snow bending power poles

Originally published on PSEG ENERGIZE! 

When one of the most severe winter storms our region has seen in more than 30 years tore through New Jersey, it didn’t just bring snow. It brought blizzard conditions, record-breaking snowfall and punishing winds that tested all of us. Winter Storm Hernando came in fast and fierce.

In a matter of hours, two to three feet of snow buried neighborhoods across the state. Wind gusts of 50 miles per hour snapped branches, toppled trees and triggered widespread power outages. Schools and businesses closed. Roads disappeared. Travel and transit came to a standstill.

It was the kind of storm New Jersey hadn’t seen in decades. And it was exactly the kind of moment we prepare for.

Because being Jersey Ready isn’t a slogan. It’s how we show up — especially when conditions are at their worst.

Ready to respond

workers with a roll of electric cable

More than 3,000 employees mobilized across our service territory, working around the clock in deep snow and freezing temperatures.

That included over 1,150 line workers, 400 tree trimmers, 472 mutual aid contractors, and hundreds of other field personnel focused on one thing: restoring service safely and quickly.

Over the course of the storm, our employees:

  • Restored power to 56,800 customers — helping kitchens warm up, phones recharge and homes feel like home again.
  • Responded to 1,259 no-heat calls — a heating outage isn’t an inconvenience, it’s urgent.
  • Responded to 327 gas emergency calls — because safety doesn’t pause during a storm, and neither do we.

This all happened during a storm that intensified rapidly in just 24 hours.

Before any repairs could even begin, our teams had to dig out buried equipment and carve safe paths through drifts reaching several feet high just to access poles, wires and underground systems. That’s tough work in tough conditions — but it’s work they train for year-round.

Our employees made steady progress on restoration, which allowed us to release our mutual aid contractors to assist neighboring utilities as recovery efforts continued across the region.

At the same time, we stayed connected with you — answering nearly 13,000 calls within seconds and sending more than 200,000 proactive outage notifications. In addition, 7,900 customers reported outages through our customer service platforms, including via text and our mobile app.

When the weather tests us, we respond — keeping you informed every step of the way.

The power of preparation

Results like this don’t happen overnight. For more than a decade, we’ve been strengthening, fortifying and modernizing our gas and electric systems — hardening the grid to better withstand extreme weather, whether it’s a blizzard in January or a heatwave in June.

We stay prepared by:

  • Proactively trimming trees to reduce outages before storms hit.
  • Conducting regular storm drills and emergency response exercises.
  • Analyzing performance after every major event to look for ways to improve.

And that’s just a small part of the work happening behind the scenes every day to strengthen our systems.

fire in snow

This winter has delivered multiple storms and extended periods of dangerous cold. But no matter how relentless the weather, the resolve of our Jersey Ready workforce never wavers.

These are neighbors helping neighbors. People who live here, raise families here and take pride in keeping their communities powered safely and reliably.

That’s the kind of grit New Jersey is known for — and we’re proud to be part of it.

Partners in the storm

Major storm response is never a solo effort. During Hernando, we worked closely with our state and municipal partners to coordinate snow removal and response efforts so roads could be cleared, and conditions remained safe for our teams to reach affected areas.

Storms like these remind us how interconnected we all are — utilities, municipalities, first responders and residents working together to get through it.

Thank you, New Jersey

We know how stressful it is to lose power or heat — especially during frigid temperatures. Thank you for your patience and for staying connected with us throughout the storm.

When the next storm barrels toward New Jersey, know that we’ll be steady, focused and Jersey Ready.

snow bending power poles

Originally published on PSEG ENERGIZE! 

When one of the most severe winter storms our region has seen in more than 30 years tore through New Jersey, it didn’t just bring snow. It brought blizzard conditions, record-breaking snowfall and punishing winds that tested all of us. Winter Storm Hernando came in fast and fierce.

In a matter of hours, two to three feet of snow buried neighborhoods across the state. Wind gusts of 50 miles per hour snapped branches, toppled trees and triggered widespread power outages. Schools and businesses closed. Roads disappeared. Travel and transit came to a standstill.

It was the kind of storm New Jersey hadn’t seen in decades. And it was exactly the kind of moment we prepare for.

Because being Jersey Ready isn’t a slogan. It’s how we show up — especially when conditions are at their worst.

Ready to respond

workers with a roll of electric cable

More than 3,000 employees mobilized across our service territory, working around the clock in deep snow and freezing temperatures.

That included over 1,150 line workers, 400 tree trimmers, 472 mutual aid contractors, and hundreds of other field personnel focused on one thing: restoring service safely and quickly.

Over the course of the storm, our employees:

  • Restored power to 56,800 customers — helping kitchens warm up, phones recharge and homes feel like home again.
  • Responded to 1,259 no-heat calls — a heating outage isn’t an inconvenience, it’s urgent.
  • Responded to 327 gas emergency calls — because safety doesn’t pause during a storm, and neither do we.

This all happened during a storm that intensified rapidly in just 24 hours.

Before any repairs could even begin, our teams had to dig out buried equipment and carve safe paths through drifts reaching several feet high just to access poles, wires and underground systems. That’s tough work in tough conditions — but it’s work they train for year-round.

Our employees made steady progress on restoration, which allowed us to release our mutual aid contractors to assist neighboring utilities as recovery efforts continued across the region.

At the same time, we stayed connected with you — answering nearly 13,000 calls within seconds and sending more than 200,000 proactive outage notifications. In addition, 7,900 customers reported outages through our customer service platforms, including via text and our mobile app.

When the weather tests us, we respond — keeping you informed every step of the way.

The power of preparation

Results like this don’t happen overnight. For more than a decade, we’ve been strengthening, fortifying and modernizing our gas and electric systems — hardening the grid to better withstand extreme weather, whether it’s a blizzard in January or a heatwave in June.

We stay prepared by:

  • Proactively trimming trees to reduce outages before storms hit.
  • Conducting regular storm drills and emergency response exercises.
  • Analyzing performance after every major event to look for ways to improve.

And that’s just a small part of the work happening behind the scenes every day to strengthen our systems.

fire in snow

This winter has delivered multiple storms and extended periods of dangerous cold. But no matter how relentless the weather, the resolve of our Jersey Ready workforce never wavers.

These are neighbors helping neighbors. People who live here, raise families here and take pride in keeping their communities powered safely and reliably.

That’s the kind of grit New Jersey is known for — and we’re proud to be part of it.

Partners in the storm

Major storm response is never a solo effort. During Hernando, we worked closely with our state and municipal partners to coordinate snow removal and response efforts so roads could be cleared, and conditions remained safe for our teams to reach affected areas.

Storms like these remind us how interconnected we all are — utilities, municipalities, first responders and residents working together to get through it.

Thank you, New Jersey

We know how stressful it is to lose power or heat — especially during frigid temperatures. Thank you for your patience and for staying connected with us throughout the storm.

When the next storm barrels toward New Jersey, know that we’ll be steady, focused and Jersey Ready.

snow bending power poles

Originally published on PSEG ENERGIZE! 

When one of the most severe winter storms our region has seen in more than 30 years tore through New Jersey, it didn’t just bring snow. It brought blizzard conditions, record-breaking snowfall and punishing winds that tested all of us. Winter Storm Hernando came in fast and fierce.

In a matter of hours, two to three feet of snow buried neighborhoods across the state. Wind gusts of 50 miles per hour snapped branches, toppled trees and triggered widespread power outages. Schools and businesses closed. Roads disappeared. Travel and transit came to a standstill.

It was the kind of storm New Jersey hadn’t seen in decades. And it was exactly the kind of moment we prepare for.

Because being Jersey Ready isn’t a slogan. It’s how we show up — especially when conditions are at their worst.

Ready to respond

workers with a roll of electric cable

More than 3,000 employees mobilized across our service territory, working around the clock in deep snow and freezing temperatures.

That included over 1,150 line workers, 400 tree trimmers, 472 mutual aid contractors, and hundreds of other field personnel focused on one thing: restoring service safely and quickly.

Over the course of the storm, our employees:

  • Restored power to 56,800 customers — helping kitchens warm up, phones recharge and homes feel like home again.
  • Responded to 1,259 no-heat calls — a heating outage isn’t an inconvenience, it’s urgent.
  • Responded to 327 gas emergency calls — because safety doesn’t pause during a storm, and neither do we.

This all happened during a storm that intensified rapidly in just 24 hours.

Before any repairs could even begin, our teams had to dig out buried equipment and carve safe paths through drifts reaching several feet high just to access poles, wires and underground systems. That’s tough work in tough conditions — but it’s work they train for year-round.

Our employees made steady progress on restoration, which allowed us to release our mutual aid contractors to assist neighboring utilities as recovery efforts continued across the region.

At the same time, we stayed connected with you — answering nearly 13,000 calls within seconds and sending more than 200,000 proactive outage notifications. In addition, 7,900 customers reported outages through our customer service platforms, including via text and our mobile app.

When the weather tests us, we respond — keeping you informed every step of the way.

The power of preparation

Results like this don’t happen overnight. For more than a decade, we’ve been strengthening, fortifying and modernizing our gas and electric systems — hardening the grid to better withstand extreme weather, whether it’s a blizzard in January or a heatwave in June.

We stay prepared by:

  • Proactively trimming trees to reduce outages before storms hit.
  • Conducting regular storm drills and emergency response exercises.
  • Analyzing performance after every major event to look for ways to improve.

And that’s just a small part of the work happening behind the scenes every day to strengthen our systems.

fire in snow

This winter has delivered multiple storms and extended periods of dangerous cold. But no matter how relentless the weather, the resolve of our Jersey Ready workforce never wavers.

These are neighbors helping neighbors. People who live here, raise families here and take pride in keeping their communities powered safely and reliably.

That’s the kind of grit New Jersey is known for — and we’re proud to be part of it.

Partners in the storm

Major storm response is never a solo effort. During Hernando, we worked closely with our state and municipal partners to coordinate snow removal and response efforts so roads could be cleared, and conditions remained safe for our teams to reach affected areas.

Storms like these remind us how interconnected we all are — utilities, municipalities, first responders and residents working together to get through it.

Thank you, New Jersey

We know how stressful it is to lose power or heat — especially during frigid temperatures. Thank you for your patience and for staying connected with us throughout the storm.

When the next storm barrels toward New Jersey, know that we’ll be steady, focused and Jersey Ready.

  • Cordant™ 26.1 brings together asset strategy, health insights and AI‑driven risk intelligence to reduce unplanned downtime and support faster, higher‑value decisions
  • Expanded platform capabilities deliver greater usability, global flexibility and scalability
  • Strong demand across energy and industrial sectors resulted in a 20% increase in software orders in 2025

FLORENCE, Italy February 26, 2026 /3BL/ – Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, announced the latest release of Cordant™ (Release 26.1) industrial software, featuring expanded capabilities to help customers improve operational reliability, enhance performance consistency, and support sustainability initiatives. Cordant™ 26.1 enhances energy and industrial operators’ enterprise-wide visibility across assets, delivering improved access to decision-grade data, and empowering a broader range of users through an increasingly open, composable and scalable platform architecture. The announcement was made at the 2026 Baker Hughes Annual Meeting in Florence.

“Energy and industrial operators are being asked to deliver more, with greater speed, precision and accountability,” said Aravind Yarlagadda, senior vice president of Industrial Solutions, Industrial & Energy Technology at Baker Hughes. “This release advances Cordant’s ability to connect asset insights, risk and operations data in a single environment, designed to reduce unplanned downtime, prioritize capital more effectively, and improve day-to-day operational performance across complex assets.”

Expanding Asset Performance Management for Greater Reliability and Risk Visibility 
This release strengthens reliability and risk visibility by integrating asset strategy, integrity and health insights into a unified workflow. Updates include enhanced Failure Mode Analytics, waveform analysis and KPI drilldowns. These now connect directly to risk modelling, capital planning and integrity workflows, enabling teams to quantify asset risk more clearly and align on actions that reduce downtime. New AI-enabled capabilities, such as failure mode mapping between domains and automated risk alignment, aims to cut manual effort and help organizations drive consistent long-term asset strategies.

Process Optimization designed to Maximize Efficiency and Margin 
Cordant™ Process Optimization introduces a flexible objective function that enables operators to evaluate multiple operational scenarios, whether maximizing production, reducing energy use or optimizing both. Real-time, context-aware recommendations provide users with clear pathways to impact throughput, efficiency, and margin performance. These enhancements support customers in navigating increasingly dynamic market and operational environments, while embedding sustainability into process decisions. Outcomes depend on site conditions, configurations and user choices.

Enabling Sustainability at Scale
A new integration between Baker Hughes Energy & Emissions Management (EEM) and Cordant™ FastLCA, helps customers centralize emissions and energy data across assets and sites. This unified view can help operators identify hotspots, optimize energy use, and prioritize decarbonization actions based on consistent, auditable methodologies. By embedding trusted lifecycle data into day-to-day operations, Cordant™ supports compliance efforts and advances customers’ sustainability goals without adding complexity for users.

Enhancing Usability, Security and Global Flexibility
Foundational platform updates improve usability, adaptability, and enterprise readiness across all Cordant™ applications. Multi-language support, notifications, self-guided walkthroughs, and customizable reporting tools support faster onboarding and broader coverage across diverse roles and regions.

With a 100-year heritage of energy innovation, Baker Hughes is integrating digital solutions such as Cordant™ with the company’s proven technologies to help customers achieve greater efficiency, extend asset life, and maximize returns. Learn more about the company’s end-to-end digital portfolio here.

About Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

For more information, please contact:

Media relations
Kerry Davis
Kerry.Davis@BakerHughes.com
+44 7443 157 262

  • Cordant™ 26.1 brings together asset strategy, health insights and AI‑driven risk intelligence to reduce unplanned downtime and support faster, higher‑value decisions
  • Expanded platform capabilities deliver greater usability, global flexibility and scalability
  • Strong demand across energy and industrial sectors resulted in a 20% increase in software orders in 2025

FLORENCE, Italy February 26, 2026 /3BL/ – Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, announced the latest release of Cordant™ (Release 26.1) industrial software, featuring expanded capabilities to help customers improve operational reliability, enhance performance consistency, and support sustainability initiatives. Cordant™ 26.1 enhances energy and industrial operators’ enterprise-wide visibility across assets, delivering improved access to decision-grade data, and empowering a broader range of users through an increasingly open, composable and scalable platform architecture. The announcement was made at the 2026 Baker Hughes Annual Meeting in Florence.

“Energy and industrial operators are being asked to deliver more, with greater speed, precision and accountability,” said Aravind Yarlagadda, senior vice president of Industrial Solutions, Industrial & Energy Technology at Baker Hughes. “This release advances Cordant’s ability to connect asset insights, risk and operations data in a single environment, designed to reduce unplanned downtime, prioritize capital more effectively, and improve day-to-day operational performance across complex assets.”

Expanding Asset Performance Management for Greater Reliability and Risk Visibility 
This release strengthens reliability and risk visibility by integrating asset strategy, integrity and health insights into a unified workflow. Updates include enhanced Failure Mode Analytics, waveform analysis and KPI drilldowns. These now connect directly to risk modelling, capital planning and integrity workflows, enabling teams to quantify asset risk more clearly and align on actions that reduce downtime. New AI-enabled capabilities, such as failure mode mapping between domains and automated risk alignment, aims to cut manual effort and help organizations drive consistent long-term asset strategies.

Process Optimization designed to Maximize Efficiency and Margin 
Cordant™ Process Optimization introduces a flexible objective function that enables operators to evaluate multiple operational scenarios, whether maximizing production, reducing energy use or optimizing both. Real-time, context-aware recommendations provide users with clear pathways to impact throughput, efficiency, and margin performance. These enhancements support customers in navigating increasingly dynamic market and operational environments, while embedding sustainability into process decisions. Outcomes depend on site conditions, configurations and user choices.

Enabling Sustainability at Scale
A new integration between Baker Hughes Energy & Emissions Management (EEM) and Cordant™ FastLCA, helps customers centralize emissions and energy data across assets and sites. This unified view can help operators identify hotspots, optimize energy use, and prioritize decarbonization actions based on consistent, auditable methodologies. By embedding trusted lifecycle data into day-to-day operations, Cordant™ supports compliance efforts and advances customers’ sustainability goals without adding complexity for users.

Enhancing Usability, Security and Global Flexibility
Foundational platform updates improve usability, adaptability, and enterprise readiness across all Cordant™ applications. Multi-language support, notifications, self-guided walkthroughs, and customizable reporting tools support faster onboarding and broader coverage across diverse roles and regions.

With a 100-year heritage of energy innovation, Baker Hughes is integrating digital solutions such as Cordant™ with the company’s proven technologies to help customers achieve greater efficiency, extend asset life, and maximize returns. Learn more about the company’s end-to-end digital portfolio here.

About Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

For more information, please contact:

Media relations
Kerry Davis
Kerry.Davis@BakerHughes.com
+44 7443 157 262

  • Cordant™ 26.1 brings together asset strategy, health insights and AI‑driven risk intelligence to reduce unplanned downtime and support faster, higher‑value decisions
  • Expanded platform capabilities deliver greater usability, global flexibility and scalability
  • Strong demand across energy and industrial sectors resulted in a 20% increase in software orders in 2025

FLORENCE, Italy February 26, 2026 /3BL/ – Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, announced the latest release of Cordant™ (Release 26.1) industrial software, featuring expanded capabilities to help customers improve operational reliability, enhance performance consistency, and support sustainability initiatives. Cordant™ 26.1 enhances energy and industrial operators’ enterprise-wide visibility across assets, delivering improved access to decision-grade data, and empowering a broader range of users through an increasingly open, composable and scalable platform architecture. The announcement was made at the 2026 Baker Hughes Annual Meeting in Florence.

“Energy and industrial operators are being asked to deliver more, with greater speed, precision and accountability,” said Aravind Yarlagadda, senior vice president of Industrial Solutions, Industrial & Energy Technology at Baker Hughes. “This release advances Cordant’s ability to connect asset insights, risk and operations data in a single environment, designed to reduce unplanned downtime, prioritize capital more effectively, and improve day-to-day operational performance across complex assets.”

Expanding Asset Performance Management for Greater Reliability and Risk Visibility 
This release strengthens reliability and risk visibility by integrating asset strategy, integrity and health insights into a unified workflow. Updates include enhanced Failure Mode Analytics, waveform analysis and KPI drilldowns. These now connect directly to risk modelling, capital planning and integrity workflows, enabling teams to quantify asset risk more clearly and align on actions that reduce downtime. New AI-enabled capabilities, such as failure mode mapping between domains and automated risk alignment, aims to cut manual effort and help organizations drive consistent long-term asset strategies.

Process Optimization designed to Maximize Efficiency and Margin 
Cordant™ Process Optimization introduces a flexible objective function that enables operators to evaluate multiple operational scenarios, whether maximizing production, reducing energy use or optimizing both. Real-time, context-aware recommendations provide users with clear pathways to impact throughput, efficiency, and margin performance. These enhancements support customers in navigating increasingly dynamic market and operational environments, while embedding sustainability into process decisions. Outcomes depend on site conditions, configurations and user choices.

Enabling Sustainability at Scale
A new integration between Baker Hughes Energy & Emissions Management (EEM) and Cordant™ FastLCA, helps customers centralize emissions and energy data across assets and sites. This unified view can help operators identify hotspots, optimize energy use, and prioritize decarbonization actions based on consistent, auditable methodologies. By embedding trusted lifecycle data into day-to-day operations, Cordant™ supports compliance efforts and advances customers’ sustainability goals without adding complexity for users.

Enhancing Usability, Security and Global Flexibility
Foundational platform updates improve usability, adaptability, and enterprise readiness across all Cordant™ applications. Multi-language support, notifications, self-guided walkthroughs, and customizable reporting tools support faster onboarding and broader coverage across diverse roles and regions.

With a 100-year heritage of energy innovation, Baker Hughes is integrating digital solutions such as Cordant™ with the company’s proven technologies to help customers achieve greater efficiency, extend asset life, and maximize returns. Learn more about the company’s end-to-end digital portfolio here.

About Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

For more information, please contact:

Media relations
Kerry Davis
Kerry.Davis@BakerHughes.com
+44 7443 157 262

Partnership Promotes Healthier, Greener Spaces in Downtown Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gresham Smith, a premier architecture, engineering, and consultancy services firm, and the University of Louisville (UofL) Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute have entered a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate as part of the Greenprint Initiative, a 10-year program in partnership with Metro Louisville to develop a systemic, evidence-based approach to making downtown Louisville healthier and greener.

The partnership aims to combine scientific research, design coordination and shared learning to transform underutilized areas into healthier, greener public and private spaces. The Greenprint Initiative applies the latest science on how nature influences human health and strengthens environmental resilience.

“The strength of this collaboration lies in establishing reliable environmental baselines before development and assessing outcomes after construction and planting,” said Kathryn Cardarelli, Executive Vice President and Provost of UofL. “This data-driven approach will inform future design decisions and investments to maximize community health and environmental benefits.”

Under the MOU, Gresham Smith will partner with the Envirome Institute to address research needs and develop design strategies for various projects within the Greenprint footprint—a segment of downtown Louisville bounded by the Ohio River to the north, York Street to the south, 9th Street to the west, and Hancock Street to the east. This collaboration aims to integrate environmental and health goals into urban redevelopment. The Envirome Institute will conduct research, maintain environmental and human activity data and provide timely findings to support effective design strategies. Both organizations are committed to aligning design and research to enhance the partnership’s impact on downtown.

“This collaboration sets a precedent for how cities can use data-driven green design to improve quality of life,” said Louis Johnson, Executive Vice President of Land Planning at Gresham Smith. “We are excited to work alongside UofL to realize the vision of a greener, healthier Louisville.”

The new agreement builds on years of work and collaboration between Gresham Smith and the downtown Louisville community on projects like the Trager MicroForest, LOUMED, Broadway All the Way and more.

About Gresham Smith

We are a premier architecture, engineering and consultancy services firm providing integrated, comprehensive solutions for private- and public-sector clients. With $354 million in annual gross revenue and 27 offices throughout the United States, our expertise encompasses eight strategic sectors: aviation, building engineering, healthcare, industrial, land planning, life and work places, transportation, and water and environment. Throughout all of our work, we focus on providing exceptional client experience and outcomes.

Repeatedly recognized by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies and consistently listed as a “Best Place to Work,” we are committed to delivering on our Core Purpose—to plan, design and consult to create healthy and thriving communities—through our brand promise of Genuine Ingenuity.

Learn more at GreshamSmith.com.

About University of Louisville

Founded in 1798 as one of the nation’s first city-owned, public universities, the University of Louisville (UofL) is a vital ecosystem that creates thriving futures for students, community and society. As one of only 13 universities in the United States to earn recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research 1, Opportunity College and Community Engaged university, we impact lives in areas of student success, research and innovation, while our dynamic connection with our local and global communities provides unparalleled opportunities for students and citizens alike. The university serves as an engine that powers Metro Louisville and the commonwealth and as a classroom for UofL’s more than 25,000 students, who benefit from partnerships with top employers and a wide range of community service opportunities. Through the university’s approach to education, innovation and connection, Cardinals make impacts that make a difference, shaping a better future for all.

Learn more at Louisville.edu.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gresham-smith-and-university-of-louisville-christina-lee-brown-envirome-institute-create-strategic-partnership-for-urban-greening-302697515.html

SOURCE Gresham Smith

Partnership Promotes Healthier, Greener Spaces in Downtown Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gresham Smith, a premier architecture, engineering, and consultancy services firm, and the University of Louisville (UofL) Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute have entered a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate as part of the Greenprint Initiative, a 10-year program in partnership with Metro Louisville to develop a systemic, evidence-based approach to making downtown Louisville healthier and greener.

The partnership aims to combine scientific research, design coordination and shared learning to transform underutilized areas into healthier, greener public and private spaces. The Greenprint Initiative applies the latest science on how nature influences human health and strengthens environmental resilience.

“The strength of this collaboration lies in establishing reliable environmental baselines before development and assessing outcomes after construction and planting,” said Kathryn Cardarelli, Executive Vice President and Provost of UofL. “This data-driven approach will inform future design decisions and investments to maximize community health and environmental benefits.”

Under the MOU, Gresham Smith will partner with the Envirome Institute to address research needs and develop design strategies for various projects within the Greenprint footprint—a segment of downtown Louisville bounded by the Ohio River to the north, York Street to the south, 9th Street to the west, and Hancock Street to the east. This collaboration aims to integrate environmental and health goals into urban redevelopment. The Envirome Institute will conduct research, maintain environmental and human activity data and provide timely findings to support effective design strategies. Both organizations are committed to aligning design and research to enhance the partnership’s impact on downtown.

“This collaboration sets a precedent for how cities can use data-driven green design to improve quality of life,” said Louis Johnson, Executive Vice President of Land Planning at Gresham Smith. “We are excited to work alongside UofL to realize the vision of a greener, healthier Louisville.”

The new agreement builds on years of work and collaboration between Gresham Smith and the downtown Louisville community on projects like the Trager MicroForest, LOUMED, Broadway All the Way and more.

About Gresham Smith

We are a premier architecture, engineering and consultancy services firm providing integrated, comprehensive solutions for private- and public-sector clients. With $354 million in annual gross revenue and 27 offices throughout the United States, our expertise encompasses eight strategic sectors: aviation, building engineering, healthcare, industrial, land planning, life and work places, transportation, and water and environment. Throughout all of our work, we focus on providing exceptional client experience and outcomes.

Repeatedly recognized by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies and consistently listed as a “Best Place to Work,” we are committed to delivering on our Core Purpose—to plan, design and consult to create healthy and thriving communities—through our brand promise of Genuine Ingenuity.

Learn more at GreshamSmith.com.

About University of Louisville

Founded in 1798 as one of the nation’s first city-owned, public universities, the University of Louisville (UofL) is a vital ecosystem that creates thriving futures for students, community and society. As one of only 13 universities in the United States to earn recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research 1, Opportunity College and Community Engaged university, we impact lives in areas of student success, research and innovation, while our dynamic connection with our local and global communities provides unparalleled opportunities for students and citizens alike. The university serves as an engine that powers Metro Louisville and the commonwealth and as a classroom for UofL’s more than 25,000 students, who benefit from partnerships with top employers and a wide range of community service opportunities. Through the university’s approach to education, innovation and connection, Cardinals make impacts that make a difference, shaping a better future for all.

Learn more at Louisville.edu.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gresham-smith-and-university-of-louisville-christina-lee-brown-envirome-institute-create-strategic-partnership-for-urban-greening-302697515.html

SOURCE Gresham Smith

Partnership Promotes Healthier, Greener Spaces in Downtown Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gresham Smith, a premier architecture, engineering, and consultancy services firm, and the University of Louisville (UofL) Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute have entered a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate as part of the Greenprint Initiative, a 10-year program in partnership with Metro Louisville to develop a systemic, evidence-based approach to making downtown Louisville healthier and greener.

The partnership aims to combine scientific research, design coordination and shared learning to transform underutilized areas into healthier, greener public and private spaces. The Greenprint Initiative applies the latest science on how nature influences human health and strengthens environmental resilience.

“The strength of this collaboration lies in establishing reliable environmental baselines before development and assessing outcomes after construction and planting,” said Kathryn Cardarelli, Executive Vice President and Provost of UofL. “This data-driven approach will inform future design decisions and investments to maximize community health and environmental benefits.”

Under the MOU, Gresham Smith will partner with the Envirome Institute to address research needs and develop design strategies for various projects within the Greenprint footprint—a segment of downtown Louisville bounded by the Ohio River to the north, York Street to the south, 9th Street to the west, and Hancock Street to the east. This collaboration aims to integrate environmental and health goals into urban redevelopment. The Envirome Institute will conduct research, maintain environmental and human activity data and provide timely findings to support effective design strategies. Both organizations are committed to aligning design and research to enhance the partnership’s impact on downtown.

“This collaboration sets a precedent for how cities can use data-driven green design to improve quality of life,” said Louis Johnson, Executive Vice President of Land Planning at Gresham Smith. “We are excited to work alongside UofL to realize the vision of a greener, healthier Louisville.”

The new agreement builds on years of work and collaboration between Gresham Smith and the downtown Louisville community on projects like the Trager MicroForest, LOUMED, Broadway All the Way and more.

About Gresham Smith

We are a premier architecture, engineering and consultancy services firm providing integrated, comprehensive solutions for private- and public-sector clients. With $354 million in annual gross revenue and 27 offices throughout the United States, our expertise encompasses eight strategic sectors: aviation, building engineering, healthcare, industrial, land planning, life and work places, transportation, and water and environment. Throughout all of our work, we focus on providing exceptional client experience and outcomes.

Repeatedly recognized by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies and consistently listed as a “Best Place to Work,” we are committed to delivering on our Core Purpose—to plan, design and consult to create healthy and thriving communities—through our brand promise of Genuine Ingenuity.

Learn more at GreshamSmith.com.

About University of Louisville

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With the ten year anniversary of the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lillehammer 2016 approaching on 12 February, the edition stands as a model of how an existing Olympic legacy can be adapted to serve a new generation.

International Olympic Committee news

Key facts

  • Lillehammer 2016 relied entirely on an existing Olympic venue network, limiting new construction and reducing environmental impact.
  • These were the first YOG to achieve ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.
  • The Youth Olympic Village was designed for conversion, and now operates as fully occupied student housing with 360 apartments.

Leveraging the venues and expertise of the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games, the 2016 organisers delivered a YOG edition centred on high-level sport, education and leadership development — while embedding sustainability and long-term use into planning and delivery.

A decade on, that approach continues to deliver impact across sport, communities and international cooperation.

Group posing for pictures together

© IOC/Arnaud Meylan

A legacy rooted in 1994

The Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games remain a benchmark for sustainable Games delivery, with venues planned for long-term use and strong reliance on public transport.

More than two decades later – at the time of the Lillehammer 2016 Winter YOG – those venues were still active and regularly upgraded through sport and community use. By 2018, they had hosted 32 World and European Championships, 129 World Cups and 161 national competitions – demonstrating sustained relevance well beyond Games time.

Passing the baton in 2016

Lillehammer 2016 translated this continuity into a Youth Olympic model designed for the next generation.

Competitions were staged across Lillehammer, Hamar, Gjøvik, Øyer and Oslo, combining established venues with regional flexibility and a focus on lasting local benefit. The Games advanced the region’s sustainability approach, becoming the first YOG edition certified to ISO 20121 sustainable event standards.

person sledding downhill

© Youth Information Service (YIS)/IOC

The sports programme introduced several YOG debuts, including cross-country cross, snowboard cross, ski slopestyle, biathlon super sprint and monobob. Lillehammer 2016 also launched Coaches’ Corner, offering workshops for coaches and support staff, and including early experimentation with virtual reality as a learning tool.

Person using VR headset to practice skiing

© Youth Information Service (YIS)/IOC

The Games provided an early international stage for athletes who have since progressed to senior Olympic and World Cup success, including Marius Lindvik, Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, Anne Odine Strøm and Birk Ruud. That progression is also visible at Milano Cortina 2026, where French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot, who competed at Lillehammer 2016, has since gone on to win Olympic gold.

woman in Olympic sports gear shooting

Designed with the future in mind

Among the most tangible legacies is the Youth Olympic Village. Supported by an IOC contribution of EUR 13.5 million, it was planned from the outset for post-Games use and now provides 360 student apartments in four buildings.

apartment buildings near ski slope

© IOC/Ian Jones

The Lillehammer Olympic venue network also remains highly active today. Hafjell has returned to the Alpine World Cup calendar and will host the World Cup Finals later in 2026. Lysgårdsbakken continues to stage international ski jumping, Birkebeineren remains central to Nordic disciplines, and the Olympic Sliding Centre will host the IBSF World Championships in 2027.

Inspiring the next generation

Youth development was placed alongside sports performance. The Learn and Share programme offered structured activities across five themes — Your Career, Your Body and Mind, Your Stories, Your Discovery and Your Actions — addressing topics from nutrition and injury prevention to media skills and life beyond elite sport.

Community engagement was equally strong. Dream Day reached more than 17,500 school pupils, while Active Mind – Active Body encouraged daily physical activity. Volunteering was also positioned as a legacy pillar, with 3,200 volunteers from 81 nations supporting the Games, the majority under the age of 30.

Two women taking a selfie

© Youth Information Service (YIS)/IOC

Sharing expertise globally

The Lillehammer 2016 legacy also extended beyond Norway. The Lillehammer Olympic Legacy Sports Centre, established in 2017, was created to share expertise with athletes, coaches and organisers, particularly from nations with developing winter sports programmes.

To date, it has engaged participants from 83 countries, including more than 1,000 athletes, 200 coaches and around 140 young sports leaders. A few examples help to illustrate that reach. Norway’s Heidi Dyhre Traaserud and Canada’s Abigail Strate took part in Lillehammer’s international ski jumping camps and have since progressed to senior success, including major championship and Olympic appearances.

The pathway also extends beyond the field of play. Ludovica Sini, a participant in Lillehammer’s Young Leaders programme, has since taken on a protocol coordination role for Milano Cortina 2026. The Olympic Sliding Centre continues to host international teams for early-season preparation, contributing to regional activity and visitor spending.

Indoor skating arena

Ten years on

A decade later, Lillehammer 2016 stands as a perfect example of how a forward-looking legacy strategy, implemented in advance, can create lasting benefits for local communities.

Venues remain active, systems and expertise endure, and the Youth Olympic Village continues to host students. Building on the legacy created by Lillehammer 1994, the 2016 Winter YOG strengthened education and leadership programming, advanced sustainable event management, and reinforced the principle that Olympic investments are designed to serve communities long after the flame is extinguished.

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