Summary
Lois is the Manager of Sustainability for Medxcel, Ascension’s facility management organization where she works with acute care hospitals through Ascension’s three Sustainability program pillars. She has been a member of MGGBC since 2008 and was one of our original LEED Green Associate course instructors (her most meaningful MGGBC experience!)
Lois Sechrist is the Manager of Sustainability for Medxcel, Ascension’s facility management organization. She has been a member of MGGBC since 2008!
Description of your work in green building: I work with acute care hospitals through Ascension’s three Sustainability program pillars:
- Net Zero Places – Focusing on carbon sources associated with physical environments to reduce our carbon footprint and improve operational efficiency of our facilities.
- Responsible Supply Chain – Addressing responsible purchasing to ensure Ascension buys only what is needed and to employ the waste hierarchy of avoid – reduce – reuse/ repair – recycle – recover – dispose in our facilities. I work with our Planning, Design and Construction team to develop standards for materials, products, furniture, fixtures and equipment that reduce exposure to chemicals of concern.
In addition, we have a strong focus on construction and demolition waste management, requiring at least a 50% waste diversion rate on our projects. - Healthy Communities – Focusing on the relationship between sustainability and social determinants of health (SDOH), linking to Ascension’s Mission to sustain and improve the health of individuals and communities we are privileged to serve. Social Determinants of Health include healthcare access and quality; education access and quality; social and community context; economic stability; and neighborhood and built environment.
Recent Green Building recognition: Ascension’s Dell Children’s Medical Center (Austin, Texas) 4th Bed Tower expansion achieved LEED for Healthcare Platinum certification, its fourth Platinum certification over the life of the hospital campus.
Sustainability passion: I’m interested in everything! After 15 years in health care sustainability, I have extensive experience with healthy food, waste management, community impact, sustainable purchasing, energy, water, and facility resiliency.
Most meaningful experience with MGGBC: Way back in 2011, I was hired by the MGGBC to create and teach the LEED Green Associate exam prep course. My co-instructor and I had a lot of fun teaching the course, and we appreciate every student that attended.
What will most impact the future of green building: Green buildings need to be efficient and cost-effective to build, occupy and operate; and support the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
LEED and the affiliated GBCI green building standard programs are an excellent framework to address how we locate our buildings; whether to renovate or build new; how to provide energy for our built environment; and how to create clean and healthy interiors; to name just a few examples.
Favorite LEED (or sustainability) Project: I’m intrigued by the Brickline Greenway project under development with Great Rivers Greenway on the west edge of downtown St. Louis. We drove by last weekend and saw the construction activity to put Market Street on a road diet. I look forward to exploring the network of paths and grass-roots public art installations.
Favorite place in the St. Louis region or Missouri Gateway GBC territory: I am so lucky to live near Forest Park and spend countless hours walking and riding my bike all times of the day and all seasons of the year. I can pop into the Art Museum, History Museum, Zoo, or Science Center for free, much to the envy of friends from other cities. Forest Park is the gift that keeps on giving.