS – The Green Workplace Booksigning Tour made its long awaited stop in the Lone Star State, after multiple stops in St. Louis, NY, WDC and Chicago. HOK along with Hines and Knoll sponsored the one night booksigning event which proved to be a lively yet intimate green evening. The event took place Wednesday, February 17, 2010, in the KNOLL showroom and in the lobby of the recently certified LEED Gold Williams Tower.
Leigh Stringer from Advance Strategies Washington DC, was the special guest to present findings and sign her book, The Green Workplace: Sustainable Strategies that Benefit Employees, the Environment and …
I found this article/slide show very interesting and wanted to share.
I’m not saying I agree with the statement that a “passivhaus is the real standard for a real green house”, BUT there are some great solutions.
What do you think?
Always a leader in sustainable design, today HOK announced development of a new green building rating system (look out USGBC!): Checklist for Gingerbread Green Homes (CGGH).
Developed by an interdisciplinary team of HOK’s finest (John Cantrell, Weronika Cichosz, JoAnn Brookes, Lori Selcer, and Julian Tablada), CGGH helps gingerbread artists create the greenest ginger-person homes. This effort was inspired by Toronto’s LEED Platinum house developed for Habitat for Humanity last year (featured on Treehugger, Inhabitat, and Notcot).
Toronto’s delicious creation followed green building principles found in the USGBC’s LEED rating system. HOK’s new CGGH takes green ginger construction a step further, examining the total process from ingredient …
If your holiday travel plans will take you through the city of Indianapolis, you’re in for an uncharacteristically uplifting experience. The Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport (the first from-the-ground-up terminal constructed in the U.S. since 9/11) is light, airy, dramatic, fun – and a showcase of sustainability.
During a recent visit to Indy, I brought along my camcorder and recorded some perspectives of the building and its occupants.
http://www.vimeo.com/7938311
If this is the future of air travel, I’m encouraged.
Not to be outdone by Chicago, HOK WDC hosted a book-launch party for our own Leigh Stringer and her fabulous book The Green Workplace on Tuesday, October 6.
The event was held on the green roof of 700 Sixth Street, one of DC’s first LEED C&S Platinum buildings (designed by HOK, of course). The building’s developer, Akridge, gracefully allowed HOK to use the roof deck (and downstairs lobby when the fall wind and a few sprinkles picked up), as well as providing tours of the space on the fourth floor (currently tracking LEED CI Gold!). Food was …
This week we received word that our 50th project received LEED certification, and what better way to celebrate than with a big ole pretzel from Gus’ Pretzel Shop, a south St. Louis tradition since 1920. HOK’s 50thproject to be certified was Herbalife at LA Live, which earned the LEED-CI Certified rating. This makes the 15th project this year alone to receive certification (plus two BREAAM certified projects). And we now have 942 employees LEED accredited. Keep up the good work!
[Information and post content via Chris Trowbridge]
It may not be easy being green, but it sure as heck beats the alternative.
For the second consecutive year, HOK nabbed the top spot on ENR’s “2009 Top Green Design Firms” survey.
Published in the magazine’s July 6 issue, the ranking is based on 2008 revenue from projects seeking LEED, BREEAM or other environmental certification.
In the sector rankings, HOK emerged first in the “Education” sector; second in “Commercial Offices;” second in “Sports, Entertainment & Civic” and third in “Government Offices.”
Regrettably omitted from the magazine’s coverage were rankings of the most innovative, creative and downright zany …
A couple of weeks ago, as I was prepping myself for taking the LEED exam, one of our sustainable knowledge gurus, Seth Teel, opened me up to a new resource for studying: LEEDvisual.com.
Yes, I still had to use the reference guide and the USGBC Colorado Chapter’s Study Guide and Practice Exam, but this new resource is great for people who think in more visual terms. The producer of the content is unknown and the site could use a little TLC (gramatically and layout-wise), but nonetheless, a good resource. I’m not going to give it all the credit for helping me pass the test, but it’s definitely one of the …
“Right now is a great time to be entering the design profession because we are going through another revolution,” says HOK Sustainable Design Director Mary Ann Lazarus, AIA. ”We need to include young voices in the mix…we need to have our assumptions challenged.”
Greening a building is hard. Greening an entire organization is even harder. At last count, HOK had more than 900 LEED accredited professionals and 39 LEED certified projects (with 150+ pending). Those results don’t come from spreading magical green pixie dust across the firm. They come from blood, sweat, tears and an unwavering commitment to sustainable design. One of HOK’s earliest and hardest-working green pioneers has been Mary Ann Lazarus, who literally, along with Bill Odell and Sandra Mendler, wrote the book …
On March 30, Natalia Lombardi and I had the pleasure of representing HOK New York at NJIT’s Women Taking the LEED Panel Discussion. Hosted by the student chapters of NOMA and USGBC at NJIT, the panel focused on highlighting the role of women in the sustainability movement.
Women Taking the LEED Panelists (left to right):
Hillary Brown, FAIA – New Civic Works, Founding Principal
Christine Brunicati, R.A. – NJIT, Center for Architecture and Building Science Research
Kimberly Dowdell, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, LEED AP – HOK New York
Natalia Lombardi, AIA, LEED AP – HOK New York, Senior Associate
Margaret E. Seip, AICP/PP – Community Planner in New Jersey
The audience of over 30 students and staff members appeared engaged throughout …
You know you’ve been anxiously awaiting our second installment of 5 Questions for HOKers. Today’s feature is Esther Simon, the one and only prickly pear of HOK.
Q: Tell us about your background.
A: I came to the United States from Israel about 30 years ago. I have a great desire to be part of a larger community – I think this desire was formed in Israel, where there was a great sense of community due in part
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HOK Atlanta has had an interesting past few weeks. They have been rough weeks but ones we are putting behind us because there is excitement in the air. Our office is getting in order for its professional photoshoot and awaits the news for LEED Certification. We are all waiting anxiously for the the unveiling of the most important building to break ground in Atlanta in the last two decades. For those of you who don’t know, HOK teamed up with head designer Phil Freelon in a design competition for a new Center for Civil and Human Rights in the Heart of downtown. Five finalists were chosen and the decision …
Dear Jon and Kate,
I am a big fan of the show and quite honestly, when I was ill, your show helped me on my way to recovery. I am writing you today in response to Episode 67, ‘More Viewer FAQ,’ and your statement about your wish to relocate and build your dream home. Although I know you have your hands full with your daily lives, I hope when you do decide to build your new home you take the time to create not only a warm and inviting home for you and your family, but also a healthy home as well.
I like to believe you’re the
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800. What does that number mean to you? It could be the amount of money you spent on an item. It could be the number of times somebody drove you nuts.
Or, it could be the number of LEED Accredited Professionals in HOK. That’s right. 800!
Less than a year ago, we were still in the 500s. Mere months ago we were still in the 600s. In the last month and a half we added more than 100 new LEED APs.
If you are one of these people, or if you are already LEED Accredited, congratulations! I’m scheduling myself to take the test in January, before the LEED 2009 test shows up and is …
This recently released green building impact report gives a little heft to the LEED rating system and its effects on the built environment. There is a lot of criticism that LEED doesn’t go far enough (and how great is it that LEED and the USGBC have made us literate enough in sustainable building that we can criticize!) and that it is insufficient to meet today’s significant environmental challenges.
For those critics out there, the ones who ridicule the bike rack and shower credit, I say take this:
- Nearly 400 million vehicle miles traveled have been avoided by the occupants of LEED buildings, thanks to efficient locations and the myriad of alternative transportation
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Chelsea Cheng (HOK NY Interiors) recently came back from her hometown, Hong Kong, and shared an interesting story on the visit.
“During my visit in Hong Kong, I was given a chance to visit the Hong Kong HOK office. The office is located in Mid Level, Central, where you can take the escalator up the hill or take a few moments to walk up one of the few dated stone paths. Because of where the office is situated, it overlooks the city (Hong Kong Island) and the famous Victoria Harbour. I was stunned by the endless view when I walked into the reception. After admiring the view for a brief moment, I
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I think the fundamental point of LEED is often missed. I just attended a ‘hidden risks of green buildings’ seminar that showed numerous examples of building failures due to inadequate protection from moisture in buildings – a problem that I would point out is common in green and brown buildings alike.
LEED cannot take the place of building codes, client wishes and GOOD DESIGN. Newsweek recently ran an article about ‘ugly’ green buildings. There are many ugly buildings out there, both brown and green. I think LEED has become a scapegoat for problems that likely have more to do with a population mired in traditional perspectives of the workplace environment, the incompetance …
HOK has a policy to pay for all its design staff to take the LEED-AP exam. One of the things I most about this policy is that it extends to our summer interns and part time staff, though we know they they might not return to HOK when their formal education has been completed.
I like the thought that we plant the seed and hope that it grows, no matter where that person goes to work — the fact that we’re changing the profession one student, one professional, one human at a time. As part of HOK’s support for sustainable design education, I happen to teach firmwide web conferences around the LEED rating system and the design strategies behind it. Many …
