1. SEPT2015 | THE NETWORK 9
I
’ve known Pliny Fisk and Gail Vittori, co-directors of the Center for
Maximum Potential Building Systems (The Center) in Austin, for nearly two
decades. They’d been pushing the envelope for sustainability in Central Texas
and beyond—and winning—for decades before I met them in 1999, and I
headlined them in Natural Home as the Godparents of Green. That was no stretch.
The Center was already known as the go-to incubator for the most
progressive, holistic initiatives in this newly emerging thing called
green building. Pliny and Gail had been causing serious commotion since 1975.
This year The Center—an extraordinary think tank and sustainable living center
where cutting-edge, even revolutionary, concepts are dreamed up and built—turns
40. The impact of those four decades is exponentially greater than fourscore. I’m
one among hundreds who can say that Pliny and Gail’s friendship and mentoring
pushed me to uphold higher standards and think more widely throughout my
career and my life.
I’mjoinedbytheinterns,staff,volunteersandvisitorswhofoundtheencouragement
and mentoring at The Center to became visionary designers, educators, builders
and businesspeople. I’m joined by thought leaders, change-makers and influencers
around the world who have worked with The Center—like the people at Stratus
Properties, which has developed prize-winning green developments with The
Center’s help, and the City of Austin, which worked with The Center to put the
nation’s first green building program into place.
I’m joined by Marilu Hastings, vice president of the sustainability program for the
Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, who credits The Center as “instrumental
in the launch of the green building movement worldwide,” and Lucia Athens, chief
sustainability officer for the City of Austin, who sees The Center as “a shining
beacon of hope in a world that has gotten a bit lost along the way and forgotten,
perhaps, that magic can happen.”
The list goes on and on, but the bottom line is that The Center has been pushing
that magic spark forward every day for 40 years. Our neighborhoods, cities and
planet are all better for it, and Pliny and Gail are heroes to many.
It’s time to party—and plan the next 40 years.
On Thursday, November 6, and Friday, November 7, The Center will
bring together leaders and visionaries from Central Texas and the
world for conversations over cocktails and educational interaction.
That’s two full-on days of serious commotion, in Austin—and you’re
invited.
The festivities will begin with a cocktail party at TRACE, the sleek restaurant that
serves seasonal and craft cuisine at the W Austin (one of the projects that Stratus
worked on with the Center). On Friday, The Center will host a symposium of
thought-provoking leaders and visionaries in the green movement—as only The
Center can deliver—followed by (you guessed it) another party. Guests are invited
to raise a toast during happy hour and dance the night away to live music at The
Center’s demonstration site in east Austin on Friday night.
Every dollar raised during the celebration will support The Center’s internship and
volunteer programs, demonstration projects and development of breakthrough
protocols, policies and prototypes. Key sponsors such as Stratus Properties +
ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin Energy Green Building, Integral Group
and Foundation Communities are paving the way for 40 more years of serious
commotion because they know that’s what our world needs.
You can, too—and you don’t want to miss this! Join us in creating a clean, green
future for all while having a whole lot of fun. Tickets and more information can be
found at www.cmpbs40.org.
(c) CMPBS
Ifvotingcouldreallychangethings,itwouldbeillegal.
Green Leaders
Gather in Austin
for Serious Commotion
Don’t Miss This Party!
Main Building (courtesy of Paul Bardagjy)
(c) CMPBS
ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE
robyn@robyngriggslawrence.com
Robyn Griggs Lawrence is a critically acclaimed
author and editor-at-large of the network. She is
also on the board of directors of the CMPBS.