Introductory Comments for Philadelphia University
Introduced by Muscoe Martin, AIA (M2 Architecture representing AIA Philadelphia)
Take a look around you, folks. Sustainability has become hip!.... In my corner of this green world, Sustainable Architecture, there are conferences everywhere, building product manufacturers are all touting the green features of their materials, and there seems to be a new article on green building appearing on line every hour.
Last week I gave a lecture at a University titled “Green is the New Black.” One of my central points was, that while we should be grateful for this attention, and take advantage of it to implement the positive change we’ve heard about tonight, we must be careful to avoid the hype and focus on results. The winner of the next category of tonight’s awards demonstrates a hype-free, hard-nosed approach to both education and cutting-edge research.
In 2000, two entrepreneurial professors decided that green products, systems and design strategies were not only the right thing to teach their students, but also offered substantial business and economic development opportunities. Leveraging funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Ben Franklin Technology Partnership, and other sponsors, this group has grown from an oddball partnership of two university departments – Engineering and Architecture – into an important force in our region’s emergence as a leader in green building and sustainable initiatives.
These folks helped to found the Delaware Valley Green Building Council in 2001. In 2003, they founded the Consortium for Sustainable Design and Research, a group that includes Temple and Villanova Universities, the Ben Franklin Partnership and DVGBC. Last year they helped form the Pennsylvania Green Growth Partnership, which includes Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh and Penn State. These partnerships have all paid green dividends to our region by promoting the emerging market sectors and business opportunities presented by sustainability.
A cornerstone to all of these accomplishments has been their research on creative and innovative products and their educational programs to assist young companies – and young people - in their own drive towards becoming greener and more profitable. It is my honor to present the next Philadelphia Sustainability Award to the Engineering and Design Institute of Philadelphia University.