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The following is a summary of the AIA AAJ Sustainability Workshop that was held the Saturday after the National AIA AAJ conference in Los Angeles. Julia Hughes has submitted detailed notes to the participants. This summary is meant to inform the AAJ community at large of the dialogue that occurred at the workshop.

Towards a Sustainability Rating System for Justice

AIA AAJ Sustainability Workshop: November 5, 2011

The Saturday sustainability workshop was attended by about 25 participants. There were many new people in attendance beyond those comprising the committee, including two client representatives. After a brief introduction by each participant, we broke into focus groups to strategize the following identified committee projects:

1. Outreach and Momentum
2. Client Education Strategies
3. LEED Justice Criteria

1. Outreach/Mobilization

Mission: Reach out to political and industry groups to build coalition and to spread our sustainable justice practices in order to grow the movement.

Outcomes: Revisit the previously published Green Guide to Justice and add any updates, appendices, etc., to ensure the document reflects the most current thought.

Engage cities and counties, including the National Council of Mayors and the National Association of Counties, to encourage inclusion of sustainability guidelines on their justice projects. Engage industry and community groups including: AJA, NIC, ACA, NCSC, NACM, FBOP, AICP, NPJS, CJCA, CGL, and alternatives to incarcerations community groups.

Team Leaders: Ken Ricci (chair), Julia Hughes (vice-chair)

2. Client Education:

Mission: Develop a strategy for educating our clients about sustainable justice practices.

Outcome: Develop a primer (video, pamphlet, and/or booklet) illustrating principles and precedents that can be used as a guide for client education. This primer would be straightforward with graphic representations of key concepts with examples. The product should include outcomes and benefits illustrating value vs. cost, and should be content-specific and pragmatic. It should offer a 20-year life-cycle perspective, examples, and lessons learned.

The four proposed chapters include:

1. Life-cycle budget
2. Case studies and precedents
3. Planning and needs assessment process
4. Lessons learned

We will identify client and community advocates that can assist us in finding the right words in order to more clearly communicate these ideas with clients and community groups, and bridge the jargon gap. Community groups suggested included SEED: Social, Economic, Environmental Design and Association for Community Design (ACD).

Team Leaders: Melissa Farling (chair), Lorenzo Lopez (vice-chair)

3. LEED Justice Criteria

Mission:  To integrate justice specific criteria into the LEED rating system that address the complexities of sustainability in justice facilities.

Recap: Raphael Sperry began by giving an update regarding the USGBC. The USGBC is currently in the process of redesigning their credit system. He felt that the committee would be less susceptible to creating a justice point system overlay, as originally planned by the AAJ Sustainability Group, because it opened the process up to having overlays for all complex building project types.

USGBC is in the process, however, of developing pilot credits—similar to innovation credits—which would enable our group to propose credits that relate to justice projects. Projects would get full credit for attempting these measures and reporting back on their success. Projects that apply for these pilot credits are reviewed for compliance by the individuals who developed the credits which would allow a committee from the AAJ Sustainability Group to review project applications.

Outcome: Rather than creating pilot credits that are unique to justice projects, we could propose new overall categories that could apply to all building types. We could then suggest best practices that are justice-related as a means to achieve those credits, as well as standards, references, and a compendium of examples. The advantage of this method is that the USGBC may be more susceptible to this idea since the application would reach across market sectors.

The pilot credits we identified were:

• Human environment
• Space utilization/efficiency metrics
• Right-sizing the need
• Operations enhancements
• Community: amenity and accountability

Deadline: Since the AIA convention will be in Washington, DC next year, we have set May as the deadline to further define our suggested pilot credits so we can present to the USGBC at that time for their feedback.

Team Leaders: Beverly Prior (chair), Larry Hartman (vice-chair)

Feedback on workshop:

There was discussion about creating a brand for the Sustainable Justice Committee to help develop identity. Perhaps this could include a business card identifying the key principles of the movement and contact information.

Positives:

• Half of the group is new
• Owner representative involvement
• Website notification
• Breakout groups worked
• AECOM space was convenient and accommodating
• The workshop had high visibility in the conference materials
• New ideas were produced
• People enjoyed the casual atmosphere from doing this on a Saturday

Possible changes:

• Pre-advertise history and intent of group
• Share overview at beginning
• Committee chairs could be better prepared
• Proactive owner outreach for participation
• Should there be more or less structure?
• Should it be done at the hotel?
• Integrate into the conference more—connect to the conference sustainability presentation?; have as a general session on Friday afternoon?
• Have an agenda
• Virtual Go To Meeting (especially since next year’s conference may be in Canada)