Key Visits to the Duan Family Center

Two years after the opening of the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences, elected officials, thought leaders, and community-based organizations continue to visit and engage with the BU Sustainability team in this remarkable building. Much of this engagement focuses on providing insights to visitors on how to replicate the sustainability, geothermal for heating and cooling, and energy efficiency elements within the building. In 2024, there were several high-level visitors, including:

  • Five of the six New England governors and two Canadian provincial premiers
  • Over a hundred members of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration
  • A group of engineers from Ukraine who are working to enable energy independence, following the war’s devastation to critical infrastructure
  • The Mayor of Quebec City and the Consul General of South Korea to Boston
  • Several university leaders from peer institutions, and
  • Numerous leaders in the world of higher education sustainability, real estate, and sustainable project development.

How Did They Build That

The Smithsonian Channel Program, How Did They Build That, features the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences in the final episode of its third season, which aired in October 2024. The episode highlights the sustainability, architecture, and engineering feats it took to build Boston’s most recognizable building. The piece features BU’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Dennis Carlberg, Associate Provost Azer Bestavros, BU Sustainability student intern Jasmine Pham, and project partners from Suffolk Construction, KPMB Architects, LeMessurier, and Haley & Aldrich. You can now watch the episode on several cable platforms.

Commonwealth Climate Coalition

The Commonwealth Climate Coalition (CCC) is a nonprofit initiative that supports the state’s journey towards clean energy leadership. BU, being one of the higher education representatives in the state, collaborates with the state, municipalities, and the private sector to advance decarbonization initiatives. BU’s Institute for Global Sustainability’s Executive Director, Rebecca Pearl-Martinez, BU’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Dennis Carlberg, along with others from the Massachusetts higher education sector, work with the CCC, providing insights on decarbonization planning and workforce development.

Green Ribbon Commission

Boston University remains a committed partner within the Boston Green Ribbon Commission. Specifically, BU continues to work closely with and help lead the Higher Education Working Group, which BU’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Dennis Carlberg, co-chairs with Northeastern University’s Director of Sustainability Operations, Jacob Glickel. This past year, the working group has focused its efforts on strategizing decarbonization efforts related to emissions associated with utilities. Additionally, Lisa Tornatore, BU’s Director of Sustainability, continues to serve as a mentor and coach to organizations seeking to develop climate action plans.