Building on what you have

By Brian Sodoma

Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 | noon

Robert Arnold may not be an archi-tect. But he understands sustainable building enough to make himself a valuable resource for architects. As a senior contract administrator for JMA Architecture, Arnold takes over projects as a representative for the firm after the drawings are completed, contracts are signed and work is set to commence. And his knowledge of green building pays off handsomely for everyone involved.

As a project moves forward, Arnold maintains contact with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to make sure Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification points and processes are properly documented with the organization. There are considerable tax rebate incentives for those developers who build out projects to LEED Silver, Gold or Platinum standards. But administrative responsibilities for achieving those certifications need to be handled by someone familiar with the process, making Arnold’s position that much more important to everyone involved in a project.

A 20-year veteran of the Navy’s construction division, Arnold also helps JMA’s staff architects pursue LEED accreditations and teaches classes on sustainable building to JMA professionals and valley contractors who work on JMA projects.

“When I moved here (about three years ago), I started to see a lot more interest in green building, sustainable design and LEED accreditation,” Arnold said. “I got (LEED) certified within five or six months after I got here.”

But Arnold also has a greater role in shaping the overall educational framework for LEED accreditation.

About two years ago, the USGBC established Greenbuild 365, an online educational portal offering classes and information about requirements for becoming a LEED-accredited professional. Arnold is one of 30 national reviewers who have helped build the program. Today, he also serves on a panel to review green building curriculum and proposed courses.

Arnold picked up valuable construction experience in his 20-year career with the Navy, starting out as a laborer and eventually working his way up to an educator’s role, in which he ran a construction schoolhouse, teaching a variety of trades and construction management. He also picked up job task analysis experience in the Navy, which is what attracted the USGBC and JMA to Arnold for employment and as a reviewer.

“I don’t know where they got my résumé. I never knew jobs like this existed,” Arnold said about being called by JMA and the USGBC.

While there was never a formal green building training program for Arnold, the transition into specializing in the area was quite natural.

“In a lot of places I worked overseas (in the Navy), you kind of learn to build with what you have on hand, which in some ways is a sustainable idea, because you’re using local materials,” he said. “We were always having to say, ‘What do we have here to work with?’ You’re not going to call Home Depot and order lumber. Now, there’s just a formal process for recognizing all of this.”

To further help LEED education, Arnold said there should be a better way to make public the process that must be undergone for a building to achieve LEED certification after it is completed. Today, it is difficult for those managing current projects to learn from past projects.

“It’s not that anyone’s trying to hide anything; it’s just that we’re not there yet,” Arnold added.

But if there’s anyone who can help the green building world “get there” with this particular change, Arnold probably is in one of the best positions to make it happen.