Event Recap: Built to Lead: Lessons in Building Resilience
April 8, 2026
On Wednesday, April 8, A Better City hosted a fifth and final panel in the "Built to Lead: Lessons in Building Decarbonization and Resilience" series, a showcase of the climate leadership of A Better City member companies and institutions. Although the previous four panels have focused on different aspects of building decarbonization, this panel event focused on building resilience: how building and asset owners and developers are responding to current and future climate challenges. All panelists were asked to include the work underway to mitigate sea level rise and storm surge, increased precipitation and stormwater, extreme heat, and wind.
The panelists were:
- Andy Dankwerth, Senior Vice President of Design & Development, Pembroke who led us through the work underway at Commonwealth Pier – an historic pier and building, a lot of which overhangs into the water. He discussed what is being done to fortify both the pier and building. The project is nearing
- David Burson, Senior Project Manager, Mass General Brigham walked us through the resilience strategy of the healthcare system including case studies of work that has already been done, challenges ahead particularly on the MGH campus, and some new construction on that campus aimed in part to help mitigate some of these climate challenges.
- Doug Manz, Partner & Chief Investment Officer, The HYM Investment Group then discussed the phased approach HYM is taking to the development of Suffolk Downs, the old racetrack that spans both Boston and Revere. He discussed this approach to their land use plan, their resiliency plan, and what the full mitigation build will look like when completed.
- Andrew Wang, Vice President, Design, Related Beal then discussed the proposed mix use development known as Channelside on the Fort Point Channel. He walked us through what is on site today and the proposed design of commercial, office, lab, retail, residential and mixed-use buildings, public parks and open spaces including the Harborwalk,
We explored the question of why the asset owners chose to proceed with the retrofit, building or design of these projects knowing the challenges with each project especially as it relates to rising seas and storm surge. A memorable response to this was, “The day we’re afraid to build because of climate change, is the day we should go home.” The panelists were then asked questions relating to responsiveness to heat, flooding and social vulnerability, where water being held in retention ponds was pumped out to and how they stopped it coming right back, whether Boston is at the leading edge of this work, and whether challenges with district wide solutions kept the panelists up at night.
Thank you to the panelists for sharing their time and expertise! Please check out their slides: here.
