The ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing hosted an informative discussion about the evolution of the green building industry and sustainable communities.

ULI Housing Interchange Webinar Series:
New Innovations in Green Communities and Energy-Efficient Housing
March 18, 2014, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Access the Webinar Archive

This ULI Housing Interchange Webinar Series program was moderated by the Terwilliger Center’s Molly Simpson and featured an expert panel comprising of: Helen Gurfel, executive director, ULI – Greenprint Center for Building Performance; Michael Catalano, Green Initiatives Project Manager, Jonathan Rose Companies; Philip S. Payne, chief executive officer, Gingko Residential; and Gregory J. Weaver, executive vice president – development, Catellus Development Corporation.

Watch the webinar archive to:

• Explore the best practices in green and energy-efficient housing for new construction and existing buildings.
• Hear about the latest trends in green building and community design that reduce environmental impact, improve efficiency, and reduce utility costs.
• Learn about practical innovations and low-cost solutions that can improve your bottom-line, and improve marketability.

Meet the Panelists

Michael Catalano, Jonathan Rose Companies
Michael Catalano joined Jonathan Rose Companies in 2012 as a project manager. He is responsible for planning, management, and implementation of green building retrofit projects throughout the investment practice portfolio. Mr. Catalano brings experience in environmental systems planning, sustainable architecture, cost estimating and construction administration. Prior to joining Jonathan Rose Companies, Mr. Catalano worked on a community based, environmental health mapping project at Weill Cornell Medical College in NYC and concurrently was a fellow with the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. Mr. Catalano previously worked at Ciardullo Associates, a New York-based architecture firm specializing in NYC public school design and also taught ecological architecture as an Adjunct Professor at New York Institute of Technology. Michael earned his Master’s in Urban Environmental Systems Management from Pratt Institute (where he was an Eva Hanhardt Scholar), his Master’s in Sustainability from the City College of New York and received his Bachelor of Architecture from New York Institute of Technology.

Helen Gurfel, ULI – Greenprint Center for Building Performance
Helen Gurfel is the executive director of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Greenprint Center for Building Performance. Greenprint is an alliance of leading real estate owners, investors, and strategic partners committed to improving the environmental performance of the global real estate industry. As the executive director, she is responsible for the overall management and growth of the center.

Helen was most recently a director of GE Capital Real Estate’s global sustainability group, where she spearheaded a number of initiatives, including development of sustainability programs for GE’s portfolios in France, Canada, and the U.K., establishment of a rooftop solar program to deploy solar installations across properties in North America and the U.K., and incorporation of innovative technologies into GE-owned properties. She was also a member of GE Capital Real Estate’s global valuation team and GE Energy Financial Services’ portfolio management team. Previously, she was a principal consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Helen received a B.S. in chemical engineering from Columbia University, an MBA from the Wharton School, and a master’s in international studies from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.

Philip S.  Payne, Gingko Residential
For over twenty years Mr. Payne’s primary focus has been the development, acquisition, rehabilitation and management of middle market (workforce) multifamily housing.

Mr. Payne is currently the CEO of Ginkgo Residential, which was formed in July 2010.  Ginkgo is primarily involved in the acquisition, management and substantial rehabilitation of middle market multifamily properties located throughout the southern United States. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Payne served as the CEO of Babcock & Brown Residential.  Prior to joining Babcock, Mr. Payne was the Chairman of BNP Residential Properties Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust that was acquired by Babcock & Brown Ltd, a publicly traded Australian investment bank, in February 2007.

In addition to his duties at Ginkgo, Mr. Payne is a member of the Board of Directors of Ashford Hospitality Trust, a NYSE listed real estate investment trust focused on the hospitality industry.

Mr. Payne is a member of the Urban Land Institute (“ULI”), ULI’s Responsible Property Investing Council (founding Chairman) and is co-chairman of ULI’s Climate, Land Use and Energy Committee.  He is a member of the National Multi Housing Council, Fannie Mae’s Green Financing Taskforce and the Leadership Council for Garrison Institute’s Climate, Mind and Behavior (CMB) Program.

Molly Simpson, Program Manager, ULI – Terwilliger Center for Housing
Molly Simpson is program manager of the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing. Ms. Simpson joined ULI in 2012 and is responsible for developing and implementing educational and research programs related to housing policy and practice including the Center’s publications, webinars, forums, and awards program.

Prior to joining ULI, Ms. Simpson was a graduate intern at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Office of Sustainable Housing Communities, where she supported the Sustainable Housing Initiative, focusing on promoting green, healthy, and energy-efficient affordable housing. She has also worked in sustainable and health-based community development as a consultant to federal clients including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ms. Simpson holds a Masters in Sustainable Urban Planning from the George Washington University and a B.A. in Environmental Studies with concentrations in Political Studies and Economics from Bard College.

Gregory J. Weaver, Catellus Development Corporation
Gregory J. Weaver, Executive Vice President of Catellus Development Corporation, is responsible for acquisitions and development throughout the country’s Southern and Midwest regions. He leads the following development projects: Mueller airport redevelopment, a 700-acre, sustainable, mixed-use development in Austin, Texas; Prairie Glen Corporate Center, a 92-acre corporate campus and part of the 1,200-acre Glenview Naval Air Station redevelopment situated 20 miles north of Chicago; and CirclePoint Corporate Center, a 65-acre, 1.3-millionsquare-foot office project in Westminster, Colorado.

Mr. Weaver joined Catellus in 2000. Roles included spearheading redevelopment at Mueller airport in Austin, TX and overseeing the development of Stapleton Business Center, a 300-acre, 3.5-million-square-foot business park in Denver, Colorado, and CirclePoint Corporate Center. During five years of ProLogis ownership, Mr. Weaver served as Catellus’ President and Managing Director and was responsible for all of the company’s mixed-use developments and retail portfolio.

Mr. Weaver is actively involved with the Urban Land Institute locally and nationally. He currently chairs the Austin District Council and is a member on the CDC Green Product Council. Additionally Mr. Weaver is a board member of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Weaver began his commercial real estate career with CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) in its San Diego Office in 1992 and is a graduate of the University of San Diego with a business degree.