Jacob Knowles

Jacob Knowles

Jacob Knowles

Director of Sustainable Design

BR+A

Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Plumbing Engineering, Sustainability Consulting

  • 14.5M GSF
  • 39 Projects
  • 25 Years Experience

(617) 460-4694 jknowles@brplusa.com LinkedIn

About

We have shifted net zero energy buildings from early adopters to the early majority.  Now it is time to bring net zero to everyone.

As Chief Sustainability Officer at BR+A, I am responsible for the growth and success of BR+A's energy and sustainability practice. Our dedicated team is responsible for managing our highest performing projects.

We are working on multiple Zero Net Energy and Living Building projects, including campus master plans, academic facilities, healthcare facilities, highrises, and laboratories. For example, the Sbrega Building at Bristol Community College is the first ZNE-verified laboratory building in the U.S. This project received the highest commercial MA DOER Pathways to Zero Grant, a 2016 I2SL Go Beyond Award, and a 2017 AIA COTE Top Ten Award.

Experience

Building Types

  • Healthcare
  • Aviation
  • Education: Higher Ed
  • Industrial / Warehouse
  • Laboratory / Tech / Science
  • Mixed Use
  • Office

Achieved Project Certifications

  • LEED
  • LEED ZERO
  • Living Building Challenge
  • Living Building Challenge Petal Certification
  • ILFI Zero Carbon Certification
  • ILFI Zero Energy Certification
  • ILFI Core Green Building Certification

Awards

3x COTE Top Ten, 2x I2SL Go Beyond, Lab of the Year

Projects

  •

    Pearl- Center of Education

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Education: Higher Ed

    Charlotte, NC | 2025

    355K GSF

    Net Zero Ready Designed to be highly efficient and DOES NOT offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis.

  • BR+A Image: Soldiers Home in Holyoke_Rendering 1

    Soldiers' Home in Holyoke

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Healthcare

    Holyoke, MA | 2025

    352K GSF

    Net Zero Ready Designed to be highly efficient and DOES NOT offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis.

  • BR+A Image: LendLease - 60 Guest Street - Boston_1

    60 Guest St, Boston

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Laboratory / Tech / Science

    Boston, MA | 2024

    342K GSF

    Net Zero Ready Designed to be highly efficient and DOES NOT offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis.

  • A tall glass building resembling a stack of books

    BU Center for Computing and Data Sciences

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Education: Higher Ed

    Boston, MA | 2022

    330K GSF

    Net Zero Ready Designed to be highly efficient and DOES NOT offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis.

  • Tall glass building showcasing design for 80 E Berkeley St

    80 East Berkeley

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Laboratory / Tech / Science

    Boston, MA | 2027

    328K GSF

    Net Zero Ready Designed to be highly efficient and DOES NOT offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis.

  • Exterior rendering of block D

    776 Summer St - Block D

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Laboratory / Tech / Science

    Boston, MA | 2025

    299.4K GSF

    Net Zero Ready Designed to be highly efficient and DOES NOT offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis.

  •

    5 Fid Kennedy Building

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Laboratory / Tech / Science

    Boston, MA | 2028

    280K GSF

    Net Zero Ready Designed to be highly efficient and DOES NOT offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis.