14A — November 28 - December 11, 2014 — Owners, Developers & Managers — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
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C onstruction M anagement Owner of newly launched Simply Sustainable in Lambertville, NJ Twenty questions with movers & shakers: Lia Nielsen discusses sustainable construction mgmt.
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rescue groups and fosterers who pro- vide refuge for abused and neglected draft horses throughout the country. 3. When did you first feel that you had “made it” professionally? The day I was given my first project to manage (despite being straight out of school and only having done things “in theory.) 4. What prompted you to start Simply Sustainable? My husband, who is a green archi- tect, had been lamenting the lack of a single source for green products to which he could direct clients. The goal with starting Simply Sustainable was to offer a curated selection of products and associated services, coupled with knowledgeable staff, allowing for “one- stop-shopping,” so to speak. 5. What project or aspect of your career has made you personally, the most proud? Working on the Peter Lewis Library at Princeton University, which was designed by Frank Gehry. It was the first large-scale project I worked on (as an assistant superintendent.) It’s far from a “green” building, but I learned so much on that project. 6. With what project do you wish that you had been involved? The renovation and rebuilding of The
Reichstag, in Germany, has inspired me for many years. The building is a symbol of both good and bad. The reno- vation sought to preserve the history, down to the graffiti of occupying sol- diers, while modernizing the building, including the introduction of numerous sustainable features. 7. Where do you feel the most significant growth will occur in green products in the next two years and how will you manage those changes? I believe that there will be a greater focus on chemicals and VOCs within products. Just because a product, such as wood, comes from a sustainable source, or has recycled content, doesn’t automatically make it healthy to put in your home or workplace. I have already compared all the products I carry to the Living Building Challenge Red List to ensure they do not contain any of those significantly harmful chemicals. If we, as consumers, demand change, then manufactures will take the hint and invest in the necessary R&D to remove toxins from their products. 8. Are you most inspired by the challenges of retrofitting an ex- isting building or working with an architecture firm to collabora- tively design a new building? I love the character of older buildings and the stories they tell. Many design features and materials in older struc- tures are inherently “green.” I find the challenge of marrying the modern with the historic in an efficient and pleasing way to be exciting. 9. What one word would you like others use to describe you? What word would you use to describe yourself? I hope others find me inspiring and nice. Personally, I’d describe myself as “off-beat.” 10. Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty person? Definitely glass half full. 11. Do you have a daily ritual? How do you start each day? I live on a farm, which is practically a full-time job in and of itself. No matter the weather or how I feel, I’m up every morning caring for my horses, which, for me, is a form of meditation. 12. What types of projects are you most interested in pursuing and why? I’m endlessly inspired by the jux- taposition of old and new. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings is both a design/construction challenge, and wise sustainable practice. Certainly there is a need for certain new build- ings, but there are so many structures out there sitting unused. Why not take advantage of what already exists first? 13. What one thing on your bucket list would most surprise your friends and colleagues? I’d really like to visit space. With all the progress Elon Musk is making on
the commercial space travel front, I can actually hope it might happen. 14. If you could be a super hero, who would you be and why? The BlackWidow from the Avengers, because she’s totally badass. 15. After Sandy, many people are interested in building sustainable and resilient homes. Do you see any particular trends? I believe the destruction of Sandy (any many other major storms in re- cent years) has brought home the fact that climate change exists and no one unaffected. I believe that these storms have made people realize the impor- tance of energy efficiency and indepen- dence, not just from fossil fuels, but from large scale utilities. After Sandy I had customers clambering for solar, not realizing that grid-tied solar won’t work when the whole grid is down. I hope this leads to the development of better and more cost-effective battery back-up systems. 16. What misconception about sustainability do you find most frustrating? The myth that green products and construction inherently cost more. 17. What does your position as an Owners Rep entail? An Owner’s Rep is just that, a rep- resentative of the owner of a project. I am the point of contact for all parties, though relieving the burden on the owner and keeping track of all aspects of a project, from contracts and sched- ule, to making sure the right products are being used. 18. What do you hope to achieve professionally before you retire? I’d like for my business to be success- ful and something I’m proud to have built, which will continue beyond me. 19. What type of music to you listen to and do you play any in- struments? I don’t play any instruments, howev- er I spent many years singing. My play- list varies widely from instrumental throughMetallica, though the greatest percentage is alternative-rock. 20. What one piece of advice would you give someone who wanted to follow in your foot- steps? There are many facets to the “green” industry. Identify what inspires you the most, be it products, or energy, or agriculture and focus on that. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. You can always expand later. To interview Lia Nielsen or find out more about her work, contact AlexandreaMerrell at Orndee Om- nimedia. Orndee handles public relations and brand management for some of the most well-known names in real estate development, engineering, architecture and construction. www.Orndee.com 212-203-0363. n
ia Nielsen BSBA, LEED GA, WBE , and owner of the newly launched green prod-
ucts and construction management firm, Simply Sustainable in Lambertville, NJ has spent her career championing prac- tical sustainability solutions for commer- cial and residential projects. She prides
Lia Nielsen
herself in her commitment to healthy buildings and integrated project man- agement and is the anchor member of the Green Building Center’s New Jersey chapter. 1. Was there a single incident or event that inspired you to focus on sustainable construction manage- ment and green products? I first learned about the concept of “sustainable development” when I was a teenager, and was immediately intrigued. I’d always been interested in ecology and architecture. It was simply a matter of finding my niche. 2. Other than promoting green living, how do you spend you free time? Last year I started the Draft Horse Rescue Resource which is a network of
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