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Bringing Multiple Offices Together with BIM
Posted by Troy Gates on September 22, 2011 at 7:17pm
With the continual adoption of BIM, many companies are starting to see the advantages of multiple people working in a model concurrently. But, many of the companies have offices in other states and countries.
Greening the Operating Room
Posted by Laura Brannen on April 05, 2011 at 5:45pm
Operating rooms can be pretty wasteful places using a lot of materials and supplies that primarily end up in landfills.
How to be an Agent of Change in Your Circle of Influence: Part I
Posted by Amy Jarvis on March 29, 2011 at 12:40pm
For the past several weeks, I have been fortunate to take a class entitled, “How to be an Agent of Change in your Circle of Influence.” The class, offered by the Center for Earth Leadership, centers on ways to more effectively motivate and affect change within a defined group of people.
Building in Efficiency…year after year
Posted by John Pappas on March 18, 2011 at 2:38pm
It is one thing to design and construct a green building, but quite another to have that building perform efficiently over time.
WHO and Health in the Green Economy
Posted by Walt Vernon on February 22, 2011 at 6:14pm
In 2010, The World Health Organization’s Department of Public Health and Environment launched a series of reviews of mitigation options in five key economic sectors, including transport, agriculture, housing, household energy and the health sector.
Internal Sustainability in 2011
Posted by Amy Jarvis on February 07, 2011 at 1:05pm
I am not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. I always tend to create something that is vague or trivial or not important enough to be taken seriously for more that the first month of a new year. This year, I opted for no New Year’s resolutions and instead to operate under the mantra of “We can do better.”
Time to Readjust
Posted by Walt Vernon on January 19, 2011 at 1:36pm
Mike of AC Electric.
Leaving a foreign country, and returning to the US is always, for me, a kind of trauma, as I have to shift my frame of reference away from what I am leaving and back to a US perspective. To me, though, it has never been harder than when leaving the poorest country in the hemisphere to come back to the richest.
A Different Kind of Mission
Posted by Walt Vernon on January 17, 2011 at 2:07pm
...in the afternoon, I went on a different kind of mission. A couple of weeks ago, in preparation for this trip, at some point I suddenly remembered the kids I had seen playing soccer, here. I decided to see if the kids here would like me to bring them some soccer gear. I contacted Tim, here, on the ground, and he said yes, the kids would love it.
What are we doing in Nome, Alaska?
Posted by Christian Lindmark on January 17, 2011 at 12:04pm
Read a little about Nome, Alaska, their new hospital project, and what M+NLB is doing for them in regards to technology.
Let the Work Begin!
Posted by Walt Vernon on January 15, 2011 at 8:22pm
Tom Cooper, project manager, on the left, and one of our volunteer electricians, teaching some of the Haitian electricians.
So, today is Saturday at Hôpital Sacrè Couer. I wrote my last post on Friday morning on the plane, and it seems like a long, long, time ago. I was finally able to figure out how to send it last night, and so, in real time, it has only been a very short while since it went up. We are now at a point where my limited skills make me virtually useless to the real work that is going on, and, in fact, the guys have so many Haitian Helpers who could actually benefit from their training that I was more in the way than not.
Live from Cap Haitien, it’s Saturday Night!
Posted by Walt Vernon on January 15, 2011 at 5:37pm
Dinner usually consists of an unidentifiable vegetable...
With a title like that, you would expect something special.
Back to Haiti
Posted by Walt Vernon on January 14, 2011 at 6:02pm
I remember in old movies and TV, the image of a journalist on a new adventure. Inevitably, the journalist is sitting on his bag somewhere, notebook in hand, knife-sharpened pencil scribbling away, while a voice-over speaks out the words the hero is recording for posterity.
Hôpital Sacrè Couer Rewire Project
Posted by Tom Cooper on November 19, 2010 at 9:39pm
Hôpital Sacrè Couer (HSC) is a 73 bed private hospital located in north of Haiti in the town of Milot. It is staffed by medical personnel through the aid organization, Project HOPE and run by the non-profit CRUDEM Foundation.
Haiti - Next Steps
Posted by Walt Vernon on November 04, 2010 at 4:38pm
Some of you are probably aware of the volunteer work that John Pappas and I did in Haiti earlier this year. We later raised money, through the proceeds of our annual golf tournament, to help buy an emergency generator for the Project HOPE compound in Port-au-Prince. I wanted to now take some time to bring you all up to date with our other efforts.
Commissioning Light
Posted by George Amburn on October 13, 2010 at 11:06pm
Commissioning on any level provides an owner with added assurance that quality remains a priority for the for design and construction teams.
AIA 2030: It’s the 2030 Challenge not the 2030 Easy
Posted by Amy Jarvis on October 08, 2010 at 7:29pm
The 2030 Challenge is a challenge laid out by Ed Mazaria to transform the Building Sector from a leading contributor to climate change into a central part of the solution to this crisis.
M+NLB through the Eyes of an Intern
Posted by Clare Zimmerman on August 09, 2010 at 12:38pm
As an intern for the Marketing Department at M+NLB, I have not only expanded my own skills, but have learned about a company and an industry I knew little about before I started.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Haiti - Au Revoir
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 15, 2010 at 3:54pm
This will be my last Haiti blog - for now.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Adventist Hospital Haiti
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 13, 2010 at 8:44pm
Adventist Health Hospital. Each patient room has its own patio--many sleep outside due to the heat (it is over 100 degrees).
So, our final hospital tour (this time) was at Adventist Hospital Haiti.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: The Great Port-au-Prince Adventure Continues
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 13, 2010 at 6:38pm
AHH--view from the roof where the volunteers are bedded down. Note the incinerator & trash dump behind the hospital.
Fans who read yesterday’s post know that I elected to stay in Haiti another day. I picked the day that Venezuela shut down the energy flows to the country, and the President has asked people to stop driving. We have left our hotel and are staying at the Project HOPE compound with the Director of Project HOPE for the country of Haiti. He says he is not sure there will be airline fuel for us to get out tomorrow, so this trip may be a bit longer than I had thought.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Another Day, Another Change of Plans
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 12, 2010 at 10:20pm
From left: our driver, Pierre; John Pappas; Eric MacFarlane; Terry Dover; Mike Olson
Another plan change. Today, thanks to my friends at Health Care Without Harm, I was able to get in touch with people at UNICEF. We were interested in talking with the people who are making decisions about the development of new healthcare facilities within Haiti. After touring four Haitian Hospitals, we have a very good sense of the kinds of things that make these buildings successful to operate, and we wanted to see if we could extend our help beyond the Project HOPE assessments we did.
Why greening up is hard to do
Posted by Leslie Carlson on April 12, 2010 at 12:01pm
Anna Clark, author of the new book Green, American Style, has some interesting ideas about why sustainability is not more mainstream. Her advice for getting beyond “the choir” and crossing the green ideological divide includes emphasizing energy efficiency. Which makes sense, given that most companies and businesspeople, regardless of their political views, value saving money.
Read Anna Clark’s perspective on the green economy and consumerism, and her advice for moving forward here.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Back in Port-au-Prince Part II
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 12, 2010 at 1:45am
Tent Hospital; 3 farthest tents house patients, many of whom since the earthquake. 2 nearest are for outpatient care.
Well, I have hit and missed so many times, I am going to give up on the attempt to make this a chronological travelogue. I will tell you, however, that we had quite the adventures with lodging here. We came to Port-au-Prince (PAP) yesterday, after having been assured that we had reservations here at a hotel called La Plaza. My partner John Pappas had been talking to some structural engineers who were here last week who said this was the only hotel you should stay in in PAP, so we were looking forward to it. Unfortunately, reservations mean something different to the people in this hotel than they mean to other people. We had four energetic people working with the two front desk people, so I sat down and watched. Eventually, my fellow Project HOPErs wrangled us two rooms, and were delighted at the thought of John and I sleeping in the same bed. We said we were going to get a picture of us so engaged, but we never did – something I am sure our fans will be disappointed to hear.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Back in Port-au-Prince
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 11, 2010 at 11:59am
We have returned to Port-au-Prince. We are surveying various facilities here, including the Hôpital Notre Dame de Lourdes.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Hôpital Sacré Coeur Part II
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 10, 2010 at 7:44pm
Every time I leave a place, I mourn it; missing desperately the people and the need I have left behind.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: A Photo Tour
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 09, 2010 at 7:38pm
4/7/10: The Team--Top from left: Walt Vernon, John Pappas; Bottom from left: Terry Dover, Eric MacFarlane, Mike Olson
This post contains what we’ve seen so far during the time we’ve been privileged to spend here in Haiti.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Day Four
Posted by John Pappas on April 09, 2010 at 7:32pm
It’s Day 4 in Haiti, and I guess we have had it pretty good as far as weather goes—only in the upper 80s and not unbearably humid, just sticky all the time.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: More on Hôpital Albert Schweitzer
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 08, 2010 at 10:44pm
Salsa Air--Plane to Port Haitian
Not too much traveling today, though it was another adventure worth telling; too much report writing, traveling, and hospital surveying. More tomorrow.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Buried for 7 Days
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 08, 2010 at 9:03pm
This little boy was buried under the rubble for seven days.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Orientation Tour of Sacré Coeur Hospital, Milot, Haiti
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 08, 2010 at 6:05pm
Terry Dover, U.S. Army (left); Walt Vernon, M+NLB (right)
Hôpital Sacré Coeur is a Catholic hospital supported by the Knights of Malta (the same people who helped protect and shepherd the pilgrims to the holy land).
Haiti Earthquake Recon: The First Day & A Bit About Hôpital Albert Schweitzer
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 08, 2010 at 6:47am
I am sitting in our room on Thursday morning, having finally found access to the internet. Following are some notes from our trip from Port-au-Prince Deschappelles, the location of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS). Today, we will take a six-hour drive to the next town and hospital. During this ride, I will write more on HAS—people at this hospital are amazing; the work they are doing. They need help, and I hope we did something that will prove useful to them.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: Fountain
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 07, 2010 at 4:24pm
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer has a deep well. It brings up it’s own water, chlorinates it, and uses it for the hospital. At 6am, 12 noon, and 6 pm, they turn on six public fountains so the people can get clean water. This is the hospital’s attempt to keep people well.
Haiti Earthquake Recon: The Eagle has Landed . . . .
Posted by Walt Vernon on April 06, 2010 at 1:39pm
Our welcome in Haiti
John Pappas and Walt Vernon landed today in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where M+NLB is taking part in a Project HOPE volunteer mission to assess Haitian hospitals.
Sustainability While Traveling
Posted by Amy Jarvis on February 02, 2010 at 10:32pm
Is it possible to behave in an eco-friendly manner while traveling?
Recycling
Posted by Amy Jarvis on January 22, 2010 at 6:46pm
Recycling is all the rage. Get excited.
AutoCAD Tips & Tools
Posted by Brian Lottis on January 19, 2010 at 10:59am
Typically we only think of using the clipboard to copy elements from one drawing to another. But here’s a case where it really helps in a single drawing. It’s like creating a temporary shortcut key.
Nashville Office Sustainability
Posted by Amy Jarvis on January 15, 2010 at 7:33pm
Although both the city of Nashville and our Nashville office tend to fly below the radar in terms of sustainability, they both achieve great things.
Denver Office Sustainability
Posted by Amy Jarvis on January 08, 2010 at 4:05pm
Our Denver office engages in a wide variety of sustainable activities. Last October, this office was honored with a Silver level award from the Colorado Department of Public Health Environmental Leadership Program. To achieve this endeavor, our office engages in the following activities.
Walking the talk
Posted by Amy Jarvis on December 18, 2009 at 12:23pm
My hour-long presentation in 450 words or less…
Welcome to Technology
Posted by Emily Toliver on November 13, 2009 at 8:48pm
This blog will cover various issues that relate to the technology we use every day to produce drawings, share information internally and collaborate externally with our clients, as well as tips/tricks to make tasks easier and new technology hitting our industry. Stay tuned.
Line in the Sand
Posted by Emily Toliver on November 13, 2009 at 5:20pm
It is hard to believe that it was just a few years ago Building Information Modeling (BIM) was just getting ramped up. The BIM manager position was new, and most companies were still unclear on the benefits of this new technology. Being an Autodesk shop, M+NLB had already invested in AutoCAD MEP (formally known as Autodesk Building Systems). The pitch that vendors and manufacturers were going to provide all the content never really came to reality. Besides content, other early challenges included software interoperability issues, poor publications, very little support, and staff training challenges. To make matters more confusing, right in the middle of this transition, Autodesk introduced Revit MEP. Fast forward to today and we ask, “how far have we come?” We now know the limitations of the software, and, for the most part, are working through most of the issues. By generously sharing ideas in user groups, online forums, and blogs postings, the issues are being resolved with the help of the greater community. It has taken a unified effort of users from all disciplines to push and drive solutions to these early problems.
Portland Office
Posted by Amy Jarvis on November 13, 2009 at 5:05pm
Situated in beautiful downtown Portland near Pioneer Square, our Portland office engages in a wide variety of sustainable activities. In June, the Portland office was recognized by the BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) Business Center as the first Portland Climate Champion. Several articles have be written about this endeavor; I have included a few links below…
Corporate Sustainability
Posted by Amy Jarvis on November 13, 2009 at 4:59pm
M+NLB has a strong commitment to internal sustainability at both the corporate and local level. At the corporate level, we engage in the following activities.
Welcome!
Posted by Amy Jarvis on November 13, 2009 at 4:54pm
Welcome to our Corporate Sustainability blog. This blog will discuss internal sustainability at M+NLB and how we seek to “walk the talk” in our day to day office operations. It will also profile individual offices and discuss the development of an M+NLB green office standard, and the progress each office is making toward achieving company goals and relevant certifications.
Welcome
Posted by Karen Anslinger on November 06, 2009 at 4:19pm
There are few things in life more intimidating or exciting (!!) than a blank sheet of paper (or in this case, electronic MS Word doc). Oh the possibilities! The vastness! The future wide-open and ready for anything… but, oh, what to write???
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