Our mission is to research, develop and promote methods, processes and tools that define and quantify sustainability for cities and infrastructures. These tools include the all-inclusive infrastructure rating system currently in development. Our goal is to better enable the adoption, utilization, and promotion of sustainable solutions for the design, delivery, and operations of large-scale urban developments and infrastructures. The Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure was founded in 2008 by a generous donation from Paul and Joan Zofnass, and is housed at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. The Zofnass Program extends its activities to several schools at Harvard, such as Public Health, Government, Business and the Center for the Environment. The Zofnass Program is supported by various industrial partners through the Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory Board.

BioCities and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure are proud to debut the first installment in our Transforming Cities series: How Food Systems Shape Cities. On May 2nd, we will take an in-depth look at the ecological, social and economic issues surrounding our ability to feed cities. Special guests will debate the questions: How can NYC tap our regional farm economy? How can food systems integrate with urban ecologies? Can urban farming work as a viable economic enterprise and scale successfully in a dense urban environment? What is the potential of agriculture for renewing the natural capital and infrastructure of cities? Our event will feature a locally provided lunch (sponsored by Whole Foods Market) and a chance to hear from some of the businesses that are addressing these issues. Wednesday, May 2 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Solo Event Space 40 Broad Street (ground floor) New York, NY 10004 Tickets are available here. For more information, visit biocities.org

Now available for download is the Envision™ Guidance Manual. This document outlines the program, rating system, key features, and structure, and includes an easy-to-use guide to understanding and using the Envision™ rating tool to assess the sustainability of a project. The manual includes a detailed explanation of 60 assessment objectives, presented within the five categories of: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Risk. Each of the sixty credits is explained in a two-page narrative that includes the credit name, intent, levels of achievement, description, explanation on how to advance to higher achievement levels, evaluation criteria and documentation, sources, and related credits. The Envision™ rating system is designed to be used not only as a project assessment tool but as a guidance for sustainable infrastructure design and integrated education and resource library. Envision™ is the product of a joint collaboration between the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. Click here to download the document

In today’s environment in which infrastructure must perform, it has become increasingly challenging as demands for energy and water resources climb. The professionals who design and build these projects face a tall order in the years ahead: satisfying ever-growing demand, while at the same time responsibly addressing the potential effects caused by climate change and the increasing demand for resources, through integrating sustainable techniques in infrastructure design and construction. The works that best meet those challenges – and can serve as an example to others – can qualify for verification under Envision™, the first rating system to gauge infrastructure sustainability. Envision™ is the product of a strategic alliance and collaboration between the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), a nonprofit organization co-founded by the American Public Works Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Council of Engineering Companies, and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure. Read more

You're overseeing a large-scale project, but you're not an engineering or construction specialist, and so you need an overview of the related sustainability concerns and processes. To introduce you to the main issues, experts from the fields of engineering, planning, public health, environmental design, architecture, and landscape architecture review current sustainable large-scale projects, the roles team members hold, and design approaches, including alternative development and financing structures. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainability within infrastructural systems, such as those for energy, water, and waste, so that you know what's possible. And best of all, they present here for the first time the Zofnass Environmental Evaluation Methodology guidelines, which will help you and your team improve infrastructure design, engineering, and construction. Purchase the book at Amazon.com