Olympic fencing gold medalist Miles Chamley-Watson is G.H. Mumm's most recent celebrity endorser

G.H. Mumm & Cie., the venerable Champagne producer, has announced a new partnership with American world-class fencer, world champion and Olympic medalist Miles Chamley-Watson. The company, which is headquartered in Reims, in the heart of the Champagne district, is the fourth best-selling Champagne brand in the world, with annual sales of approximately eight million bottles. Its owned by French wine and spirits conglomerate Pernod-Ricard.

Mumm has a long history with celebrity endorsers. From 2000 to 2015, it was an official sponsor of Formula 1 racing. Its distinctive red stripe was showcased on the podium and its Champagne was used to celebrate the winner after each race. They are now the official sponsor of Formula E, a motorsport championship series that only uses electric cars.

Champagne and the art of fencing

The company has also been closely associated with international horse racing. It is the official champagne of the Kentucky Derby, Australias Melbourne Cup and South Africas The Sun Met. Since 2016, the brand has also been closely associated with eight-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt. He has been featured in a multi-media promotional campaign as the companys CEO or Chief Entertainment Officer.

Its latest celebrity spokesperson, Chamley-Watson joins the G.H. Mumm family, sharing a mission to challenge convention and perceptions of what is considered 'the norm' in traditional fields.

Tina Reejsinghani, G.H. Mumm U.S. Director, noted that Mumm is

Proud to partner with Miles Chamley-Watson, who is a groundbreaking force in fencing and fashion. Miles exudes the values of our brand, driving progress in his field with style. He will be a key ambassador and partner of the brand. His bold and daring attitude is a natural fit to the G.H. Mumm style and heritage.

Chamley-Watson is not a typical fencer. Hes brought a dynamic, unconventional style to the sport. His trademark move The Chamley-Watson whipping his foil around the back of his head to score a point on the opponent, is making waves within the sport. Already in his career, he has modernized fencing and redefined people's expectations around the sport.

According to Chamley-Watson:

I live my life by the motto create a legacy not a moment, which is exactly what G.H. Mumm is doing in the Champagne space. Nothing great ever comes from abiding to the status quo, and Im excited to continue my legacy through this partnership with G.H. Mumm.

Champagne houses are typically conservative and tradition bound, but Chamley-Watson believes that G.H. Mumm is anything but traditional.

They're all about changing the game and doing things differently in their field, which I love.

Champagne and its marketing are usually associated with luxury brands. Fencing isnt usually thought of as a luxury item the way car racing or equestrian events are associated with luxury lifestyles, but Chamley-Watson believes that associating fencing with an upscale luxury item like champagne will help fencing expand its audience.

I think my fans and fans of the sport of fencing will definitely be excited by the association. I genuinely believe in the importance of breaking with tradition and making your own statement so I think G.H. Mumm will translate to the audience who enjoy the sport especially because of the versatility of the champagne you can drink it however you want. Who wouldn't be into that?

A bottle of G.H. Mumm Champagne

As the Olympian has paved the way and changed the face of fencing, so too, in parallel, has G.H. Mumm reinvented what it means to be an international Champagne house with a rich heritage, by modernizing the category to the new age. The brand prides itself on their legendary liquid and iconic heritage among Champagnes, yet insists on pushing boundaries and driving innovation. From the groundbreaking redesign of the Grand Cordon bottle, with a label-less bottle and sleek iconic Cordon Rouge indent, to its modernization of Champagne glassware and consumption, G.H. Mumm is consistently driving progress in its category.

Today, G.H. Mumm and Miles invite consumers to challenge convention and feel empowered to break with tradition, starting with the introduction of G.H. Mumm's newest disruptive innovation The Cloupe. The Cloupe is an innovative hybrid between a flute and coupe glass, drawing from the Maison's rich, disruptive history. Emblazoned with the iconic, indented red sash, this innovative glassware aims to modernize and enhance the Champagne drinking experience with the legendary liquid of G.H. Mumm.

To find out more about the partnership between G.H. Mumm and Miles Chamley-Watson, follow @ghmumm_us on Instagram.

Cheers

Go here to see the original:
Getting To The Point: Champagne And The Art Of Fencing - Forbes

The Athletics Division of Williamson County Parks and Recreation (WCPR) will begin registering for Winter Youth Fencing and Junior Tennis Clinics in early December.

WINTER YOUTH FENCING CLINICRegistration will open on December 2 for Williamson County Parks and Recreations Winter Fencing Clinic for coed youth ages 7 to 17. The clinic dates are January 7 through March 5 and will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Indoor Arena at Crockett Park, 1485 Volunteer Pkwy., in Brentwood. The cost is $125 (includes equipment rental for level 1 and 2).

Fencing is a modern-day equivalent of a sword fight and is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Clinic participants will learn the rules of the sport, basic footwork and posture, as well as the rules of the sport, scoring, weaponry and safety rules.

Online registration will remain open through January 4 or until the clinics are full. Register at http://www.wcparksandrec.com. Registration code #16460. The fee is $35 per child for the six-week clinic.

For more information contact Chris Podunajec at (615) 377-6530, ext. 6602, or Chris.Podunajec@williamsoncounty-tn.gov.

WINTER JUNIOR TENNIS CLINICSRegistration for WCPRs Winter Indoor Tennis Clinics (Session 2) for juniors will open December 3 at 10:00 a.m. The clinics will begin the week of January 6 and continue through February 15 at the Indoor Sports Complex in Brentwood, 920 Heritage Way. Junior tennis clinics (age 5 and older) in beginner through advanced skill levels are offered Monday(s) through Saturday(s). Prices vary depending on the duration of clinic. Space is limited. A full class schedule, fees and registration information are available at http://www.wcparksandrec.com.

Link:
Parks and Rec Offers Youth Winter Fencing and Tennis Clinics - Williamson Source

After the Verdi project was completed, Reliable FenceCompany went to work on the project to make U.S.Highway 50 over Spooner Summit a four lane highway. I did not work on the Spooner Summit project but the following story was told to me by Johnny Warren after theproject was completed.

On the Spooner Summit project, federal funds were involved and federal aid requirements had to be followed by the State Highway Department during construction. One of the requirements was that the general contractor and all the subcontractors had to submitcertifiedpayrolls every week to show that the contractors were paying the prevailing wage rates specified for each classification. This was a requirement of the Federal Davis-Bacon act.

When Reliable Fence Company started work on theright-of-way fence along the sides of the highway, they soon discovered that the slopes were very steep and the terrain was incredibly rough. Even military jeeps or other 4-wheel drive vehicles could not safely haul rolls of barbed wire, bags of concrete and fence posts to the job site.

Johnny Warren then decided to approach the State Highway Department to issue him a change order to use mules to haul the fence materials up the steep slopes. The bureaucrats in the construction office at the Highway Department at first told Johnny Warren that this could not be done, since there wasnot anequipment rental rate in the contract fora mule. Johnny Warren then replied with a proposal to have the mule ordonkeys put on his payroll so the animals could be paid at the prevailing wage rate forlaborers. This would cover the cost of buying themules and the hay they ate.

After considerablenegotiating, the State finally agreed to the proposal, but they cautioned him that as laborers, the mules ordonkeys must be shown by name and should have a social security number. They later dropped the social securitynumber requirement, but insisted thelaborers should be given a name.

When the change order was finally approved and Reliable Fence Company started work using a mule,the first certified payroll was submitted to theConstruction Office. Along with all the other equipment operators and laborers, there was one laborer listed with the name Jack Ass. Later, other mules and some donkeys were used on the project but Jerry Nelms could notremember their names. This information was confirmed recently by a telephone call to Jerry Nelms, Foremanfor Artistic Fence Co. He also told me that Harker and Harker Electrical Company had used a helicopters to put in the power lines on this same project due to the steep slopes.

This article is by Dayton Author and Historian, Dennis Cassinelli, who can be contacted on his blog atdenniscassinelli.com. All Dennis books sold through this publication will be at a discount plus $3.00 for eachshipmentfor postage and packaging.

Excerpt from:
Building the fence over Spooner Summit - Mesquite Local News

I'll be totally honest, signing up for another streaming service does not excite me right now. And while my family is all about that Disney life, a lot of the movies and shows on its new streaming service I already own on DVD. Unlike Netflix, where seeing a physical release is super rare, Disney has been a part of our lives in every possible format for as long as I've been alive. And until I see more than one original series or movie on the platform that excites me, I wasn't sure this was something I wanted to invest in.

Over the holiday weekend, that changed. And now that Disney Plus (Disney+) is up for a super sweet $5 per month Cyber Monday deal, I am real happy I waited to pick this service up.

I grew up on cheesy Christmas movies. Miracle on 34th Street, Scrooged, Babes in Toyland, and so many others were part of a regular rotation at my Aunt's house. I have a soft spot in my heart for these films, and a lot of the newer Christmas stories don't really scratch that itch for me. Disney+ has an exclusive Christmas Movie, Noelle, with Bill Hader and Anna Kendrick, and I watched it after Thanksgiving with my family. It was perfect, the right blend of comedy and Christmas magic that made me feel like I was back on my Aunt's couch on Christmas Day. It really made me feel good, and was the final straw for me to really take a deeper look at what is happening with this Disney Plus thing.

Right now, thanks to Cyber Monday, Disney+ is $5 per month if you pay for the whole year up front. That's a cup of hot chocolate each month for me, which more than justifies having access to the massive mountain of things this service offers. While I originally shrugged off the service for all of the stuff I had already bought, there are tons of things here from when I was a teenager that I had totally forgotten about. It's a lot of fun to take this trip into my past, especially now that I have my sister to share it with.

If you've been on the fence about Disney+, you should give this a shot. I did, and couldn't be happier.

See the article here:
If you were on the fence about Disney Plus, this Cyber Monday deal is everything - iMore

Ralph Hottinger has lived in Hidden Cove for more than 50 years, a relocation inspired in part by the Park City areas nature and wildlife.

But as the years went on and traffic increased on nearby Interstate 80, Hottinger said hed see more and more accidents between vehicles and animals. It got so bad that animals started to avoid the area, he said.

After a wildlife overpass and wildlife fencing was installed in the area, Hottinger said the animals are coming back and vehicle strikes are declining.

Hes the president of a group called Save People Save Wildlife that advocated for those measures and has been raising funds to install more wildlife fencing along the corridor.

Last week, installation finished on the latest mile of fencing, which is near the Jeremy Ranch roundabout project. Fencing now extends a half-mile east of Jeremy Ranch on the north side of the interstate and a little farther on the south side, near the Ecker Hill park-and-ride.

The groups vice president, Lorelei Combs, said the plan is to extend the fencing eastward to the U.S. 40/Interstate 80 interchange near Silver Creek.

Wildlife fencing starts where Home Depot is on U.S. 40 and goes to Heber, Combs said. Its about a 9-mile gap were trying to eventually close up.

The groups short-term goal is to extend fencing eastward to Kimball Junction, which would take about 3.5 miles of fencing, Combs said.

She said Summit Park is essentially the gateway coming into Park City, and animals follow the existing fence line looking for a place to cross the interstate.

If that fenceline is not completely closed, they cross, (and) theres an onslaught of vehicle collisions, she said. Its a natural migration path.

S.R. 224 is another common area for animal collisions, Combs said, shown to be one of the worst in the state in an upcoming report commissioned by the Utah Department of Transportation. The group is advocating for a wildlife bridge across S.R. 224 that she estimated would cost around $10 million.

We believe it has to happen, she said. There needs to be something done animals are going to die, it could cause a fatality.

She said an elk herd crosses S.R. 224 to reach its winter grounds, resulting in dicey situations nearly every day in certain periods.

Ever year, its an onslaught of dead elk, she said.

One mile of fencing costs around $85,000, but Combs pointed to a 2008 University of Utah study commissioned by UDOT that estimated each wildlife/vehicle accident that results in a human fatality costs $5.4 million in vehicle damages and personal injury costs.

She said Save People Save Wildlife has a cost-sharing relationship with UDOT for wildlife fencing where the agency will pitch in half the project costs if it has enough left over at the end of the year in its contingency fund. But the state has no dedicated funding for wildlife fencing, Combs said, and UDOT is only able to include the cost in certain projects.

Save People Save Wildlife has been able to raise $42,000 for its half of the project costs for the latest fencing along Interstate 80 and is continuing to raise funds.

The groups representatives have attended Summit County Council meetings a few times in recent weeks to request funding for the project.

While councilors did not commit to an ongoing budget item, wildlife fencing and cattle guards were included in the Jeremy Ranch roundabout project, public works director Derrick Radke told the council in early November. UDOT paid for the cattle guards on the westbound on-ramp while Summit County paid for those on the eastbound on-ramp.

The group is advocating for Park City and Summit County elected officials to take action.

At the rate were going right now, (with UDOT matching funds), it would take us 20 years to close that gap, Combs said. Without the help of Summit County, its going to take a long time.

The county also paid for about a half-mile of fencing near the Ecker Hill park-and-ride.

See the rest here:
Mile of wildlife fencing added along Interstate 80 near Jeremy Ranch - The Park Record

Photos: Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com

REXBURG Police are on the scene of a major crash that seriously injured at least one person.

It happened around 8 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. Highway 20 between the middle and south Rexburg exits in the westbound lanes. The driver of a vehicle was traveling at highway speeds when he crashed through a vinyl fence, hit three parked cars and smashed into a townhome at The Meadows on Sunflower Road, according to Rexburg Police Capt. Gary Hagen.

RELATED | North, south, east, west which direction does U.S. Highway 20 really run?

Nobody was injured inside the townhome but Hagen says the driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries. The passenger was not hurt.

Traffic in the area is backed up and drivers are asked to use caution.

EastIdahoNews.com will post updates as we learn more.

Read more from the original source:
Police on scene after driver crashes through fence, hits 3 parked cars and smashes into townhouse - East Idaho News

The committee responsible for organizing protests in the border region between Israel and the Gaza Strip announced on Monday that demonstrations would take place Friday following a significant hiatus.

The High Commission for the March of Return and Breaking the Siege, which includes representatives of Gaza-based terror groups and political factions, canceled the protests in the border area over the last three weeks.

The High Commission for the March of Return and Breaking the Siege calls on the Palestinian masses to participate in large numbers this coming Friday, the body said in a statement.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top storiesFree Sign Up

It also named this weeks protests The March is Ongoing.

Since late March 2018, Palestinians in Gaza have participated in the protests along the frontier on most Fridays, demanding Israel lift its restrictions on the movement of people and goods into and out of the coastal enclave and calling for the return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to lands that are now a part of the Jewish state.

The protests have frequently descended into violence, including the hurling of explosives, rocks and firebombs at IDF soldiers, as well as attempts to storm and sabotage the border fence. Israeli troops have often responded with live fire and tear gas. At least 200 Palestinians have been killed at the demonstrations and thousands have been injured.

Israeli officials maintain that the restrictions on movement are in place to prevent Hamas and other terrorist groups from smuggling weapons into the Strip. They also say that the return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants would destroy Israels Jewish character.

Last Wednesday, the High Commission said it decided to cancel that weeks protests in light of the very dangerous security circumstances and the threats of the criminal Netanyahu to carry out stupidity by waging a new and comprehensive act of aggression on the Gaza Strip to protect himself from the corruption charges against him.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing an uncertain political future after Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced charges on November 21 against him in three corruption cases.

Palestinians gather near the border with Israel in Malaka east of Gaza City on March 30, 2019, as Palestinians mark the first anniversary of the March of Return border protests. (Mahmud Hams/AFP)

Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City, said the High Commission decided to cancel the protests over the last three weeks because the Hamas terror group and other Palestinian factions feared they could lead to a fresh escalation of hostilities with Israel.

After the latest escalation last month, Islamic Jihad said Israel agreed to not target demonstrators as a part of a ceasefire. For its part, Israel said that is not true and only agreed to quiet for quiet, he said. So Hamas and the other factions concluded if the protesters go to the border and Israel shoots and kills some of them, a major deterioration could follow.

Israel and the Al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihads military wing, engaged in a 48-hour flareup in mid-November after the IDF killed Baha Abu al-Ata, a top commander in the terror group. During the escalation in tensions, the Al-Quds Brigades fired some 450 rockets and mortars at the Jewish state, which responded with many retaliatory strikes in Gaza.

Unlike previous rounds of fighting, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamass armed wing, stayed on the sidelines.

Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhala told the Lebanese al-Mayadeen TV station in mid-November that one of the terror groups conditions for a ceasefire was Israeli security forces halting the use of fire against protesters in the border region. Netanyahu, however, asserted a few days later that the Israel did not make any promises in exchange for the ceasefire.

Abusada also said that another reason the protests were canceled was because Hamas did not want break an agreement it maintains with Qatar.

According to understandings with Hamas, Qatar provides approximately $30 million monthly to different programs in Gaza in return for keeping the protests peaceful, he said. This was also one of Hamass concerns.

For more than the past year, Qatar has contributed millions of dollars to various projects in Gaza on a monthly basis.

Abusada added that the High Commission decided this week to hold the protests because many of the factions that belong to it did not want to be seen as giving them up permanently.

Hamas is under pressure from these factions, he said. They are letting them happen this week, but I think Hamas will do its best to keep protesters away from the fence.

In the latter half of November, the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported that the High Commission was holding a discussion about rolling back the marches to once a month or during national occasions, citing a unnamed source in the body.

See the original post:
Following 3-week hiatus, Gaza groups announce resumption of border marches - The Times of Israel

While most plumbing jobs require a licensed professional, there are ways savvy homeowners can save time and money by safeguarding, upgrading or repairing their own systems.

Theres quite a bit homeowners can do themselves, especially when it comes to maintenance, says Gale Bellows, a journeyman plumber and service manager with South West Plumbing. If you have basic tools and some inexpensive supplies, here are six things you can do to prevent costly plumbing disasters and increase the life of your existing pipes, valves and appliances.

Protect your exterior faucets from freezing and breakage. Install inexpensive padded or foam faucet covers (about $10 each). Properly sealed, these will prevent or delay pipe freezing. While youre at it, drain the garden hoses youve disconnected to protect them as well.

Remove and clean (or replace) sink faucet aerators to improve water flow. The tips of most faucets can easily be unscrewed and the mesh aerator screens rinsed to remove grit. If a screen looks torn or damaged, take the aerator to the hardware store to buy a matching replacement.

Replace a worn toilet seat. This is a cosmetic repair, but many homeowners want to upgrade seats to more attractive or durable models. Soft close seats, which close slowly rather than dropping down with a crash, are popular, Bellows says.

Remove and clean the P trap under your sink. P traps (which are actually U-shaped) are critical parts of your plumbing system. Water is supposed to stay in them, forming an important barrier that prevents gas from your sewer from coming up into your house. Problems occur when a P trap gets clogged with hair or soap and the sink starts to drain slowly. Rather than using harsh chemicals, you can remove and clean the trap in a few minutes. Put a bucket under the sink to catch water and gunk while you work. Then twist off the slip nuts that hold the P trap in place. Once youve cleaned the trap, reattach it and twist the slip nuts. No need to use plumbers tape or worry that it will leak, according to Bellows. When you tighten the nut, it seals automatically, he says.

Check your water pressure. While many of us complain about low water pressure, the real enemy, Bellows says, is pressure higher than 80 psi (pound-force per square inch). Excessive water pressure can damage valves on water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances. You risk flooding your house if a stressed hose or valve ruptures. Fortunately checking water pressure is cheap and easy with a psi gauge ($5 to $10 at the hardware store). Attach it to an outside faucet, turn the faucet on all the way, to measure system pressure. (Bellows suggests measuring psi at night, when few people are taking a shower or running washers.) If water pressure exceeds 80 psi, its important to call in a professional plumber address the issue.

Know the location of all the water shut-off valves in your house. That way, if a leak occurs, you can quickly turn off the flow to the sink, toilet, water heater or washer. If you are uncertain about where a leak is coming from, use the main water shut off to control damage.

Do-it-yourself repairs can be quick and inexpensive, but Bellows cautions against tackling more complex plumbing repairs or installations on your own. One problem, he says, is that the system you are repairing, or adding to, may not have been built correctly in the first place. Often, especially in older houses, the plumbing is out of code or lacking in required safety features. A professional plumber can spot these existing problems and avoid adding to them.

When to call in the pros? If you notice dampness on ceilings, walls or floors near pipes, bring in a plumber to analyze the situation. The leak may be minor, but ignoring it can allow mold to grow in walls and flooring, creating a larger problem.

Remodeling a kitchen, laundry, or bath? Youll want to get a plumber involved to make sure your system can support the new fixtures it may need updates. Bellows advises scheduling plumbing work early in your project, right after rough carpentry and before any electrical, flooring or tilework gets underway.

There are certain plumbing problems that require immediate attention from the pros. These include a malfunctioning water heater or the smell of sewer gas in your home. You dont want to risk a flood or an explosion, Bellows says.

South West Plumbing has been serving King, Pierce and Snohomish counties for more than 35 years. All South West Plumbing plumbers are highly trained and arrive prepared with fully stocked trucks. We work evenings and weekends at no extra charge.

Go here to see the original:
Plumbing 101: When to DIY and when to call the pros - The Seattle Times

Two Architects Check the Pulse of Sustainable Building Practices | 2019-11-27 | Architectural Record This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

More here:
Two Architects Check the Pulse of Sustainable Building Practices - Architectural Record

A few years ago, according to architect Jeffrey Mandyck, the McKnight Foundation and AIA Minnesota decided to establish an award that would honor those who excel at producing design for developments that are regenerative (more about that later) and resilient for people, communities and for the environment.

That effort stemmed from a need to establish a clear definition and common language among developers, design professionals, general contractors, public agencies and the general public.

An AIA Minnesota task force that includes experts and researchers from the professional architecture community worked closely with Richard Graves and the team he leads at the University of Minnesotas Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) to develop a new model. That team also collaborated with the Us Minnesota Design Center and New Orleans-based Colloqate Design.

The result? The 21st Century Development (21CD) model and matrix. Mandyck explains more about this cutting-edge program.

Q: What does it mean to be regenerative community?

A: 21CD strives to provide a healthy environment for all people and living systems now and in a dynamic future. It is part of AIA Minnesotas broader effort to inspire agency and accelerate action toward a better built environment for all.

Q: Whats the overall goal of the 21CD model?

A: The model is primarily focused on guiding developers private, public and nonprofit but we crafted it with policymakers and community leaders in mind, as well. We need policy solutions that accelerate our progress along the path, and the public needs to be able to envision and advocate for a better built environment. Weve started to identify how much running room there actually is before major barriers impede progress along the path to regenerative development in each of the performance areas: Place, energy, water, health and happiness, materials, equity and beauty. Our advocacy efforts will work to address those barriers.

Q: Are the requirements just suggestions?

A: Lets call them prescriptive suggestions each cell in the matrix includes a description, as well as approaches needed, to achieve a specific outcome. The desire with 21CD is to make all of these approaches more commonplace in private, public and nonprofit development. In defining and measuring success, we have to start accounting for the whole of how a development project is initiated, designed and executed, and the broad array of near-term and long-term impacts of that development.

Q: Does compliance cost more?

A: That depends on what degree of performance one is striving to achieve, and on some external factors. The performance matrix does note where one might encounter financial limitations. Its often due to implementation of infrastructures and systems that extend well beyond a developments boundaries, and yet the benefits and outcomes of that approach have positive impacts that reach beyond the borders of the development as well. Approximately 75 to 80% of the approaches in the matrix are adaptable with little to no additional development cost.

Q: Is Fields of St. Croix the only local case study so far?

A: There are several exciting public and private developments underway in our region that are making progress in areas relevant to 21CD. In the past year, we have established research teams who have been working closely with private developments and public/government agencies leading the way in 21CD practices. These research partners include Towerside Innovation District and its Malcom Yards development, Rochester Destination Medical Center and the City of Minneapolis 2040 Plan.

Q: Most of the cases you cite are in Europe, why?

A: Europe is ahead of us. They have more than three times the density; a more equitably distributed per capita income and greater subsidies retaining agricultural lands surrounding cities.

Q: Are these case studies being tested?

A: Not at this time. Having said that, as design professionals, we always advocate for our clients to have their completed designs/systems tested to verify that they are performing as designed. 21CD is not intended to be another certification system that requires analysis; we have many of those in place already. It can be used in concert with those other certification systems and to enhance development projects from planning through execution. Richard Graves describes the potential impact of 21CD as radical incrementalism. Every project can be plotted on the matrix, and every project can find opportunities to move up the scale in resilient development. And every advancement helps us improve our built environment.

Q: How was the 21CD model developed?

A: After reviewing a wide array of frameworks and certifications, we chose the Living Community Challenge as our base. We worked to make the living level of the Living Community Challenge more actionable, showing that we can get there one step at a time. We worked with CSBR to add the regenerative level to the framework, because this is whats possible today its what we can all be working toward. And we collaborated with Colloqate Design to strengthen the equity performance area at all levels. It is intended to address regenerative potential across more than environmental performance to create welcoming, sustainable communities for all.

See the original post here:
Minnesota architect talks of the need to promote a better built environment for all - Minneapolis Star Tribune