Keynotes
Harmonizing Life, Not Compromising – Regenerating Ecosystems and The Human Spirit 1.5 GBCI CE
CLOSING: April 13, 2 – 3:30
RTD FasTracks: Reshaping a Region 1.5 GBCI CE Harmonizing Life, Not Compromising – Regenerating Ecosystems and The Human Spirit Bill Reed, Integrative Design Collaborative
“Sustainability is ultimately about sustaining all life. The current trend of making products and processes more efficient is
simply the beginning point for achieving this goal. In order to truly achieve sustainability, we will need to redevelop a conscious understanding of the life-giving processes that shape the places we live in order to reintegrate our buildings–and our communities–with life on Earth.
The process of creating our shelter, along with producing food, has tremendous impact on planetary health. The corollary is also true; the act of building and agriculture can become healing and restorative processes. By shifting the role of humans to participating with nature as co-equals and, even, ‘tending the wild,’ we move from being occupants of the land to becoming inhabitants again.
The real meaning of development is to ‘create new potential.’ With this perspective we have seen entire ecosystems and communities begin healing the damage within 18 months. Learning how to sustain our communities can be a re-membering and rebirth of consciousness. This presentation introduces the practical concepts of integrating our technical perspectives with the living systems that support life on Earth. This is not as hard as it may seem; but it is a real change in the way we think.”
About Bill Reed:An internationally recognized proponent of sustainability, Bill is president of the Integrative Design Collaborative – a consulting organization working to evolve green building design into an approach that is fully integrated with living systems. His objective is to improve the overall quality of the physical, social and spiritual life of our living places. Bill served as co-chair of the LEED Technical Committee from 1994 through 2003; is a member of the LEED Advanced faculty; and a founding Board Member of the US Green Building Council. He currently serves on the Board of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and on the board of CitiLog. Bill is a consultant, design process facilitator, and lecturer. He has participated in over 200 presentations and workshops relating to Sustainable and Regenerative Design. He has consulted on dozens of LEED projects – achieving many certifications – Certified to Platinum.
RTD FasTracks: Reshaping a Region Steven Chester, City Planner, City and County of Denver Patrick McLaughlin, TOD Associate, RTD George Thorn, President and Founder, Mile High Development Peter Kudla, CEO and Founder, Metropolitan Home Steven E. Cook, Broadway Real Estate, LLC
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) can have quantifiable benefits to your residents and project’s bottom line. RTD’s Fastracks, with 119 miles of new tracks and 70 new transit stations will provide an unparalleled level of transit access for Metro Denver, reshaping growth patterns in the region.
The City and County of Denver and RTD have taken a significant leadership role in both the planning and implementation of TOD by focusing growth into neighborhoods and districts near transit stations. Steven Chester will briefly highlight TOD successes to date and future initiatives in planning. Patrick McLaughlin will discuss their new TOD and Joint Development Policy and exciting developments along transit corridors. Lastly, innovative LEED developers George Thron, Peter Kudla, and Steven Cook will share successes and lessons learned from recently completed and planned TOD and LEED projects, such as Yale Station Lofts, Vallagio at Inverness, and 2700 S. Broadway.
The panel will also describe quantifiable benefits from locating their projects in a station area. This session will go beyond an explanation of TOD and focus on implementation and the quantifiable outcomes and premiums that a project can expect from taking advantage of the regions remarkable transit investment.
About the Panel:Steven Chester is a City Planner with the Department of Community Planning and Development with the City and County of Denver. Steven’s expertise is in transit oriented development and station area planning and implementation. Prior to working with the City and County of Denver, Steven worked with the TOD Group at RTD.
Patrick McLaughlin is RTD’s Transit-Oriented Development Associate serving as a liaison with the development community, local jurisdictions, and other stakeholders on TOD. Patrick helped establish the TOD Pilot Program which leverages RTD’s assets to develop transit-oriented communities. He also revised RTD’s Strategic Plan for TOD to promote more livable communities and mixed-income housing near transit stations.
George Thorn is the President and Founder of Mile High Development. Mr. Thorn began his real estate career in 1970 with Grubb & Ellis in San Francisco. In 1977, Mr. Thorn founded Victorio Realty Group, which evolved into Mile High Development LLC, developer of Colorado Center, a major mixed-use project in central Denver. Mile High Development focuses on mixed-use development at existing or proposed light rail stations.
Peter Kudla is founder and CEO, Metropolitan Homes, and was first introduced to the housing industry as one of the youngest directors of housing at Boston University, where he operated the housing program for the 1976 Summer Pre-Olympics. There he learned firsthand the lessons and rewards of artfully developing and managing residential environments designed to express the best in human potential. Prior to founding Metropolitan Homes, Mr. Kudla was Vice President at MDC Holdings.
Steven E. Cook is a real estate professional and lawyer. Mr. Cook is a partner in Broadway Real Estate, LLC with his father, Jon C. Cook and his sister, Dominique G. Cook, Esq. The family business develops and invests in commercial real estate in the Denver area. Broadway Real Estate is currently focusing on a 15 acre TOD site at the Evans Light Rail Station. Steven and Dominique also own and manage their own law firm, Cook & Cook P.C.
