Feature image: The SITES-certified Phipps Conservatory. Photo credit: Paul G. Wiegman.
SITES supports landscape architects, planners and others in implementing nature-based solutions. Certified projects enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate change, while conserving resources, improving public health and protecting critical ecosystems.
The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, taking place Nov. 12–15 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers many opportunities to explore strategies in sustainable sites. Take a look at a small sample below of opportunities to engage in learning about sustainable sites, and explore the full Greenbuild education program when you register to attend. You can sort by track, topic, learning level and more.
Greenbuild tour
LEED and SITES Seamlessly Connect Penn Campus and Philadelphia
Monday, Nov. 11, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Vagelos Laboratory for Energy and Science (VLEST) will be a transformational space for energy research and is aiming for LEED Platinum certification. This tour will guide attendees through indoor social spaces and outdoor public areas while discussing achievements in energy efficiency, low-carbon and healthy materials, connectivity to Penn’s campus, and sustainable open space design (including the adjacent Shoemaker Green, a 2012 SITES pilot project monitored for environmental performance for over three years). The site also neighbors two of the university's most iconic athletic facilities, the Palestra and Franklin Field, and serves as the "front door" to these historic structures. Attendees will walk the site to experience the project spaces and learn about the constructability of components and infrastructure systems.
Regenerative Ecosystems Summit
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Greenbuild is launching five all-new, in-person summits in 2024. Each summit includes a keynote, a full day of sessions specifically designed for each topic and opportunities to network. Summits are available only to attendees with a Conference or Student pass.
When we think about conserving and restoring nature, we don’t usually prioritize the built environment. Yet at this critical global juncture of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change, the buildings industry must be open to integrated approaches to ecological conservation and restoration with decarbonization. Nature and communities should coexist harmoniously and regeneratively in the spaces where we live, work and play. This summit will explore the emerging trends and best practices that leverage buildings and sites as catalysts for supporting biodiversity and energy efficiency and reducing overall environmental impact. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals passionate about integrating nature-based solutions into the built environment.
Resilient Places Summit
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Catastrophic storms, severe wildfires and the hottest temperatures on record: Climate resilience has become a mainstream concern, underscoring the urgency with which buildings and communities must adapt to support human health and safety in new ways. This summit fosters resilience at the intersection of spaces and communities, exploring innovative solutions and partnerships and the critical role buildings play in safeguarding vulnerable populations facing escalating environmental challenges. Attendees will be empowered to create resilient, adaptable and inclusive places that mitigate and respond to inevitable climate impacts.
Education sessions
Applying Nature-Based Solutions and SITES for Water Resilience
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
In addressing climate change and other issues, we have an opportunity to invest in nature-based solutions and landscape-led interventions. This session will focus on water resilience in two distinct contexts. A discussion of a hospitality project on the Alabama coast will include insights, lessons learned and information on how the project team used the SITES rating system in combination with LEED to achieve sustainability and resilience goals while preparing the site for hurricanes and storm surges. The team for the second project—a park within a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, university campus—will discuss how issues including poor soil conditions and combined sewer overflows were addressed. Diverse perspectives will be shared, with speakers including a civil engineer, a landscape architect and a sustainability consultant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water will also share a unique perspective, describing how it is addressing the use of nature-based solutions to promote resilience and environmental justice.
From China to Texas: Advancing Regenerative Design with High-Performance Landscapes
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1:30– 2:30 p.m.
Just like LEED transformed the built environment and the building market, SITES is doing the same for the landscapes and open spaces of the world we live in. This session provides diverse yet aligned perspectives on design strategies and performance-based metrics that address the biodiversity crisis, promote regenerative design, and increase our collective knowledge of nature-based solutions. Learn about SITES projects located in different climates, biomes, contexts and cultures that achieved multiple project goals by prioritizing the site and landscapes (and the surrounding community) from the outset and throughout the development process.
Ecological Performance at the Border: Green Infrastructure in Arid Climates
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2:45–3:45 p.m.
A changing climate is an adaptation and risk management issue, especially in how increased fires, floods, droughts and extreme temperatures are impacting human health and our built environment. As an agency of the U.S. government, the General Services Administration (GSA) was founded to help manage and support federal property and provide contracting options. Join this session to learn more about the GSA’s long history of implementing sustainability strategies at scale, including one case study in the southwestern desert that leveraged SITES as a tool to implement regenerative design and nature-based solutions like green stormwater infrastructure to protect and restore ecosystem health, conserve critical resources, enhance habitat, and foster resilience.
Beyond the Building: Considering the Biogenic Carbon of Sites
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
As development projects strive to reach their carbon goals, it's necessary to incorporate the missing link—landscapes. This session dives into the complexity of biogenic carbon conventions, and what is often overlooked: the landscapes where biogenic products are sourced and the projects' sites. This session explores the nuances within the sustainably certified silvicultural practices.
A Regenerative Approach to Nature-Based Solutions
Thursday, Nov. 14, 1:45–2:45 p.m.
The Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is cited as one of the greenest buildings in the world, with LEED, WELL and SITES Platinum certifications, as well as the AIA COTE 10 Award and other certifications. Approaching the project through a regenerative lens and aligning the team around connections to nature was key in helping the 24,000 square foot building attain these certifications. Session leaders will describe how this regenerative approach across disciplines and rating systems impacted the design process, including from the varied perspectives of the project owner, the landscape architect and the biophilia consultant. In addition to lessons learned and a recap of project performance, the session will contain activities and resources for participants to gain insight into regenerative approaches.