August 17, 2010 20 Comments

Know Your Business

The TableI’m frequently given the best opportunity in the world: the chance to explore a world I’m not normally a part of. Next week, I’m going to Birmingham, Alabama to speak at Green Building Focus, thanks to some wonderful people, including Mr. Merrill Stewart, who has the dubious fortune to have been the very first non-Human Business Works guest to my new offices. More on Mr. Stewart later.

What I Don’t Know Is the Best Part of What I Do

I know nothing about building. I do know, however, that adaptive reuse has been a passion of mine for decades. You see, I love mill towns. I live in a reclaimed mill building right now, and have lived in a few over the years. That’s part of green building.

Another part of green building is growing community around these projects. In a world where we’re just as quick to tear down the old, to run off and start fresh on some unturned soil, there are people out there reclaiming those frontiers all around us that I’ve talked about before. And whenever you meet someone doing that kind of work, and who also understands how to bring community to bear on such experiences, you go with him or her.

Merrill Stewart is one of those people. I had the pleasure of sitting down to talk about his business, about why Stewart Perry and all the other sponsors of the Green Building Focus event were dragging me down there, and what I could do to help Birmingham and the green building world a little in the process. Mr. Stewart is a smart man, who knows his strengths, who’s overcome his challenges (so far, so good), and who knows that by growing the value of others, he will grow as well.

He sold me on his passion for Birmingham, Alabama, and for the story of a 100 year old city that’s looking to reinvent and rebuild and reuse the better parts of the past, while never losing sight of those parts we all might wish to forget, but never should. And when we talked about social media, Mr. Stewart said to me, several times, shortly after talking about how he was using the tools of social media to be successful in his business, that his job was pouring concrete and hanging steel.

What I Do Know Is What I Share

I don’t know how to build or rebuild a factory building into a home like mine. I know people. I know how to build communities around rebuilding a muddled downtown. And I know that we’re going to have fun in Birmingham, next week.

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  • http://dresramblings.com Andre Natta

    We’re looking forward to hearing how what you do know can help folks down here move Birmingham, AL and the surrounding region forward. At least, that’s what I’m looking forward to – that and a chance to talk in person again :)

  • Jamespfahy75

    So glad you’re doing this. Cheers.

  • http://twitter.com/1955Design David W. Zemens

    The most energy efficient and energy saving building is one that has been adapted for reuse. Tearing down a building and rebuilding it uses ridiculous amounts of energy in the construction process, regardless of how “energy efficient” the final structure is.

  • Asia

    well something gots to give at the present time. we have not quite come up with an idea that will save loads energy while producing energy efficient automobiles, homes etc. I guess these new structures will make up for the energy used 100 times over. We are creating a better living for us all. Like a painting you cannot get the full pleasure of viewing the picture if your nose is to it, focusing on one color, or line. You must take a few steps back, view the whole picture.

  • http://www.openlybalanced.com/blog Jess @OpenlyBalanced

    I love that you are going to do this! What a fascinating and educational experience it will be on both sides. Here’s to community-building for a brighter future.

    • http://www.ottomanhotelpark.com/ Istanbul Hotel

      Agree with you.

  • Anonymous

    So the part of Birmingham that we might want to forget, but shouldn’t — includes the civil rights era bombing of a church when four little girls died.

    Birmingham, on the other hand, has a strong history of positive urban planning…so that augers well for the Green Building Focus. Plus Willie Mays was born right outside of the city and played for the Birmingham Black Barons.

    Safe trip, Chris — and let us know what you learn.

  • http://www.deongordon.com Deon

    Chris, it’s certainly going to be a pleasure having you in town to share your wisdom, expertise, and good vibes. I’m sure you’ve gotten a decent dose of what Birmingham is and, hopefully (I’m definitely optimistic), we’ll reap the benefits of the seeds you’re planting here very soon.

  • http://jamie.sandford.org/ Jamie Sandford

    Looking forward to the visit. There are some great things happening in the area of sustainability and a renewed movement of open space preservation that will be surprising. From the plan for a park system in Birmingham proposed in 1925 by the Olmstead brothers (planners of New York’s Central Park) to today’s reuse and reinventing of thousands of acres of greenspace donated by the steel industry that gave birth to the city, Birmingham is moving toward a greater appreciation for the natural resources it has immediate to its city center.

    We hope that we can share a bit of this with you too and the participants of the Green Building Focus conference while they are in town.

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  • http://reallifemadman.blogspot.com Marjorie Clayman

    oh, okay. Interesting. I thought immediately of the green roof process and solar panels and things like that. Never occurred to me that building rehab could also be green. Hmm.

    Now, I need help understanding something semi-related to your post. Mill buildings and Bostonians. What is going on there? I went to Boston for the first time this Summer and I made my friends really mad because, well, the site of the Boston Massacre was newly located at the bottom of a very large and deep construction hole and I admittedly threw a bit of a hissy fit. Meanwhile, the friend I was staying with took me to a mill building shopping center and pointed out several other mill buildings too.

    I have nothing against mill buildings and there certainly is a lot of history there, but…it was the Boston Massacre, for heaven’s sakes! I need enlightenment :)

  • http://www.TacticalMarketingLabs.com BrettRelander

    I’m really glad that the building community is starting to get that it’s not about homes or buildings, it’s about people and how you connect with those people. Although I’m in the social media marketing business I’m also a LEED Accredited Professional through the U.S. Green Building Council and have a passion for the environment, green building, and sustainability. I’m extremely happy that this group is going to be able to take advantage of Brogan’s knowledge and experience to move Birmingham in the right direction and set a replicable example for other communities. Nice Work!
    Brett Relander

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  • Anonymous

    My favorite part of this “the story of a 100 year old city that’s looking to reinvent and rebuild and reuse the better parts of the past, while never losing sight of those parts we all might wish to forget, but never should.” It makes me think about us as individuals. Shouldn’t we do the same? Reinvent, rebuild and reuse the better parts of ourselves. How great would it be if we were all doing that with ourselves and our world? Thanks Chris.

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  • http://www.socialcubix.com/services/facebook-connect Facebook Connect Integration

    Nice read as always Chris! Best of luck for next week!

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  • Jim

    Birmingham hasn’t forgotten about it’s past. I encourage you to visit the city and tour the Civil Rights Museum which is on Kelly Ingram Park. The park features sculpture and other markers that document this diificult time in the life of the city and the nation.