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NEW SOM BUILDING UPDATE FROM THE DEAN

Filed under SOM MBA Office
Posted by , December 01, 2005
View all posts for December 2005

Update on the New SOM Building: Leadership in “green” building design

I am delighted to let you know that we have decided to seek Silver-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS) Certification for the new SOM building. We are committed to making the new building as “green” as possible within the constraints of our budget and the preexisting conditions of the site. LEED certification is sponsored by the Green Building Council. LEED certification is a widely used and respected framework for assessing how well buildings have attained sustainability goals in areas such as site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. While we can certainly design a green building, the LEED Certification provides tangible proof that the green design is indeed yielding the intended results. It also provides a “stamp” of excellence to communicate leadership in sustainable building design. Attaining LEEDS Silver-level is an elite certification. Currently, only 15 buildings are LEEDS certified in MA and only 5 are certified at the Silver level or above. Harvard and Mount Holyoke are the only institutions of higher education that have LEED certified buildings.

I believe strongly that LEED Silver-level Certification is critical for reflecting the values of the SOM and enhancing its branding. The SOM is dedicated to educating women as principled leaders who achieve great results, build enduring and ethical organizations, and make positive contributions to the communities and societies in which they work. Given this mission, it is imperative that the SOM “walks the talk” and explicitly incorporates sustainability concerns into the design of the new building. Corporate America is beginning to pursue seriously the alignment of profitability and social responsibility. The SOM cannot be behind the curve on this issue. I hope that you will agree with me that this is an important milestone in the design of the new building.

Alumnae and students on the Advisory Committee for the new building have enthusiastically endorsed this decision. I want to share some of their perspectives.

Lora Nielsen, ’04: … I want to commend Simmons for making this decision. From my previous work at the Harvard Design School, as well as serving on other building projects, I have seen the ultimate results of choosing to build green. Invariably, the greater upfront costs are recouped via decreased operating costs, often within less time than anticipated (typically 3-4 years.) As I understand it, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems require more innovative solutions, but that is where the greatest benefit is reaped. Of course there are many less tangible benefits as others respond to this forward thinking decision. This is sure to strengthen the attraction for both prospective students and alumnae, which will ultimately translate to more dollars for the school. I am also very proud of the standing this will give us in the larger community - corporate, academic, and otherwise. It is terrific that Simmons was bold enough to make this decision. We are sure to get all the financial benefits, in addition to knowing that we are simply doing the right thing to support current global conditions. It’s great to be part of the solution.

Carole Seigal ’80: This is terrific! I believe a commitment to ‘green’ is an investment that will pay off on many different levels. Good work.

Christina Martin, MBA student ’06: This is tremendous news. I am thrilled and I am sure my classmates will be as well. I’m sure there was pressure to do things differently for financial reasons, but this is the right thing to do. I’m so proud of Simmons!