Build Better Podcast Episode 11: Sam Batchelor and Jessica Schultz discuss the Hitchcock’s recent recognition of being the 23rd Living Building in the world

July 10, 2019

A living building is built to mimic natural processes with the intent of improving the surrounding environment. A building that achieves Living Certification must meet the performance requirements of seven “Petals” or categories: Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty.

In Episode #11 of the Build Better podcast, host Anastasia Barnes chats with Sam Batchelor of designLAB Architects and Jessica Schultz of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment to discuss the Hitchcock Center’s recent global recognition as the 23rd living building in the world and the 4th in Massachusetts. They detail how the Hitchcock Center achieved the certification and how they are both educating people on the importance of building sustainably.

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Jessica Schultz, LFA is communications and Living Building Coordinator for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment. She holds a Masters in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University. Jessica has a keen eye for emerging environmental issues and topics with over 22 years working in environmental education, land conservation, and sustainable development. She is Living Future Accredited and a Living Building Ambassador who applies the framework of Living Building Challenge — with it’s seven categories of sustainable design thinking — in creating community learning opportunities on sustainability topics that include, energy, water, waste, toxins in the environment, equity, human health and the environment. Jessica leads the Hitchcock Center’s building tour program, engaging broad audiences on topics related to sustainability in the built environment and beyond.

Sam Batchelor is a partner at designLAB architects, a Boston-based architecture firm that works with mission-driven organizations to create spaces that support their work through conservation and stewardship. Sam also founded and directs the MassArt Community/Build Studio, and served as board president for the Community Design Resource Center of Boston, a non-profit devoted to bringing pro-bono design services to underserved communities. Sam maintains a hands-on involvement from concept design through construction and post-occupancy. Sam is a thoughtful communicator, facilitating collaboration between the design team, client group, engineers, and contractors to ensure the successful completion of each project under his supervision. Sam received is Bachelors of Arts from Yale University and his Masters of Architecture from the University of Washington.