Catalyst Partners

10/06/2025

Last week, Catalyst Partners joined Ferris State University and the project team, Integrated Design Solutions & Granger Construction Company, for a beam and brick signing at the new residence hall, “The Dawg House”!

The 84,490 sq. ft. facility will house 282 students, 6 hotel rooms, and a Hall Director apartment — strategically located north of the football stadium to strengthen community and Bulldog pride.

Catalyst Partners is proud to be managing the LEED certification, along with energy modeling and commissioning, to ensure the building meets its sustainability goals. We’re excited to see “The Dawg House” come to life as a high-performing, student-centered addition to campus!

07/15/2025

Catalyst Partners is excited to be returning to the MiAPPA 2025 Summer Conference! This year our President, Amanda Brookes, & Director of Business Development, Benjamin Glendening, will be at "Evolving Facilities: A Mountain of Change" from July 16th-18th. Be sure to say hi to them at the CP booth!

Register here: https://miappa.appa.org/conferences/

The conference is almost here! The educational sessions are listed on the agenda. Just a reminder the Young American Dinner event is a secondary registration! IF you have not already registered for this event do so right away – there is limited seating and we need to turn in our menu selection by ...

07/14/2025

We’re excited to share more about the Ferris State University Early Learning Center! This LEED v4 BD+C: New Construction Certified building prioritized indoor environmental quality, material health, energy use reduction, and water use efficiency to support early learners, student-teachers, and families alike.

Project Highlights:
33.3% Energy Cost Reduction
46% Open Space
15% Recycled Material Use
100% Outdoor Water Use Reduction
33% Indoor Water Use Reduction
100% Lighting Controls Provided to Occupants

A huge shout out to our partners that made this project a success:
Ferris State University
Granger Construction Company
InterActive Studio,LLC
Andy J. Egan Co.
Highpointemployeeowned

Access Case Study Here: https://www.catalyst-partners.com/client_stories/ferris-state-university-early-learning-center/

Ferris State University Early Learning Center Project Details Location Ferris State University 1310 Cramer Drive, Big Rapids, MI 49307 Services Utilized Green Building CertificationsEnergy Modeling Project Size 5,000 Gross Square Feet Project Achievements LEED for New Construction v4 Certified The C...

07/01/2025

Join us in advocating to save our public lands! Message your representatives to tell them that our land is not for sale. The current bill would force the largest sale of public lands in modern history - more than 250 million acres across 11 Western states, including national forests, critical habitat areas, and well loved climbing, fishing, skiing, biking and camping sites like the Eastern Sierra, Big Sur, Mount Hood, and Little Cottonwood Canyon.

This bill also requires oil and gas lease sales in the Western Arctic and significantly expands logging in our national forests.

These public lands are vital to our health, environment, economy, and country. They provide more value when they are well cared for, not exploited.

Take action now by messaging your representatives:
https://preserve.nature.org/page/171039/action/1?locale=en-US

hashtag hashtag hashtag

Tell Congress America’s public lands need to be kept in public hands.

06/30/2025

As comes to an end, our commitment to inclusivity does not. Catalyst Partners is driven to creating spaces where all belong. When it comes to love, our motto is: the more, the better.

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06/25/2025

Join Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, tomorrow June 26th, for their webinar "The Intersection of Passive House, Equity, and Affordability". Discover how MSR Design partnered with GAP alternative high school students to turn Passive House strategies into real-world impact—creating affordable, LEED Gold-certified homes while empowering youth with hands-on experience in sustainable construction.

Register here: https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/3k7453lxbrn03?_gl

06/20/2025

Today we honor — a day to celebrate freedom, honor Black history, and recognize how far there still is to go.

Learn more about the history of Juneteenth and why it matters here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/juneteenth

Juneteenth is a time to gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future. Discover ways to celebrate this African American cultural tradition of music, food and freedom.

05/30/2025

Building envelope commissioning (BECx) isn’t just a box to check—it’s a strategic process that protects your building’s long-term performance, durability, and energy efficiency. In our latest blog, Kyle Rieth, Director of Building Performance, shares seven key lessons learned from real-world BECx projects—covering everything from early involvement and team coordination to testing, documentation, and post-occupancy training.

Whether you're a building owner, architect, or contractor, this piece will help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure your envelope performs as designed.
Read the full article to strengthen your next project from the outside in:

https://www.catalyst-partners.com/2025/05/lessons-learned-in-building-envelope-commissioning/

Start building better—read now.

Building envelope commissioning (BECx) is a critical process in ensuring the durability, energy efficiency, and overall performance of a building’s enclosure. It involves verifying that the building's exterior (walls, windows, roof, etc.) meets the design specifications and functions as intended u...

05/27/2025

Join GreenHome Institute for their webinar "Intro to Passive House Certification for Existing Buildings", tomorrow, May 28th at 1:00 PM ET! Come learn about PHIUS certification, the opportunities of retrofit certification, and the human health, environmental, and safety benefits.

Register here: https://givebutter.com/PHIUSReviveGHIceWebinar

GreenHome Institute Weekly Free CE Webinar Presents:

05/19/2025

Join the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum for their webinar "The Port of Detroit's Path to Net Zero", tomorrow, May 20th at 10:00 AM ET! Come learn about the critical role ports play in tackling the climate crisis, specific initiatives like biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cells, and electric equipment that reduce emissions, and how DWCPA is partnering with industry, government, and communities to drive lasting change.

Register here: https://misbf.org/blog/misbf_events/the-port-of-detroits-path-to-net-zero/

#2030

05/14/2025

Help Protect ENERGY STAR — It Only Takes 1 Minute

The federal ENERGY STAR program—including the widely used Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool—is at risk of being eliminated by October 1, 2025.

This would be a significant setback for energy efficiency efforts across the country, with real consequences for homeowners, businesses, and communities.

For over 30 years, ENERGY STAR has:
• Saved Americans over $500 billion in energy costs
• Reduced harmful emissions
• Promoted innovation through a successful public-private partnership that works across industries

In just one minute, you can help protect this vital program.

Submit your support by entering your name, address, and email—your representatives will be automatically identified, and a pre-written message by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) will be sent with just one click.

https://aia.quorum.us/campaign/123455/

American Institute of Architects

05/12/2025

Last week was one for the books! Catalyst Partners hosted an event with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to celebrate 25 years of LEED making an incredible impact on our industry, and we attended Michigan Green Building Collaborative's Michigan Energy Summit, where we got to celebrate the energy efficiency of buildings around Michigan & tour the incredible Grand Rapids Art Museum and Grand Rapids Public Museum and learn about their sustainable initiatives.

Take a peak at some highlights: