American Architectural Foundation and United Technologies Corporation launch Sustainable Cities Design Academy

Sustainable development in Boston, New Bedford, Philadelphia and Washington DC strengthened by first advisory program; other cities to follow

HARTFORD, Conn, January 28, 2009 – Major building projects in four northeast cities may be among the most energy efficient developments in the nation because of expert guidance provided by a new national "Sustainable Cities Design Academy." The joint effort of the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) and United Technologies Corporation (UTC) underwrites the cost of participation and gives technical assistance and sustainability leadership skills to local governments, businesses and community leaders to assist in creating state-of-the-art green design strategies.

Studies show buildings are responsible for 40 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. By exploring existing technologies and energy-efficient strategies, communities can mitigate buildings’ environmental effects. The new Academy’s four selected teams – from Boston and New Bedford, MA, Philadelphia, PA and Washington, DC – will join a 12-member team of experts to analyze designs, discuss issues, and identify best practices to strengthen local development projects.

"Sustainable Cities Design Academy provides civic leaders with the tools and resources they need to help shape more sustainable, responsible and livable communities." said Ronald E. Bogle, AAF President and CEO.

"UTC believes everything we do today can be done better tomorrow. We’re delighted to partner with the AAF on the new Academy and help leaders apply similar thinking to their local projects. We hope that with the Academy’s expertise these projects will stand as long-term examples for future sustainable cities," said Sandy Diehl, UTC Vice President, Integrated Building Systems.

Participants in the first Academy session are:

A New Bedford, Massachusetts team redeveloping a 20-acre waterside industrial site, as cornerstone for sustainable development along the historically industrial waterfront
Boston’s Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC), with plans for new residential and community-planned program spaces on leased land, reclaimed from Boston’s "Big Dig" Central Arterty/Tunnel project
A Philadelphia team with a project in the Philadelphia Navy Yard to incorporate transit and mixed-use development and apply for LEED-ND* status
A team from the District of Columbia and Blue Skye Construction that is working on a mixed-use transit-oriented development around the historically underserved Minnesota Avenue Metro Station.

"Given that buildings are a large portion of our energy consumption and the corresponding pollution, we must be sure our communities are full speed ahead toward adoption of architecture, design and engineering methods that deliver dramatic and irrefutable cost-efficient improvements," said S. Richard Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. "We are incredibly fortunate that AAF and UTC teamed up to create this remarkable education program. Their long-standing commitment to knowledge sharing and the advancement of best practices at the city scale are exactly the kind of leadership we need."

Since its creation in 1943, the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) has consistently sought to educate the public about the power of architecture in their lives. By helping local leaders tackle critical design challenges, AAF serves as a conduit between the world of design and the practical decisions leaders make that shape their communities. In recent years, the AAF has emerged as a leading national resource in providing leadership development programs in design through the highly regarded Mayors’ Institute on City Design and Great Schools by Design. Through these programs, AAF helps leaders use the power of architecture to improve lives and transform communities. For more information please visit www.archfoundation.org

United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries. UTC’s products include Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, Sikorsky helicopters, Carrier heating and air conditioning, Hamilton Sundstrand aerospace systems and industrial products, Otis elevators and escalators, UTC Fire & Security systems and UTC Power fuel cells.

Since 2005, UTC has been on the list of Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The company has also been on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes every year since the indexes began in 1999. For more information please see www.utc.com

* LEED-ND: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (U.S. Green Building Council certification standard)

Contacts:
Kate Robins, UTC
(860) 728-7980
www.utc.com

Liz Blazevich, AAF
(202) 626-7318
www.archfoundation.org