John L. Knott Jr. has been named as the Health Product Declaration Collaborative’s (www.hpdcollaborative.org) first Executive Director following a national search. The Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC) is a customer-led standards-setting organization committed to the continuous improvement of the building industry’s environmental and health performance, through transparency and innovation in the building product supply chain. Mr. Knott succeeds Meredith Elbaum AIA who served as Acting Executive Director of HPDC since its founding in Fall 2012.
Mr. Knott is a third generation developer and a recognized leader in sustainability. In his 40 year career he has worked on award winning projects in Baltimore and Washington DC; the University of Texas Health Science Center in the Houston Medical Center; Dewees Island in South Carolina; and the Noisette Community of North Charleston, South Carolina. He is the creator of the CityCraft process, a planning process that restores and builds the economic, environmental and social health of communities.
He has advised the White House and the Department of Homeland Security on energy security and sustainability, and served as an advisor to HUD, DOE, EPA and the National Park Service, as well as cities, major corporations, and foreign governments.
Since 1994, Mr. Knott has served in numerous national leadership roles for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) including as a founding member of the Sustainable Development Council and Responsible Property Development Council, and the Founding Chairman of the ULI’s District Council for South Carolina (2004-2008). From 2002-2007, Knott served as chairman of the U.S. Working Group for Urban-Suburban Indicators in compiling the landmark Heinz Center report, “The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems.” He also serves the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation as a Trustee as well as an advisory board member for the Remaking Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon. Mr. Knott was given the South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award by the State of South Carolina in February 2005, the state’s highest environmental honor and in January 2006, Metropolis magazine named him as one of the world’s leading design visionaries.
“The HPD Collaborative has made remarkable progress over the last 18 months. I am excited about being selected to play a leadership role in developing disclosure standards for the content of all materials and products in commerce, along with their associated health impacts,” said Mr. Knott.
He added: “My family’s work for 100+ years has been rooted in the understanding that we are responsible for the long term health of all those we serve with the buildings, neighborhoods, and communities we create. As a society, we must face the challenge of better understanding the health implications of the places we live and work. The opportunity to accept this challenge, engage those who are involved in the built environment process and assist them in making informed decisions about the habitat they are responsible for is a capstone for my career and a legacy of health that I can leave for our children and grandchildren.”
Peter Syrett, the HPDC Board Chair and a Partner at rePlace Urban Studio, noted: “John’s career has been about making healthy places. We are delighted to have him join us and to have his passion, energy, and knowledge focused on making a transparent and healthy building product marketplace.”
Gail Vittori, Board member and Co-Director of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, praised John's appointment, reflecting that, "John’s exceptional leadership experience will be key to position the Health Production Declaration specifically, and transparent disclosure more generally, to become ‘standard operating procedure’ for building material specification and procurement.”
Other Health Product Declaration Collaborative Board members echoed these sentiments:
“Mr. Knott’s diverse industry experience and leadership roles bring an exciting perspective to the Health Product Declaration Collaborative that I believe will allow us to engage successfully with manufacturers and expand acceptance of the HPD across multiple stakeholder groups,” said Aaron Smith, Board Treasurer and Director Sustainable Building Solutions for ASSA ABLOY.
Amanda Kaminsky, HPDC Board Vice-Chair, and Sustainable Construction Manager with The Durst Organization in New York City, observed: “John has a keen sensibility for how all the pieces of a puzzle fit together to effect holistic change. He embodies the collaborative energy behind the development of the Health Product Declaration to date - energy vital for the meaningful progress sought in our materials marketplace.”
Anthony Bernheim, HPDC Board Member and Principal, Sustainable Built Environments, noted that, “John brings a wealth of real-world experience to the Health Product Declaration Collaborative at an important moment in history, at a time when our industry is paying more attention to green building and human health. His leadership will guide the further development of the Health Product Declaration so that the building industry will have better tools for product selection and specification.”
About the Health Product Declaration Collaborative
The Health Product Declaration Collaborative is a customer-led organization for companies and individuals committed to the continuous improvement of the building industry’s environmental and health performance, through transparency and innovation in the building product supply chain. The Collaborative created and supports The Health Product Declaration Open Standard, a format that systematizes reporting language to enable transparent disclosure of building product content and associated health information. It defines the critical information needed by building designers, specifiers, owners and users. It is freely available to all at www.hpdcollaborative.org.
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 21, 2023
Cleveland's Glick Center hospital anchors neighborhood revitalization
The newly opened MetroHealth Glick Center in Cleveland, a replacement acute care hospital for MetroHealth, is the centerpiece of a neighborhood revitalization. The eleven-story structure is located within a ‘hospital-in-a-park’ setting that will provide a bucolic space to the community where public green space is lacking. It will connect patients, visitors, and staff to the emotional and physical benefits of nature.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 21, 2023
Multifamily housing investors favoring properties in the Sun Belt
Multifamily housing investors are gravitating toward Sun Belt markets with strong job and population growth, according to new research from Yardi Matrix. Despite a sharp second-half slowdown, last year’s nationwide $187 billion transaction volume was the second-highest annual total ever.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 21, 2023
New multifamily housing and mixed-use buildings in Portland, Ore., must be ready for electric vehicle charging
The Portland, Ore., City Council recently voted unanimously to require all new residential and mixed-use buildings to be ready for electric vehicle charging. The move amends Portland’s zoning laws to require all new multi-dwelling and mixed-use development of five or more units with onsite parking to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
K-12 Schools | Feb 18, 2023
Atlanta suburb opens $85 million serpentine-shaped high school designed by Perkins&Will
In Ellenwood, Ga., a southeast suburb of Atlanta, Perkins and Will has partnered with Clayton County Public Schools and MEJA Construction to create a $85 million secondary school. Morrow High School, which opened in fall 2022, serves more than 2,200 students in Clayton County, a community with students from over 30 countries.
Museums | Feb 17, 2023
First Americans Museum uses design metaphors of natural elements to honor native worldview
First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City honors the 39 tribes in Oklahoma today, reflecting their history through design metaphors of nature’s elements of earth, wind, water, and fire. The design concept includes multiple circles suggested by arcs, reflecting the native tradition of a circular worldview that encompasses the cycle of life, the seasons, and the rotation of the earth.
Architects | Feb 17, 2023
Architect of the Capitol fired by President Biden after strong bipartisan criticism
Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton was let go this week following alleged abuse of authority, misuse of government property, and wasted taxpayer money.
High-rise Construction | Feb 15, 2023
Bjarke Ingels' 'leaning towers' concept wins Qianhai Prisma Towers design competition
A pair of sloped high-rises—a 300-meter residential tower and a 250-meter office tower—highlight the Qianhai Prisma Towers development in Qianhai, Shenzhen, China. BIG recently won the design competition for the project.
Senior Living Design | Feb 15, 2023
Passive House affordable senior housing project opens in Boston
Work on Phase Three C of The Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony, a 55-apartment midrise building in Boston that stands out for its use of Passive House design principles, was recently completed. Designed by The Architectural Team (TAT), the four-story structure was informed throughout by Passive House principles and standards.
Designers | Feb 13, 2023
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers Establishes Diversity Advancement Scholarship Fund
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, a design firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, contributed $25,000 to fund the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship, administered through the Connecticut Architecture Foundation. The fund provides scholarships for students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups who are seeking degrees in architecture or engineering.
Office Buildings | Feb 12, 2023
Smyrna Ready Mix’s new office HQ mimics the patterns in the company’s onsite stone quarry
Designed by EOA Architects to showcase various concrete processes and applications, Smyrna Ready Mix's new office headquarters features vertical layering that mimics the patterns in the company’s stone quarry, located on the opposite end of the campus site. The building’s glass and concrete bands are meant to mirror the quarry’s natural contours and striations.