More Related Content
What's hot (18)
Similar to Network (20)
Network
- 1. SEPT2015 | THE NETWORK 9 I ve known Pliny Fisk and Gail Vittori, co-directors of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (The Center) in Austin, for nearly two decades. Theyd been pushing the envelope for sustainability in Central Texas and beyondand winningfor decades before I met them in 1999, and I headlined them in Natural Home as the Godparents of Green. That was no stretch. The Center was already known as the go-to incubator for the most progressive, holistic initiatives in this newly emerging thing called green building. Pliny and Gail had been causing serious commotion since 1975. This year The Centeran extraordinary think tank and sustainable living center where cutting-edge, even revolutionary, concepts are dreamed up and builtturns 40. The impact of those four decades is exponentially greater than fourscore. Im one among hundreds who can say that Pliny and Gails friendship and mentoring pushed me to uphold higher standards and think more widely throughout my career and my life. Imjoinedbytheinterns,staff,volunteersandvisitorswhofoundtheencouragement and mentoring at The Center to became visionary designers, educators, builders and businesspeople. Im joined by thought leaders, change-makers and influencers around the world who have worked with The Centerlike the people at Stratus Properties, which has developed prize-winning green developments with The Centers help, and the City of Austin, which worked with The Center to put the nations first green building program into place. Im joined by Marilu Hastings, vice president of the sustainability program for the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, who credits The Center as instrumental in the launch of the green building movement worldwide, and Lucia Athens, chief sustainability officer for the City of Austin, who sees The Center as a shining beacon of hope in a world that has gotten a bit lost along the way and forgotten, perhaps, that magic can happen. The list goes on and on, but the bottom line is that The Center has been pushing that magic spark forward every day for 40 years. Our neighborhoods, cities and planet are all better for it, and Pliny and Gail are heroes to many. Its time to partyand plan the next 40 years. On Thursday, November 6, and Friday, November 7, The Center will bring together leaders and visionaries from Central Texas and the world for conversations over cocktails and educational interaction. Thats two full-on days of serious commotion, in Austinand youre invited. The festivities will begin with a cocktail party at TRACE, the sleek restaurant that serves seasonal and craft cuisine at the W Austin (one of the projects that Stratus worked on with the Center). On Friday, The Center will host a symposium of thought-provoking leaders and visionaries in the green movementas only The Center can deliverfollowed by (you guessed it) another party. Guests are invited to raise a toast during happy hour and dance the night away to live music at The Centers demonstration site in east Austin on Friday night. Every dollar raised during the celebration will support The Centers internship and volunteer programs, demonstration projects and development of breakthrough protocols, policies and prototypes. Key sponsors such as Stratus Properties + ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin Energy Green Building, Integral Group and Foundation Communities are paving the way for 40 more years of serious commotion because they know thats what our world needs. You can, tooand you dont want to miss this! Join us in creating a clean, green future for all while having a whole lot of fun. Tickets and more information can be found at www.cmpbs40.org. (c) CMPBS Ifvotingcouldreallychangethings,itwouldbeillegal. Green Leaders Gather in Austin for Serious Commotion Dont Miss This Party! Main Building (courtesy of Paul Bardagjy) (c) CMPBS ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE robyn@robyngriggslawrence.com Robyn Griggs Lawrence is a critically acclaimed author and editor-at-large of the network. She is also on the board of directors of the CMPBS.