Publisher’s Message: September 2022

Warner Larson Landscape Architects recently completed work at Smith Elementary School in Danvers, Mass., which includes an outdoor terrace, playground, and gathering spaces. / Photo by Ed Wonsek

This month marks a significant milestone in High-Profile’s history. We are turning a quarter of a century old – 25 never looked so good! HP was born in September of 1997 in a little yellow house on Route 27 in Pembroke, Mass. The house isn’t so little anymore; my folks built an addition sometime in the mid 2000s and that became the real office. HP’s 25th Anniversary edition will be published in December. This special issue is an opportunity to share news of your own firm’s anniversary, or the ways in which your company or organization has grown or evolved over the years. The cities and towns where we build have also evolved in the last 25 years. We also invite you to contribute your insights on the evolution/growth of those cities, or of the industry as a whole.

Anastasia Barnes

We are thrilled to share over 20 pages of content on education projects in this edition! Wow! The environmentalist in me is excited that there are two different projects highlighted that have been designed with Living Building Challenge (LBC) goals or principles in mind: the Putney School in Vermont (pg. 14) and the Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School in Massachusetts (pg. 15). The LBC is an international sustainable building certification program that was created in 2006 by the nonprofit International Living Future Institute (ILFI). According to ILFI, the LBC is not just a certification. It’s also a philosophy and advocacy tool for projects to move beyond merely being “less bad” and become truly regenerative. If you’ve not heard of the Living Building Challenge or ILFI, I encourage you to learn more by visiting living-future.org.

We’re featuring the Vermont chapter of the Associated General Contractors in this edition, with an intro from the chapter’s executive vice president, Richard Wobby (pg. 34). You’ll also get to know some of the association’s members and their projects. Some of you may know that I live part-time in Vermont, and I wanted to highlight some exciting and innovative work happening in this part of New England! Keep your eyes open for more Vermont-related design/build news in the future.

In October, we will have a focus on corporate work and interiors. We’ll be covering the IIDA New England awards, as well! The issue will also include a spotlight on J.E.D.I. in the AEC industry and what companies and organizations are doing to further justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in their workplaces and communities. We encourage you to contribute your news and perspectives! By sharing the successes and challenges companies are encountering, we hope to provoke discussions on this important topic, and encourage idea sharing and collaboration among professionals in our field.

I’ll be attending the CRETECH conference in New York City on Oct. 12-13, which brings the real estate industry together to network and learn about how innovation and technology are transforming the built world. If you’re planning on going, ping me so we can meet up!

Here’s to the fall!

Anastasia Barnes

Read HP’s September 2022 issue now!