Blog: Living Building Project

Hitchcock Receives 2018 Paul Winske Access Award from Stavros

By Jessica Schultz

On October 25, 2018, the Hitchcock Center was pleased to be honored with the Stavros’ Paul Winske Access Award for our efforts to design accessibility, in all its forms, into our building design, programming and daily operations.

Published on October 30, 2018.

How Can We Store Water During a Drought? A sustainability engineering design problem for fourth graders

By Edward Watt & Gillian Andrews

Last summer our area, which has a strong agricultural economy, experienced a severe drought. We chose to explore this issue in-depth with our students, who understood firsthand the importance of water as a resource and of conserving water in their communities.

Published on September 4, 2018.

Hitchcock Center’s Building for the Future Capital Campaign Continues!

In just over 6 years, we have raised a phenomenal $6,252,488, an average of a little over $1M per year, through the Center’s Building for the Future capital campaign. Our total fundraising goal of $6,777,342 is comprised of two phases – $5,837,342 for Phase One and $940,000 for Phase Two (link). Today we have less than $525,000 left to raise—still a chunk of change but a drop in the bucket compared to what we have already raised.

Published on August 3, 2018.

Engaging Stakeholders and Funders in Creating a Living Building at Net Positive for Higher Education Symposium

Hitchcock Center Executive Director Julie Johnson presented at the Net Positive for Higher Education Symposium sponsored by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Her talk on June 26th was entitled […]

Published on July 15, 2018.

The Hitchcock Center Unveils New Nature Play and Learning Places Master Plan to Enhance and Engage Outdoor Learning

The Hitchcock Center for the Environment recently released its Nature Play and Learning Places Master Plan, a plan to transform the Hitchcock Center’s grounds into an engaging, interactive and educational outdoor classroom. Ten activity settings will be constructed to offer fun and imaginative nature play areas, hands-on teaching gardens and accessible nature trails for people of all ages and abilities.

Published on April 10, 2018.

Hitchcock Center to be featured in Wild Designs Exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum

The Hitchcock Center has been invited to be part of the Peabody Essex Museum’s (PEM) exciting new Wild Designs exhibit that will profile the works of architects, artists, institutions and other creatives who are looking to nature and living systems for new ideas and creative solutions to human problems.

Published on April 9, 2018.

Hitchcock Center Embraces Living Building Challenge

AMHERST, Mass. — The Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst debuted its new 9,000-square-foot facility in fall 2016. Even though the environmental education center is built on the Hampshire College campus, the independent, nonprofit is completely separate, with a mission to develop environmental curriculums that are then implemented in schools throughout New England. Now, that mission is coming to life with its brand-new sustainable facility that doubles as an engaging learning tool for the center’s field trip, after-school and preschool programs, among others. Better yet, it’s currently seeking Living Building Challenge certification.

Published on March 23, 2018.

Amherst continues its education in zero-energy construction

By Scott Merzbach

AMHERST — Backers of the bylaw adopted at Town Meeting last fall mandating that all new municipal buildings produce as much energy as they use are continuing to bring experts in zero-energy design and construction to town.

Published on February 19, 2018.

Executive Director Julie Johnson Receives 2017 AIA Green Giants Award

Executive Director Julie Johnson was the recipient of this year’s Green Giants Award in recognition of her work to envision and fund the Hitchcock Center’s newly constructed living building.

Published on December 15, 2017.

Hitchcock Educators Travel to Latin America as Professional Fellows

Colleen Kelley, our Education Director, and Jessica Schultz, our Sustainability & Living Building Coordinator, have both been accepted into the Environmental Sustainability for Latin American Professional Fellows Program.