A New Healthy Building Opens its Doors for Children and Music in the West End of Providence, RI

Celebrating the grand opening of the Community MusicWorks (CMW) Center in Providence, Rhode Island, its pioneering use of healthy building materials and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) to create a sustainable, non-toxic environment for music education and performance. This building represents a collaborative effort between HML, 3SIX0, CMW, and others to prioritize children’s health, community well-being, and environmental sustainability.

The grand opening of the CMW Center in Providence, Rhode Island, reveals healthy materials used in the first fully Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) building in the city (2nd in the state of RI). All materials used to construct the Center were evaluated by HML’s material research team. This innovative new space stands as a testament to sustainability, material health and community well-being. At HML, we are proud to have been involved from the very beginning, consulting on material choices and environmental strategies to ensure the CMW center will be a healthier beacon for the community. 

Initially, we surveyed the site, to understand the existing toxicities and pollutants in the surrounding neighborhood. These findings helped inform our recommendations and strategies for materials and finishes to be used in the building. We partnered with the architectural firm 3SIX0, Pezzuco Construction, and CMW’s leadership to incorporate these sustainable and material health recommendations into every possible part of the building.

“A healthy building is particularly important for children because it is now understood that environmental exposures can be a powerful determinant of health and human development,” says Jonsara Ruth, HML’s Cofounder and Design Director. “Children’s developing organs, including the brain and their overall neurological health, are impacted by exposure to toxics in indoor environments. Our goal here is to eliminate their exposure to toxics from materials and furnishings in the CMW Center.” 

The CMW building is envisioned as much more than ‘just a building’; it is designed to foster connections between music, education and community. With this new center,CMW is able to transition from being a program to becoming a physical community center. The definitions of sustainability were embedded since day one in multiple ways. 

In our consultation for a healthier building, we aimed to address the legacy of Providence’s industrial past, particularly the heavy metals left in the soil and waterways from the city’s early 20-th century jewelry manufacturing industry. While multiple civic efforts are underway to remediate these environmental challenges, we sought to create a ballast by supporting the creation of a building that actively contributes to community health. The collaboration with all building stakeholders was crucial to successfully constructing and maintaining a healthy building. 

HML provided a Material Health Guiding Framework, mapping and identifying local environmental toxics to set criteria for this local center. We advised on chemical groups to avoid, ensuring the building is free from toxics prevalent in its surrounding neighborhoods. Throughout the collaborative process, we guided the selection of healthier building materials and offered educational presentations to the architects, general contractor, project managers, CMW’s leadership team, and their board of trustees. Our goal was to ensure everyone involved understood the reasons and importance of building with healthier materials that benefit both people and the environment, creating a healthier, safer space for all. 

The decision to use CLT for the entire structure of the CMW Center is a groundbreaking one for Providence. CLT reduces the building’s carbon footprint and serves as a carbon-sequestering material, locking carbon dioxide into the structure, reducing its impact on climate change.

The project also maximizes solar gain through its southern exposure, enhances natural lighting, and integrates a thermally efficient building envelope. These strategies are key to lowering energy consumption and reducing environmental impact over the building’s life cycle.

“Sustainability wasn’t just a goal; it was inseparable from the project’s energy and material choices. Everything is tied together. When addressing materials, an important, perhaps the most important goal, was to select materials which did the least harm to the environment, to the building’s community, and its inhabitants,” note 3SIX0 Architects.

We continued our work closely with the project teams throughout the design and construction phases, advising on the selection of mineral paints, non-toxic insulation, and natural fiber carpets, among other materials. As we worked closely with the architects to ensure the specification of healthier products, in some instances we acted as a liaison to healthier product manufacturers who could offer affordable prices for this community building, which were financed entirely by the non-profit’s fundraising efforts. 

“Working with 3SIX0 and other stakeholders after our trainings and courses was truly rewarding” states Leila Behjat, HML’s Director of Material Ecology. “The architects embraced the framework, actively searching for products that met the criteria. They would assess them and ask if there was anything better that we knew of. It was eye-opening and brought real joy to collaborate with people so committed to healthier solutions.”

“We have learned a ton,” says Sebastian Ruth, CMW’s Founder and Artistic Director, “A primary takeaway is becoming mindful of the lifecycle of every material. Asking questions like: how might this have been manufactured and where? What will be the lifespan of this material, and how would disposal or reuse work? This is a fundamental change from thinking primarily about what is affordable today and how something looks and works.” 

Beyond construction, HML continued to collaborate with CMW on furniture selection, and healthy cleaning products, aiming for an even deeper commitment to long term indoor environmental health and sustainability. Now that the building is open, the maintenance team is becoming educated about health factors associated with maintenance and cleaning products and their effects particularly for children. 

We are proud to have been part of this groundbreaking project that unites sustainability, learning and community. The CMW center will not only serve as a gathering place for music and creativity, but also stands as a model for how healthier buildings are possible.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with CMW and supporting their ongoing efforts to provide a safe and healthy space for their students and community. Our hope is that this project inspires others to think critically about the materials they use to design and construct buildings and the long-term impacts these choices have on both human health and the planet. 

For more information and updates on this project, visit the Community MusicWorks Center project page.