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

  • Illustration of the Martin Richard Fieldhouse

    Dorchester Fieldhouse

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Mixed Use

    Boston, MA | 2024

    73K 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.

  • 280 Western Ave

    280 Western Ave

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Mixed Use

    Boston, MA | 2024

    54.1K 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: Bristol Community College Sbrega Health and Science_2

    Bristol Community College Sbrega Health and Science Building

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Laboratory / Tech / Science

    Fall River, MA | 2016

    50.6K 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.

  • Harvard Artlab

    ArtLab (Harvard University)

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Education: Higher Ed

    Boston, MA | 2019

    9K GSF

    Net Zero (Achieving) The project is highly efficient AND ≥100% of the building energy is offset with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis. Energy consumption and renewable energy generation must be based on measured data.

  • View of project

    House Zero

    Director of Sustainable Design

    Education: Higher Ed

    Cambridge, MA | 2019

    3K GSF

    Net Zero (Targeting) Designed to be highly efficient and PLANS TO offset ≥100% of the building energy with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy, on a cumulative annual basis, when the project is completed.