Skip to main content
High performance buildings have proven track records of simultaneously increasing business and property profitability, reducing environmental impacts, and improving occupant health. This groundbreaking project will keep Ithaca competitive and ensure a healthy and livable city in 2030.

The Ithaca 2030 District is an interdisciplinary public-private collaboration working to create a groundbreaking high performance building district in downtown Ithaca. With the Architecture 2030 Challenge providing property performance targets, the Ithaca 2030 District seeks to prove that high performing buildings are the most profitable buildings in Ithaca. District Members will do this by developing realistic, measurable, and innovative strategies to assist district property owners, managers, and tenants in meeting aggressive goals that keep properties and businesses competitive while operating buildings more efficiently, reducing costs, and reducing the environmental impacts of facility construction, operation, and maintenance.

These collective efforts will establish the Ithaca 2030 District as an example of a financially viable, sustainability focused, multi-sector driven effort that maximizes profitability and prosperity for all involved. Through collaboration of diverse stakeholders, leveraging existing and developing new incentives and financing mechanisms, and creating and sharing joint resources, the Ithaca 2030 District continues to prove the business case for healthy and high performing buildings. Property owners and managers are voluntarily committing their properties to Ithaca 2030 District goals; they are not required to achieve the District goals through legislative mandates or as individuals.

Achieving the 2030 Challenge targets at a District scale will provide a working model that other cities, towns, and regions can use to reduce costs and resource use while increasing competitiveness and efficiency. While individual buildings have distinct opportunities for reductions and improvements, a District approach provides the opportunity for additional efficiencies across all categories.

The Ithaca 2030 District provides members a roadmap and the support they need to own, manage, and develop high performance buildings by leveraging Community and Professional Stakeholders, market resources, and by creating new tools, partnerships, and opportunities to overcome current market barriers. This type of collaborative action is not only a strategic undertaking to keep Ithaca competitive in the year 2030, but also represents a major investment in Ithaca’s future and reflects the collaborative nature of our region.

A project of the Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative (TCCPI), the Ithaca 2030 District is part of a larger effort in Tompkins County to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, HOLT Architects, Taitem Engineering, and Local First Ithaca are collaborating with TCCPI in this effort. We are a member of the Sustainable Finger Lakes network.

Get Involved

The Ithaca 2030 District is seeking partners and participants from all key stakeholder groups to take part in District discussions, advisory positions, and knowledge sharing activities. To learn more about how to get involved, contact:

Peter Bardaglio Executive Director
Ithaca 2030 District
pbardaglio@2030districts.org
607-229-6183 (cell)

2030 Districts Network