It’s February already! This month is one of my favorite issues of the year because we put a spotlight on restoration, which often means adaptive reuse. Take, for example, our cover story. The transformation of the Connecticut State Office Building is not only ready for the next century with its upgrades, but it has the first new greenspace that Hartford’s historical district has seen in over 50 years! Read more on page 9.
Anastasia Barnes
This issue marks our second annual focus on Cannabis Facilities. Cannabis is a market we’ve seen really grow over the past couple of years, no pun intended! Peter Dougherty of Orion Partners and Shawn Cooney of CloudFarming have written a piece to kick off this section, discussing the NCIA’s mission for its members in 2021. Flip to page 18 to learn more.
The Providence Preservation Society sent us its 2021 Most Endangered Properties List. Fun fact! In the 1930s, my great grandfather, Arthur Corgino, and his three brothers leased space for their hair salon on the fourth floor of the Industrial Trust Building, which is now on the top of that list. See the full article on page 16.
The Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Greenprint Center for Building Performance recently published a report which identifies the top ten sustainability issues that the industry will be facing over the next year. Tenants driving sustainability innovation is on that list. I wasn’t sure what that meant so a quick google search brought me to a 24-page public document published by the EPA that identifies different companies that are collaborating with their tenants on improving energy efficiency in buildings. A good example of this is One Beacon Street in Boston, where the electricity is sub-metered and the tenant only pays for electricity use within their space. According to the report, although the participants were motivated by the potential savings, they were primarily driven by their corporate missions and personal beliefs in supporting conservation efficiency and sustainability. Check out page 14 to read more about One Beacon Street’s recent renovation, and page 37 to read the ULI report.
Are you ready for our next issue? March is our annual Education focus, which also includes our annual Women In Construction supplement! March will also include a special focus on the North Atlantic region of the Society of College and University Planning. It’s always a popular issue, so make sure to send us your news!
Enjoy this short month, and as always, enjoy the read!
Anastasia Barnes
