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MIT receives 3 Cambridge awards

Institute is honored for historical preservation and sustainability
A cross-section of the Stata stormwater system.
Caption:
A cross-section of the Stata stormwater system.
Credits:
Image courtesy of MIT Facilities
The Stata Center stormwater system.
Caption:
The Stata Center stormwater system.
Credits:
Image courtesy of MIT Facilities

MIT received three awards from the City of Cambridge this month for various preservation, transportation and environmental projects.

The Cambridge Historical Commission honored preservation projects across the city at the 14th annual Preservation Recognition Program, held on May 20 at the newly renovated Main Branch of the Cambridge Public Library. MIT was among the nine honorees for its exterior restoration of W1, the old Ashdown House at 305 Memorial Drive, formerly the Riverbank Court Hotel. The program promotes high-quality preservation work in the City and honors property owners who conserve and protect the city’s architecture. Department of Facilities Program Manager Sonia Richards and Senior Planner Thayer Donham accepted the award on behalf of the Institute. Historical Commission Executive Director Charles Sullivan expressed his appreciation to MIT for giving such robust attention to the exterior features of this historical structure.

On May 25, the city honored MIT with two GoGreen Awards for its enhanced transportation and commuting programs and for the Stata Center’s innovative stormwater management and re-use system. At the ceremony, city officials praised MIT’s overall alternative-transportation program, and particularly noted the Institute’s bicycle commuter benefits and amenities, including new maintenance stations, showers and storage facilities. MIT Transportation and Parking Operations Manager Larry Brutti accepted the GoGreen Award on behalf of the Institute in the transportation category.

In the stormwater management category, city officials recognized the Stata Center system’s overall objective of improving water quality in the Charles River, and specifically cited the system’s ability to collect 50,000 gallons of rainwater for site irrigation and supplemental toilet-flushing activities. Department of Facilities Director of Campus Planning and Design Pamela Delphenich accepted the stormwater management award.

MIT previously received the city’s GoGreen Awards in 2001 for transportation programs, in 2004 for climate and energy initiatives, and in 2006 for waste reduction and recycling. MIT has received more GoGreen Awards since the program’s inception in 1999 than any other individual organization. The awards program was held at City Hall Annex, the city’s first green building, which achieved gold status under the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) program.

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