The Kate Hurst USGBC Leadership Award
November 13, 2024 in Philadelphia at Greenbuild 2024!
The Kate Hurst USGBC Leadership Award is presented to an outstanding leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to sustainability in the built environment. This year’s recipient is:
Celebrating 25 Years as Kath Williams + Associates, Inc. today!
This Woman-Owned Business (WBE) sprouted from the Montana State University-Bozeman's EPICenter project in the 1990s. Inspired by bob berkebile and Don McLaughlin, the project supported an Industry Partners Program, led by David Gottfried.
Growing over the past 25 years, KW+A has served as LEED-AP on 158 certified projects including 16 Platinums around the world. Our success would only have been possible because of the support from our committed owners, experienced design/construction teams, and facilities managers who care for the projects into the future.
Volunteering for US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL and World Green Building Council brought life experiences and a host of friends who have enriched our lives.
We are blessed to have worked and continue to work in USA, India, Taiwan, Australia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala on exceptional "green building projects" that truly make a difference for the environment, our people, and as financially viable properties for the long term.
On this special day, I personally want to thank all of my associates, my partners, my friends, and especially, my family. Without you all, my life would not be this full and KW+A could not have been a success!
Kath was honored to serve as a Jury Member for the selection of the 2025 Living Future Heroes. Kath was named Living Building Hero in 2014.
What a challenging task as the nominees were exemplary in areas like how this nominee champions the transformation toward a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative, how the nominee influences communities and stakeholders, and how this nominee furthers ILFI's stated goal of fostering a true, inclusive community that is just and equitable.
Congratulations to all who were nominated. That alone is an honor.
Kampgrounds of America Corporate Headquarters, founded in Billings, Montana, 62 years ago, has opened its new offices with a gala celebration. Toby O'Rourke, CEO of KOA, thanked the staff and team that kept on target for LEED certification. The LEED plaque was presented by Peter Templeton, CEO of USGBC and GBCI, to rounds of applause from an appreciative audience of staff, local residents, and LEED team members. Kath Williams was honored to present the LEED certificates to the 47 members of the LEED team from 14 different professional firms.
Oscar Tang, KOA’s owner, was also in attendance and spoke briefly about the company’s growth and its commitment to Montana. The audience enjoyed his comment that the first reservations for KOA Kampgrounds were mostly made by postcards.
“The founders were entrepreneurs from Billings. It has always been headquartered here and it has grown tremendously, especially in the last 15 years,” he explained. “So, this is a way of making it clear that we are a Montana company. This building, I think, will perhaps further anchor that fact. Long after I’m gone, this company that grew out of this location from you all, from the efforts that you all have put in, will prosper on and on.”
Tang’s wife, Agnes Hsu-Tang, a world-renowned archaeologist, art historian and activist, curated a wide variety of art from the western region of the U.S. to give the building life.
Jason McGimpsey, architect from A&E Design, created the building’s chandelier which is made from repurposed trees taken from the site.
Mayor of Billings Bill Cole remarked how that KOA Headquarters being certified added to the commitment of the City of Billings as a LEED-Gold Certified City, the first in Montana.
It was also announced that Terramor, KOA's newest site, now open in Bar Harbor, ME earned the first SITES-Existing Landscapes in the USA and second in the world. Kath Williams + Associates, along with Catalyst Partners, led the effort to earn SITES-Gold.
Kath has been appointed by US Green Building Council to serve on the Location and Planning Technical Advisory Group (LP TAG) for LEED.
This volunteer committee will work to finetune LEED prerequisites and credits that address project location issues and integrative design process for project planning.
The appointment is for the year 2024.
On August 3, 2023, Chloe Naese became a LEED-GA with nearly a perfect score on the exam. This comes on the heels of her earning a Master of Landscape Architecture degree at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture in May of 2023.
Under the leadership of the Office of Sustainability, Montana State University student groups organized an Earth Week full of learning and activities. With a noon opening on the Malone Centennial Mall, "1.5 Minute Climate Talks" was a unique event based on the respected IPCC report and gave individuals 90 seconds to speak about their experiences and ideas regarding climate change. The Department of Political Science led the enlightening and informative discussion, as the large gathering explored the urgent need for action and solutions to protect the planet. "Anyone can speak their peace for 1.5 minutes on any topic related to climate change. Free Popcorn!" as cited by the announcement.
During a discussion later in the week, Kath Williams participated as a panelist on "Climate Change and Energy/Built Environment."
The week closed on Friday, Earth Day, with the evening called "NextGen Eco Fest: Music, Art, and Activisim for Climate Change."
The Women in Sustainability Leadership Awards (WSLA) were created to identify, advance, and celebrate women working in sustainability. Award recipients have been some of the most dedicated in the field, making significant positive changes to the planet, demonstrating bravery in the workplace, and mentoring the next group of women leaders.
Kath Williams was thrilled and humbled to be one of the 11 women honored this year.
https://www.wsla.global/
Annually the Honors College of Montana State University organizes and sponsors a series of learning sessions, with the 2022 topic being Innovation. A student-developed event series is in conjunction with Texts and Critics class, the university seminar for incoming Honors students. Prospective students, faculty, and community members are welcome to join WebEx events or view recordings of past events.
On March 30, 2022, Dusty Eaton and Kath Williams presented the Integrative Design Process used extensively throughout the design and construction of the LEED-Platinum Norm Asbjornson Hall. "The Norm," as named by the students, is the home of the College of Engineering, also named after Montanan and MSU graduate Norm Asbjornson, who donated $50 million for the project. His goal? "Change the way engineering is taught." The addition of the Honors College, in residence, has brought the interdisciplinary atmosphere for engineering education Mr. Asbjornson envisioned.
Dusty Eaton was principal architect on "The Norm" and Kath Williams served as LEED-AP from the first day of the project until earning LEEDv3-Platinum certification in 2018. Dusty is the CEO of A&E Designs, who partnered with ZGF, Seattle, to bring about this complex sustainable lab, "The Norm" has won the AIA Montana National Award and the International Institute for Sustainable Labs (I2SL) "Go Beyond" award.
Pictured in the photo are the Honors Present series students along with Dusty Eaton, Kath Williams, and Honors College Dean Dr. Ilse-Mari Lee.
Montana State University School of Architecture invited Kath Williams to present on "Issues In Sustainability" for Architecture 231. The class, facilitated by Stephanie Irwin, former intern for Kath Williams + Associates, draws students from all disciplines across campus. The newest building on campus, American Indian Hall, earned LEEDv4 Platinum and will be dedicated October 17. A photo of the drum room ceiling is shown above.
Over our 20 years of "Making a Difference," KW+A has supported 12 LEED Platinum projects. Today the American Indian Hall at Montana State University joined the growing list of new LEED version 4 Platinums. Congratulations to the owner and the team. It does take a team.
We are also very honored that three of the Platinums are by and for our Native American tribes in Montana. The first was the Payne Family Native American Center in Missoula; the second was the Blackfeet Community College South Wind Lodge (housing the Math/Science Division), and now the American Indian Hall (new home to Native American Studies program at Montana State.)
Check out "our" Platinums under our Projects Page.
"Transitioning to LEED v4.1 using Credit Substitutions" is being offered by USGBC Education. This live webinar on July 22, 2021, will be hosted by USGBC's Lisa Stanley and feature three LEED-APs with experience successfully bring LEED version 4 projects to certification. The focus will be on the process of credit substitutions and the how and why the decisions were made to attempt version 4.1 credits during the project development and documentation.
Kath Williams will present Hyalite Hall, a LEEDv4-Gold certified, residence hall at Montana State University.
Check out the details of the 1 p.m. Eastern, July 22, webinar on USGBC Education site to register for the webinar. GBCI CEUs available!
https://www.usgbc.org/education
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Haven broke ground on a new facility which will quadruple their capacity to help out those affected by domestic violence in the Gallatin Valley.
According to Executive Director Erica Coyle, beginning Jan. 1 through March 31, Haven served 349 survivors through their services, a 29% increase from the same time period the year prior.
The organization was able to shelter 48 women, men and children, a 33% increase from the same time last year.
Haven was founded in 1979 and has grown over the past four decades to serve over 1,000 survivors annually.
On April 30th, 2021, Haven’s staff and board members broke ground on their new facility north of Bozeman Pond Park, marking the beginning of a 12 to 18 month build by local construction company, Martel.
Since 2018, Haven has been raising funds for the new building, with a goal of $8 million and in January 2019, Haven’s Board of Directors selected MASS Design Group as the project architect. MASS Design Group’s work on this shelter has been centered around trauma-informed care. From KULR TV broadcast/website
Building A, which houses the offices, counseling and training center, was LEED Certified with 46 points on June 26, 2023.
Project website:
https://havenmt.org/havens-future
Dr. Kath Williams presented a three-session series of lectures for the ARCH 690 graduate students. The Global Track is a dual degree between Tongji University in Shanghai and University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Architecture.
The School of Architecture at the University of Hawai‘i at MÄnoa, and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University are partnered to offer a unique dual degree opportunity that will result in a Master’s Degree (MArch) in China and an accredited Doctor of Architecture (DArch) in the United States. The Global Track China Focus is a 3-year option within the University of Hawai‘i’s Doctor of Architecture program and includes coursework in both China and the United States.
Teaching virtually, Kath detailed the background and strategies of LEED, an analysis of the five LEED categories, and opportunities to use LEED as a tool for design, education, measurement, and certification. Students were encouraged to take the LEED-GA exam following this course and additional study as needed.
http://www.arch.hawaii.edu/global-track-dual-degree/
Wenzhu Li, a doctoral student at University of Hawaii at Manoa, has developed and is completing her D.Arch project during the 2020/2021 academic year. Her project, "Ecological Performance Evaluation and implementation approach in existing community regeneration," is based on an analysis of five international ecological rating systems, including LEED for Neighborhood Development. The project focuses on applicability of a rating system, perhaps hybrid of the five, to a 1940s neighborhood in Shanghai, her hometown.
Dean of Architecture Clark Llwellyn, serves as her advisor with committee members being Fiske Crowell from Sasaki Architecture and Kath Williams, Kath Williams + Associates.
Kath Williams has been invited as a special guest for the Indian Green Buildling Council Congress 2020. The annual Congress was to be held in Mumbai, India. It will now be VIRTUAL.
Check out past years! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6oXUdGvqg There is still time to register and participate LIVE. Kath's presentation is Saturday, October 31, at 11:00 India Standard Time. http://www.greenbuildingcongress.com/site/gbc/index.jsp
Kath was a founder of IGBC in 2001 and has been recognized as the first inductee into the Indian Green Building Hall of Fame. She has participated in the Congress and as a juror for the Green-I student competition since 2001.
MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL (KEYSTONE), SOUTH DAKOTA – September 14, 2020 – Mount Rushmore National Memorial is known for colossal stone carvings of four American presidents, Thomas Jefferson vanilla ice cream, and now environmental sustainability. The park concessioner, Xanterra Travel Collection, recently earned LEED® Platinum certification for the entire concession building and 4-star Certified Green Restaurant® status for Carver’s Café. These prestigious certifications validate the strength of Xanterra’s sustainability programs, exceptional maintenance practices, focus on environmental protection, sustainable sourcing, and commitment to the health of visitors and employees.
The mission statement of Xanterra, a Colorado-based national park concessioner and adventure travel company, is “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint.” This focus on environmental sustainability is also evident in Xanterra’s ambitious 2025 sustainability goals, which include 5% reduction in water and electricity consumption annually, 70% sustainable cuisine sourcing, 80% waste diversion, and 50% reduction in CO2 emissions. Jeff Miller, Xanterra’s Senior Director of Environmental Affairs, explained that Xanterra’s strategy is organized under four pillars: “use resources efficiently and effectively, strive for zero waste, build and operate sustainably, and provide guests with sustainable choices.”
Some of the initiatives that contributed to these certifications at Mount Rushmore include installing all new LED lighting that minimizes energy use and light pollution, upgrading heating and cooling systems, generating over 50% of concession building electricity with a new solar array, diverting over 50% of waste from the landfill, replacing cleaners with green alternatives, and installing a rooftop vegetable greenhouse. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world with over 50,000 certified buildings in 181 countries. LEED has become an international symbol of excellence by transforming the global building industry toward more efficient, healthy, and comfortable buildings. LEED for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) evaluates plans, procedures, and performance and the way that existing buildings are used, maintained, and renovated. Performance is scored in categories including location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation. Only 45 projects in the United States have achieved LEED O+M Platinum, the highest possible certification, under version 4.
This is the first building to achieve LEED O+M Platinum in South Dakota or in a US National Park unit. Xanterra collaborated with the National Park Service (NPS) and was supported by consultants Kath Williams + Associates (KW+A) and Quest Energy Group on this project. “This was a challenging project that showed leadership efforts at all levels,” said Kath Williams of KW+A. “I’ve been involved in hundreds of LEED certifications and know it takes a team, but Xanterra stands out because of the commitment to make every area of operations and maintenance the best they can be. This is an existing building with millions of visitors to serve and the Platinum award is a proud achievement for all.”
Even before earning LEED Platinum, Xanterra’s Cavers’ Café at Mount Rushmore was considered an industry leader in sustainable dining. In 2019 it became a 4-Star Certified Green Restaurant. This is the highest level of recognition from the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) for achievements in categories such as sourcing sustainable food, conserving water and energy, minimizing chemical pollution, and reducing waste through recycling. Of over one thousand restaurants that have achieved Certified Green Restaurant certification, Carvers’ Cafe has the second highest GreenPoints™ score, making it the second Greenest Restaurant® in North America. “Xanterra is proud to offer great food, quality service, and green piece-of mind to our customers,” said Lloyd Shelton, Director of Food and Beverage for Xanterra. “By dining with us, you can reduce your own environmental impact!”
These certifications are a product of Xanterra’s well-established focus on sustainability organized around an ISO 14001-certified Environmental Management System (EMS). Xanterra’s EMS drives environmental achievement through corporate environmental policy and a focus on continual improvement. Xanterra’s General Manager, Keith Cook, demonstrated that focus recently, “Our team is extremely proud of the progress we have made in reducing our environmental footprint and earning these certifications, but we continue to look for ways to improve. We are also pursuing Parksmart certification to guide and verify the sustainability of our parking facility at Mount Rushmore.”
Xanterra’s Sustainability Manager, Kevin Crosby, had this take on the certifications: “Before Theodore Roosevelt was enshrined at Mount Rushmore, he said that ‘nothing compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.’ We are working with our partners every day to meet the needs of our visitors while conserving resources and reducing our environmental footprint so that future generations will be able to enjoy the Memorial in the same way.”
Visitors to Mount Rushmore can participate in these efforts by using sustainable modes of transportation, selecting local or sustainable and food and gifts, recycling, and reducing their electricity use at home. The public can learn more about these certifications and some of the initiatives that contributed to them through displays at the memorial, on Xanterra’s website (www.mtrushmorenationalmemorial.com/environment/awards), or on the NPS website (www.nps.gov/moru).
Kath Williams has been asked to join the NorthWestern Energy Green Power Stakeholder Advisory Group.
Daylong workshops are being held throughout 2020 as educational and as listening sessions for all. Renewable energy production and distribution opportunities abound in Montana and Kath is honored to represent stakeholders in this important mission.
Montana Contractors Association announced its Building Excellence Awards for 2019. Each year, the MCA takes time out to look back at the exceptional work of its members and recognize those who have excelled at their craft in the categories of building, concrete, environmental, and highway. Awards are announced and distributed at the MCA Annual Meeting and Convention in January.
In the category of Best Commercial Project - Dick Anderson Construction won for Northwest Pipe Fittings, Billings.
This project earned LEED-Silver in 2019 and is the first factory/distribution center in Montana to be LEED certified.
With a committed owner and outstanding design/construction team, Kath Williams served as LEED-AP on this leadership project.
Norm Asbjornson Hall project has received the AIA Montana Honor Award for design distinction. The Honor Award is the single highest design award for the state of Montana and only given to one project. It was in competition with over 43 others. The jury, who are all distinguished architects from the Seattle area, noted the project is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking buildings they reviewed.
The lead juror stated that "if you find yourself anywhere in Montana, this building is a must-see. After spending several hours in the building she noted the student collaboration and innovation is palpable in every corner of the facility."
In 2019, "The Norm" also won the USGBC-Montana award for Innovation. Associate Vice President for University Services at Montana State University Dan Stevenson accepted the award in Missoula at the USGBC Member Summit.
fantastic turnout at the new KW+A Boise Office (located in Wheelhouse) for the USGBC Idaho Famous Holiday Social with ULI Idaho and Idaho Smart Growth!
KW+A generously sponsored the event and Senior Associate Richard Dykstra gave remarks introducing our story and services to the crowd of Boise area professionals. It was an immense success!
Richard Dykstra and Kath Williams attended Greenbuild 2019 in Atlanta.
This will be the 17th Greenbuild for Kath, having participated since the first "Greenbuild" in 2002 in Austin, Texas. Prior to that, USGBC held annual Member Summits, the first of which was held in Big Sky, Montana, with 63 people in attendance. The following years were USGBC Member Summits in Wintergreen, VA, Salishan, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Kath has not missed one, having hosted the first in Big Sky, then being tapped as KW+A to staff for the USGBC Greenbuild Program Committee for the first four Greenbuilds. She has been a presenter or moderator at every Greenbuild and was the keynote speaker at Waterbuild 2018 in Chicago.
As a Founding Vice President and Board Member of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories, Kath Williams was recognized for helping to launch I2SL and providing six years of dedicated service.
The I2SL community and the board of directors and officers were deeply appreciative of her commitment to energy-efficient and sustainable laboratories. I2SL, now with chapters world-wide, was built upon principles and strategies developed during the early years of EPA/DOE's Labs21 initiative and the USGBC's LEED for Laboratories. Founding chair, Phil Wirdzek, led EPA's initiative, Beth Shearer served as director of FEMP and Founding secretary/treasurer of I2SL, and Kath Williams led LEED for Laboratories and USGBC representative to Labs21 for nine years.
The I2SL Annual Conference and Technology Fair is the leading international conference focused on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in laboratories and related facilities.
Through technical sessions, demonstrations, and exhibits, lab owners, operators, designers, engineers, safety mangers, and users exchange information covering the life cycle of the laboratory from design to use to disposal of products and packaging. Kath was chosen to moderate a session on financial incentives for researchers in university energy-intensive laboratories.
Kath Williams was honored by the Bozeman Noon Rotary and inducted as a Paul Harris Fellow.
From the Rotary International website:
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. (The donation in Kath Williams' name was made by a local member for Kath's leadership in the community and the world.)
Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
Many other notable figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk.
The number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006.
The second Greenbuild Conference in Europe 2019, held in Amsterdam, Netherlands was an unprecedented success.
The event, organized in partnership with USGBC, witnessed a stellar line-up of industry leaders, speakers, green building professionals, stakeholders and a large number of attendees.
The various sessions served as an ideal platform for learning and the exchange of ideas in the area of sustainability, while the exhibition matched global standards with the latest products on display.
Watch the aftermovie with highlights HERE.
This week, KW+A will not just attend, but also exhibit at the Greenbuild Europe conference: Human Nature in Amsterdam.
Greenbuild Europe includes a variety of green building topics from general LEED sessions to in-depth technical sessions on materials, water, energy, site selection and planning, human health and performance.
The Energy Innovation Center (EIC) was targeted to be LEED-GOLD from concept stage, under the leadership of Developer and Contractor REL Facilities, Inc. and Ormond Builders.
On October 24, 2013 the Indian Green Building Council honored Kath by recognizing her as the first inductee into the IGBC Hall of Fame.
Kath Williams was one of three early officers/leaders of the World Green Building Council at a ceremony in Toronto October 2011. Chairman Tony Arnell from Australia presented each with the council's CHAIRMAN'S AWARD for services and support of the council during its formative years.
