Seattle’s lower income communities, particularly in the Central District and Rainier Valley, have endured decades of displacement. Redlining, housing and employment discrimination, and predatory real estate practices have systematically denied many the opportunity to own homes and build wealth. Since the 1970s, families that once thrived in these neighborhoods have been pushed out, losing their homes and the generational wealth that could have provided future stability.

Corvidae Co-op directly addresses these disparities by offering affordable, sustainable homeownership, welcoming back those who have been displaced.

An Innovative Solution for Affordable, Sustainable Living

Corvidae Co-op introduces a new model of shared-equity housing that balances individual and collective ownership. By creatively navigating housing and land use policies, the project consists of 10 co-op residences on two lots within single-family zoning guidelines. In an area where the median home price exceeds $875,000, and single-family homes often surpass $1 million, Corvidae stands out by offering more attainable housing. Instead of constructing two multi-million-dollar homes, the project delivers 10 residences, including four subsidized by the Seattle Office of Housing, with prices starting at $170,000. This model not only keeps purchase prices and living expenses low, but also allows residents to build individual equity while maintaining shared amenities, fostering both personal and community sustainability.

Located in Rainier Valley, just a short walk from the Mount Baker Light Rail Station, Corvidae is 4-Star Built Green certified and designed with sustainability at its core. The project features ten 2-bedroom, 1-bedroom, and studio residences: 6 suites and 4 independent units, averaging 600 square feet each. The co-op design fosters a balance of shared and private spaces to allow for gatherings and shared experiences when desired.

Partnerships Rooted in Equity and Vision

Corvidae is a collaborative effort between Allied8, Frolic, and Green Canopy NODE.

"This project wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of our partners," said Leah from Allied8. "I knew I had a committed team behind me, and that was invaluable. Purpose is what drives buy-in, and every partner brought their passion and expertise to ensure Corvidae Co-op could offer a sustainable, affordable pathway to homeownership."

• Allied8, the architect and co-developer and original visionary investor behind Corvidae, led the design of the project, balancing the needs of individual residents with the collective good. The thoughtful layout of the homes and shared spaces reflects their deep understanding of how architecture can foster community and support equitable living.

• Frolic, co-developer alongside Allied8, brought a unique perspective to the project, ensuring that the co-op model remains financially accessible and replicable across other sites in Seattle. Their co-op model aligned with the project’s goal of creating long-term affordability for future generations.

• Green Canopy NODE, serving as both financial consultant and builder, brought expertise in sustainable development and affordable housing. With a strong commitment to equity and community, Green Canopy NODE ensured that Corvidae was not only financially viable but also met the highest standards of environmental sustainability and social impact.

Other key partners include Urban Black, 1st Security Bank, and Rainier Valley Community Development Fund.

A Replicable Model for the Future of Seattle

Corvidae goes beyond being a standalone project, demonstrating how single-family zoning can be reimagined to create equitable and multigenerational housing across the city. With its shared-equity structure and focus on affordability, Corvidae offers a scalable solution to Seattle’s housing challenges.

"Corvidae Co-op represents everything Green Canopy NODE stands for: sustainability, equity, and community. We’re grateful to have played a role in making this vision a reality, and it’s truly rewarding to see the positive impact it will have on future generations," shared Sam Lai, co-founder of Green Canopy NODE.

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Learn more about Corvidae: https://corvidaeco-op.com/
Partner with Green Canopy NODE on your next project: https://www.greencanopynode.com/development-services

Green Canopy NODE was featured in a Green Building Advisor article highlighting our innovative approach to prefabrication.

The article highlights our Utility Kit system, which integrates mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems for offsite construction, helping streamline installation.

Photo Credit: Fernando Pages Ruiz

Additionally, the author visited The Trillium at Grow Community on Bainbridge Island, Washington where our team installed our Utility Kits into six homes.

The article also explores a growing shift in the modular construction industry: focusing on high-value building components rather than entire structures. This approach addresses challenges like transportation costs and labor shortages, improving efficiency without sacrificing quality.

SEATTLE, Washington (August 13, 2024) - Green Canopy NODE, a leading full-service development partner specializing in sustainable housing, is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily Dawson to its Board of Directors. With this addition, the board now consists of six members.

Emily Dawson, a licensed architect and mass timber expert, leads the way in bio-based structural solutions, aiming to transform buildings to behave more like plants and industries like forests. Since designing Oregon's first Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) structure in 2013, she has been a prominent advocate for mass timber. With extensive experience in European mass timber, modular, and industrialized construction, Emily integrates off-site fabrication approaches into her work.

In 2022, she founded Single Widget to focus on low-carbon structural advancements through product development and built work. Her consulting firm Field Edge was established in 2024 to connect natural resources and regenerative industry-scale projects. She received her degree in Architecture from Cornell University in 2003.

"We are thrilled to welcome Emily to our Board of Directors," said Bec Wilder, CEO of Green Canopy NODE. "Her extensive experience and innovative approach to sustainable construction align perfectly with our goals to deliver carbon-negative, prefabricated building components and to transform traditional construction into a streamlined assembly process. Emily’s mass timber expertise will be invaluable as we continue to scale our operations and push the boundaries of sustainable development."

With over 300 deep green urban infill projects since 2010 with a third of those being Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Ready homes, Green Canopy NODE is scaling construction-tech systems to build sustainable homes faster. With support from investors and grants from the Department of Energy and the US Forest Service, Green Canopy NODE is committed to bringing the power of manufacturing to construction and leading the way in sustainable housing solutions.

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About Green Canopy NODE:

Green Canopy NODE is a full-service development partner leveraging industry expertise and cutting-edge construction technology to deliver sustainable housing. The company provides integrated development services, including pre-development consulting, feasibility, architectural design & permitting, prefabrication, general contracting, and sales support for multi-family projects. Green Canopy NODE’s mission is to scale construction-tech systems to build sustainable homes faster and more efficiently, turning traditional construction into a streamlined assembly process.

Green Canopy NODE had the honor of exhibiting US HUD Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall. Supported by the US Forest Service, American Wood Council, US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, and Mercer Mass Timber, our exhibit showcased how mass timber and prefabricated, integrated systems can revolutionize offsite construction for faster, more affordable housing.

Aimed at raising awareness of new and affordable housing solutions, the HUD Showcase is a public event that focuses on increasing affordable housing, reducing construction costs, improving energy efficiency, and lowering housing expenses for both homeowners and renters.

Green Canopy NODE’s exhibit featured a showcase of our prefabricated, modular mass timber building system, including our proprietary utility wall. Visitors had the opportunity to explore a volumetric module and interact with various layers of a mass timber home, including the rainscreen siding, timber fiber insulation, and weather barrier.

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Highlights from our exhibit:

The key benefits of our mass timber building system include:

• Sustainability: Mass timber homes are exceptional in carbon sequestration, storing the carbon absorbed by trees throughout their growth, which remains locked in the timber for the life of the building. This results in a significant environmental impact, with mass timber homes storing 6.6 times more carbon than comparable traditional stick-frame homes.

• Speed: The prefabricated components of mass timber enable quicker on-site assembly, significantly shortening construction times. Our approach is 44% faster than traditional construction methods, leading to substantial savings in time and cost.

• Strength: Mass timber offers durability and strength comparable to traditional construction materials, ensuring the longevity and reliability of the structures.

• Waste Reduction: 29% of landfill waste comes from construction and demolition - prefabricated mass timber can reach 95% efficiency with the potential to downcycle into other materials.

Our proprietary utility system combines mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services into pre-engineered units to maximize efficiency. Key benefits include:

• Efficiency and Speed: Our prefabricated utility kits significantly reduce the time required for traditional mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installations by 50%, eliminating many of the inefficiencies and potential callbacks associated with conventional methods.

• Architectural Coordination: Our systems are meticulously designed to integrate seamlessly with the designated layouts of kitchens and bathrooms, and are optimized for use across multiple floors, ensuring a cohesive and functional design.

• Seamless Installation: Preconstructed in an off-site factory during the site work phase, our utility kits are ready for a smooth and seamless installation process during the framing phase, enhancing overall project efficiency.

Our team had a wonderful time connecting with other industry leaders at the showcase, and the event underscored the critical role of innovation in addressing the pressing challenges of climate and housing. Engaging with forward-thinking organizations reinforced our commitment to pioneering solutions that not only meet current needs but help shape a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

Integrate our building systems into your next project – learn how you can partner with our Development Services.

Green Canopy NODE is honored to have received the 2024 National Institute of Building Sciences Innovator Award! The NIBS Innovator Award recognizes an individual, organization, or project that has made groundbreaking advances and significant technological contributions to the built environment.

Prefabricated construction holds immense potential, promising to mitigate risks, reduce costs, and minimize waste, while accelerating construction timelines by up to 50%. However, in the United States, the adoption of permanent modular construction remains largely untapped, representing only a fraction of the vast construction market.

With a critical shortage of housing units exacerbating societal challenges, fostering growth in the prefabricated construction sector has become imperative. The primary obstacle lies in the misalignment between prefabricated production systems and traditional construction business models, necessitating transformative solutions to reconcile these differences.

Recognizing the urgent need for change, Green Canopy NODE has emerged as a trailblazer, reshaping the landscape of construction through innovative approaches that address industry challenges and drive unparalleled progress. 

Over the past five years, Green Canopy NODE has spearheaded a paradigm shift within the construction industry by reimagining the conventional business model. As a vertically integrated full-service development company encompassing construction, design, and research and development (R&D), Green Canopy NODE approaches the entire value chain as a dynamic product in need of continuous innovation.

Innovation is the cornerstone of progress, and Green Canopy NODE exemplifies the transformative power of visionary leadership and bold experimentation. By challenging conventions, embracing technological advancements, and fostering collaboration across sectors, Green Canopy NODE is reshaping the built environment and paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future. 

Green Canopy NODE is honored to be included in TIME and Statista's ranking of America's Top GreenTech Companies of 2024. This recognition underscores Green Canopy NODE's commitment to leveraging innovation and cutting-edge construction technology to address pressing environmental challenges.

As TIME stated in its ranking, the green-technology sector has emerged as a vital force for positive change, with predictions indicating its potential to grow to $9.5 trillion by 2030. In acknowledgment of this, TIME, in collaboration with Statista, conducted a comprehensive statistical ranking of 250 sustainability-focused companies in America. The ranking criteria encompassed factors such as environmental impact, financial strength, and innovation, highlighting those companies making significant strides in curbing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability.

Green Canopy NODE‘s dedication to sustainability and innovative approach to construction. Through integrated development services, including pre-development consulting, architectural design, prefabrication, and general contracting, the company delivers carbon-negative housing solutions that redefine traditional construction methods.

Supported by investors and grants from esteemed institutions like the Department of Energy and the US Forest Service, Green Canopy NODE is at the forefront of revolutionizing the construction industry. Our prefabricated building components not only streamline the construction process but also contribute to reducing carbon emissions, making a positive impact on the environment.

By prioritizing environmental responsibility and embracing innovation, Green Canopy NODE is not only reshaping the industry but also paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

Green Canopy NODE’s Work Beta Testing Autodesk’s New Industry Transformative Software 

For the longest time, the building industry has remained siloed from the manufacturing industry. Yet, it’s at the intersection of these two industries that we can find solutions to quickly build housing and drastically reduce its carbon footprint. 

At Green Canopy NODE, we are dedicated to bringing Industrialized Construction to the world of sustainable housing. Recognizing a significant data transfer gap in preparing 3D architectural models for manufacturing, our team members Abby Willets and Benjamin Hall seized an opportunity to serve as beta testers for Autodesk's cutting-edge software, Informed Design. 

“Informed Design for Inventor is the master planner,” said Abby, R&D engineer. “It really lets me set up the parameters and the boundaries which the architect can take and configure to fit their design, all while knowing it’s manufacturable.” 

As a beta tester, Abby transformed our MEP Utility Kit into a dynamic, configurable Revit family, enabling architects to tailor features and dimensions effortlessly. Gone are the days of laborious coordination for every tweak – with this software, we can envision a future free of shop drawings while streamlining our processes and workflows. 

With an architectural background, Benjamin sees productized building components not as design inhibitors but as enablers of mass-produced quality. 

“Autodesk Informed Design has shown that there’s a way to bring customized details, good aesthetics, and quality engineering into a product that can be mass-produced,” said Benjamin Hall, senior product manager. “Designing with constraints doesn’t curb my creativity – it gives me choices I know will work. And that is good for the planet, the building’s inhabitants, and the building industry.”   

While challenges undoubtedly lie ahead on our journey to affordable, sustainable housing, we see Autodesk’s Informed Design as one of many tools in helping us get there. We extend our gratitude to the Informed Design team, with a special mention to Ryan McMahon, for granting us early access to this transformative software. We eagerly anticipate delving deeper into the full-release version and leveraging its capabilities to their fullest extent. 

• Learn more about Autodesk Informed Design

• Learn more about Abby and Benjamin’s work as beta testers

Green Canopy NODE is pleased to share we have been selected as a Top Impact Company by Real Leaders for 2024.Our commitment to advancing sustainable building practices through innovative approaches like Mass Timber and the power of manufacturing has played a key role in receiving this award for a fifth year. Many thanks to our clients, partners, and team for your unwavering support in our work to make fast, sustainable, and cost-effective home assembly a reality 🏘️

📰 Read more about the Impact Awards and find us on page 28 in Real Leaders Magazine: https://real-leaders.com/top-impact-companies

Learn more about Green Canopy NODE’s impact and work to revolutionize the built environment through innovative construction-tech systems to build sustainable homes faster.    

About Green Canopy NODE 

Green Canopy NODE is an integrated construction technology and real estate development company. Over its history, it has sought to embrace the innovation required to change the current paradigm of housing development and deliver on its commitment to help regenerate communities and environments. The company works with its clients and investors to develop high-performing, deep green, all-electric, and healthy housing.  

About Real Leaders 

Real Leaders is a membership community for impact leaders with a global media platform dedicated to driving positive change. It’s on a mission to unite farsighted leaders to transform our shortsighted world. Founded in 2010, Real Leaders recognized early on that businesses bore a responsibility to be as cognizant of their impact on employees, society, and the planet as they are on their bottom line. Real Leaders is a B Corporation, member of the UN Global Compact, and is independently owned. 

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2023 was a year defined by innovation for Green Canopy NODE. From certified-green all-electric homes to our game-changing mass timber integrated building kits, we’re on a path to revolutionizing construction.

Let's take a closer look at some of the standout highlights from this year:

📰 Article – Revolutionizing Construction: Energy-Efficient CLT Modules Featured in Offsite Builder Mag

🏆 Award – Built Green Hammer Award For Outstanding Builders and Advocates

📝 Case study – A Mass Timber Housing Kit That’s 44% Faster Than Traditional Construction

✍️ Blog – How to Spark Purpose & Passion in Your Team

🎥 Video – Mass Timber Home Assembly in 48 Hours (in a blizzard!)

🏡 Project – Net Zero Neighborhood Just a Ferry Ride from Seattle

To our team, clients, and partners, we appreciate your collaboration and steadfast support on this journey. Cheers to ongoing growth, innovation, shared accomplishments, and envisioning a sustainable & healthy future in 2024 and beyond!

Our in-house architecture team is on a mission to redefine the way we approach design. In an industry saturated with digital models and blueprints, we believe that there's no substitute for experiencing a project firsthand. Andrew Tsuei and Kyle Kutz, two of our in-house architecture team members, weighed in on the insights gained from the design team’s regular field trips to construction sites.

 “These trips are key because you can’t understand a project just from a digital model,” said Andrew, Architectural Designer at Green Canopy NODE. This sentiment underlines our core philosophy – that to truly comprehend a design, the designer must go beyond the confines of a screen. Is that room too tight? How does the ceiling height affect the overall feel? How will users navigate through the space? These are questions that can only be answered by immersing yourself in the project as its user.

Site visits provide insights that extend beyond theory, allowing the design team to understand the project in the context of its surroundings. "You get to feel the materials of neighboring buildings, see what the neighbors are like, eat fruit off the bushes," said Andrew.  Inside the home, the team discusses the full process of building a home – from air sealing details to lighting layouts.

In addition to these real-life insights, our team takes a holistic approach to these visits, engaging other members of Green Canopy NODE’s integrated team such as sales and construction team members. What truly sets the Green Canopy NODE architecture team approach apart, emphasized by Kyle, Architect and Senior Design Project Manager, is this integration. For example, "being part of an integrated team with the construction managers allows for more open and honest conversations. We can see what they’re seeing, and they can see what we’re seeing. Egos are set aside, and everyone shares a common goal: build better housing,” Kyle said.

This seamless integration and collaboration not only enhance our projects but also addresses a critical industry challenge. Design changes are a major cause of cost overruns and project delays, often due to communication issues. However, by increasing communication among all stakeholders in a project, we are better equipped to deliver projects on time and on budget.

Ready to explore the possibilities of designing and building with us? Contact our team to bring your vision to life. Learn more about our integrated development services.

Green Canopy NODE featured in KXLY article: Spokane Valley Mass Timber pitches eco-friendly, easy-to-build townhomes.

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Green Canopy NODE was honored to host Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Commissioner of Public Lands Hillary Franz at our Mass Timber Model Home in Spokane, alongside our partner Mercer Mass Timber.

Mass Timber represents an opportunity to revolutionize home construction, providing faster, more affordable, and environmentally friendly housing solutions. Beyond that, mass timber structures serve as carbon sinks, effectively addressing issues related to both forest health and the housing crisis.

In an article about Commissioner Franz’s visit, KXLY noted, “Developers say there is no one solution to the current housing crisis, but they hope this can be a step in the right direction.

‘If you think about all the wood that is in this building, it's like a carbon battery. We are taking it out of the environment and storing it so that it's not burnt, not wasted, not rotting and releasing methane and we are designing these buildings to last over 100 years. 150 years is our target,’ said developer Darrin Griechen.”

Designed by Schemata Workshop and built by Green Canopy NODE, Sunnyside Village Cohousing is a multigenerational community intended to foster neighborly connection, sustainability, and healthy living.

The Sunnyside Village Cohousing team celebrates groundbreaking

Green Canopy NODE’s Sam Lai, Chief Development Officer and Justin Hooks, Vice President of Construction

SEATTLE, Washington (October 3, 2023) - Sunnyside Village Cohousing, Schemata Workshop, and Green Canopy NODE alongside community members and stakeholders celebrated the groundbreaking of Sunnyside Village this summer . This event marks a significant milestone in the journey towards creating a vibrant and sustainable intentional community located in Marysville, Washington.

Sunnyside Village Cohousing is dedicated to sustainability, intergenerational living, and organic gardening - fostering a more connected way of life. The community, designed by Schemata Workshop and built by Green Canopy NODE, will comprise four-star Built Green cottages, a shared common house, and organic community gardens. Sunnyside Village is currently accepting reservations for homes with a limited number of homes remaining available.

“After many years of effort and planning, it is exciting to see our dream becoming a reality. It is fulfilling our desire to live in a community where no one feels isolated or lonely, where people are friendly and neighborly with each other, and where parents have support for raising their children,” said Jennie Lindberg, co-founder of Sunnyside Village. “We love the skill, caring, attention to detail and professionalism of our team, Green Canopy NODE and Schemata Workshop.”

Embracing Connection Through Design

Sunnyside Village Cohousing is not just a residential development; it's a blueprint for a more connected way of life, thoughtfully intended to combat postmodern loneliness. Designed by architectural firm Schemata Workshop, Sunnyside Village has been meticulously planned to cultivate neighborly connections and nurture an affinity for nature.

Sunnyside Village will offer 32 independent cottages, complemented conveniently located clustered parking designed to minimize the project's ecological footprint. At its heart lies a common house, housing home offices, a children's playroom, and a communal kitchen, among other amenities. What sets Sunnyside Village apart is its extensive outdoor green spaces, featuring a community garden, orchard, and berry patch. These spaces are envisioned as hubs for forging connections and fostering social capital, with harvested organic produce contributing to weekly communal meals shared by residents.

“Cohousing is different from other types of housing, not by the physical form, but rather by the intentionality of the residents to live collaboratively and interdependently,” said Grace Kim, Principal Architect at Schemata Workshop. “Many of us learned through the pandemic that complete independence was isolating and lonely. Cohousing offers resilient neighborhoods where people are more socially connected- resulting in longer lives for those who chose this housing option.”

Partnerships for Sustainability

The shared commitment to sustainability and a deeper sense of community unites Schemata Workshop, Sunnyside Village Cohousing, and Green Canopy NODE in this transformative project. The collective partnership signifies an effort to make better decisions for the community and the planet.

“It’s been a pleasure working shoulder to shoulder with the brilliant people at Sunnyside community and Schemata Workshop in such an inspirational project. Our aggressive social, environmental, and financial goals would not have come to fruition without deep trust and healthy communication facilitated by Karen Gimnig, our process consultant.”

Green Canopy NODE brings its depth of consulting expertise to the development, contributing to conceptual design, risk analysis, and facilitating the community in realizing its vision, in addition to general contracting services to bring the project to life.

Integrated Development Solutions

Green Canopy NODE offers comprehensive development solutions, supporting developer clients engaged in multi-unit residential projects at every stage of the development journey. From pre-development to architecture, construction management, and consulting, Green Canopy NODE is committed to building sustainable homes faster to meet clients’ financial, social, and environmental goals.

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About Sunnyside Village Cohousing: Sunnyside Village is a cohousing community with a strong focus on its organic garden. Residents will live in 32 cottages and share ownership in a Common House for community activities and some shared meals. Members own their home and the lot it is built on. As a forming community, their mission is to create a cohousing community of diverse people who share vision and values – solidarity, sustainability, and democracy.

About Schemata Workshop: Schemata Workshop is an architecture and urban design practice that empowers people and their communities. The firm values community, equity, and sustainability. Their team approaches each project with the goal of creating resilient communities. They design with integrity, believing in honest, expressive use of materials, and always preferring local resources and production.

About Green Canopy NODE: Green Canopy NODE is a mission-driven construction technology, real estate development, and fund management company. Over its history, it has sought to embrace the innovation required to change the current paradigm of housing development and deliver on its commitment to help regenerate communities and environments. The company works with its clients and investors to develop high-performing, deep green, all-electric, and healthy housing.

For more information about SVC please contact:
jennie@sunnysidevillagecohousing.com

For information about developing similar communities, contact:
developmentservices@greencanopynode.com

Mass timber is revolutionizing construction as a climate-friendly alternative to concrete and steel, with the carbon footprint of mass timber buildings being 40% less than traditional materials. This innovative approach is reshaping the construction industry and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The article, Fire resistant, quake safe, climate friendly: Mass timber is on the rise as a construction alternative by Lisa Stiffler, contributor to GeekWire, explores several types of Mass Timber projects, including Green Canopy NODE’s Mass Timber Model Home. Read the article to learn how mass timber is revolutionizing construction, and don’t miss the insights from Green Canopy NODE’s co-CEO Bec Wilder.

Each year, Built Green recognizes outstanding builders and advocates in the sustainable building community during the Built Green Hammer Award ceremony. This year, we at Green Canopy NODE are honored to have received an award in the Builder, Small Production homes category for our sustainable all-electric, and healthy homes across Seattle.

Green Canopy NODE played an active role in two enlightening sessions at the conference: "Completing the Grow Community: Built Green 5-Star" and "Conquering Embodied Carbon Emissions for a Greener Future."

Completing the Grow Community covered the final phase of the Grow Community on Bainbridge Island, which will be a Built Green 5-Star development. Architect Jonathan Davis, Green Canopy NODE’s Lead Mechanical Engineer Eliot Siegel, and sustainability expert Cybil Tribie discussed the architecture, new and innovative construction methods, and the sustainable design features of the project. Learn more about Grow here!

Eliot Siegel, Lead Mechanical Engineer at Green Canopy NODE, discussing the construction technologies embedded in the Grow Community, including the Utility Kit designed to reduce overall MEP installation times.

Sadie Carlson, Building Scientist at Green Canopy NODE, discussing a housing solution that leverages innovative construction techniques to optimize for embodied carbon, operational carbon, and cost.

Conquering Embodied Carbon Emissions for a Greener Future covered the rising importance of addressing embodied carbon emissions from building products, including discussions on building code proposals, permit incentives, and case studies on innovative construction techniques. Green Canopy NODE’s Building Scientist Sadie Carlson was a panel member, alongside Liepa Braciulyte from New Buildings Institute, Jess Harris from the City of Seattle, and Jessica Martinez from DCI Engineers.

Read more from Built Green on the 2023 Award winners and conference and view our current available sustainable homes for sale here. Interested in building your next residential real estate project with Green Canopy NODE? Learn more about our Integrated Development Solutions.

We are pleased to share our 2022 Impact Report!

I deeply believe that as a society we are going to make the transition to a resilient future. That said, the path to get there may not be smooth or pretty. However, if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that when faced with crisis, we can adapt and rise to the occasion.

At Green Canopy NODE, we stand at the forefront of this movement, fully aware of the magnitude of the problem and the immense potential for positive change. Through our commitment to building carbon-negative, healthy homes, we strive to regenerate communities and environments, demonstrating that housing can be a catalyst for transformation.

We are a deeply committed community of teammates, board members, shareholders, impact investors, institutional investors, homeowners, landowners, developers, affordable housing groups, architects, real estate agents, and sub-contractors.

Together we are building the future of housing!

I invite you to join us on this journey. Please feel free to start by sharing with me your insights and reflections on this report.

 With deep gratitude,

Susan Fairchild
Chief Marketing & Impact Officer

Construction Project Manager, Mark Grismer, was interviewed by Offsite Builder Magazine in the article High-Efficiency, CLT Modular Homes. Learn more about our prefabricated Building Kits and how they offer energy-efficient and fast-to-assemble solutions for multifamily residential buildings.

“When you walk into the prototype home, it feels like you’re in nature,” says Mark Grismer, Construction Project Manager. “And eliminating the steps of screwing on drywall and painting over it significantly reduces the on-site construction timeline. It also eliminates the on-site waste typically generated by drywall installation.” - Mark Grismer

Trillium at Grow Community on Bainbridge Island is blossoming under the spring sun! Designed by Jonathan Davis and built by Green Canopy NODE, the final phase of the community is coming along quickly – continue reading for the latest updates. 

An Overview of Trillium 

Trillium follows the development's naming tradition of referencing treasured plants. The neighborhood features 14 townhomes, including six three-bedroom and eight two-bedroom homes, situated along a shared garden path. All homes have roof decks, as well as ground level patios.

Lot reservations will be available in June, and presales will begin later in September – contact Anne Reichard of Compass to learn more! 

Foundations were poured in January, and the homes are quickly taking shape as they are framed with panels – providing superior insulation, faster construction times, and sustainability benefits.

Building Faster with Innovative Tech Systems 

We’re excited to share that Green Canopy NODE’s patent pending Utility Kit was successfully installed into six of the units. Integrating innovative tech systems into the project has helped ensure a faster, more efficient build. Using the Utility Kit reduced the normal mechanical, electrical, and plumbing install time by nearly twenty percent. Pre-constructed in our off-site factory during the site work phase, the utility walls were ready for installation for the framing phase. With the help of utility subcontractors, connections were made on-site to allow for a smooth and seamless installation process. 

Green Canopy NODE is on a path to revolutionize construction, and these innovative construction technologies are just one example of how we are pushing the envelope of construction industry standards. Over the past dozen years, we’ve continued to advance towards our mission of regenerating communities and environments. Trillium, the new neighborhood at Grow, will be 5 Star Built Green and will join our inventory of Net Zero Energy homes.  

Read more about our partnership with Grow below: 

• Blog: The Final Phase of Grow Community is Underway, Built with Green Canopy NODE's Innovation Ecosystem Model 

• Press Release: Green Canopy & Grow Community Partner to Build Third Phase of Sustainable Neighborhood  

• New York Times: Energy-Efficient Isn’t Enough, So Homes Go ‘Net Zero’  

In today's world, employees are increasingly seeking work that aligns with their personal values and sense of purpose. But how can companies ignite that fire within their team and truly inspire them to work towards a shared vision? At Green Canopy NODE, we believe that one secret to sparking purpose and passion in a team lies in empowering the team to co-create the company's values. 

Many companies have a mission and vision statement, but even the strongest statements may not be enough to spark the kind of passion required to achieve the impossible. At Green Canopy NODE, we regularly re-align our team with our mission and vision statements, and then we are all empowered to co-create our values together.  

With a mission to regenerate communities and environments, Green Canopy NODE is working to address the acute pain in the housing industry and help our clients deliver sustainable, healthy housing faster. Through the power of manufacturing, we believe in a future where carbon negative, healthy homes are accessible for everyone. 

Some may say what we’re trying to achieve is impossible. We have entered new terrain - a space where very few have gone and succeeded. So why do we at Green Canopy NODE believe the impossible is not only possible, but well within our reach? Because we have a fully integrated team with a shared set of values coupled with both purpose and passion. Our team’s energy and enthusiasm around our mission and momentum is palpable. How we work together towards our collective success feels like magic. 

“None of us are truly qualified to do our jobs because what we’re creating doesn’t exist yet. We’re venturing into uncharted territory and applying our skills and expertise to a whole new world. But that’s what makes this work so exciting and fulfilling. We have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what’s possible and create something that can actually change construction and the world.”

— Abby Willets, R&D Engineer

Our values aren't just statements on the wall, they guide how we work together every day and who we aspire to be as a team. To co-create our values, we gather our team annually and ask them to reflect on the most important aspects of teamwork and relationships that allow them to do their best work and feel supported.

“Values like vulnerability, integrity, and honesty are at the core of who we are. Those are our baseline, and they’re not values we’re creating today,” Ami Nieto, HR Director reminded the team during the retreat. “To continue growing and evolving, as individuals and as a team, we need to push further. We need to ask ourselves, where is our growth edge?” 

Through small group workshops and a voting process, we all co-create a set of values that our team agrees on and embraces. Once we have our values, we then create mantras that define how the value reveals itself day-to-day. This effort creates offers collective accountability and alignment around a shared set of values. 

We’re pleased to share Green Canopy NODE’s 2023 Values and Mantras:

Empathy   

• Seek first to understand   

• Assume good intentions   

• Think generously   

Empowerment   

• Foster opportunities for others to grow   

• Nurture fearless agency   

• Give each other what is needed to succeed   

Cultivation   

• Nurture the seeds of innovation   

• Plant knowledge, grow relationships, harvest solutions   

• Share what you know, so others can grow  

Syncopation   

• Listen for the offbeat, it's the opportunity for innovation   

• Focus on our goals, not what the industry expects   

• Let people march to the beat of their own drum, together  

“Today was a remarkable day for me. I have never been in a room before where such powerful values were created. Unlike the typical values, such as safety and teamwork, what I witnessed today was next level thinking and very inspiring. The process was nothing short of fantastic, and it allowed me to see deeper into the heart of the company. I was moved and energized by the passion and enthusiasm of the team, driven by their desire to change the world.”

— Peter Orser, Board Chair

Our experience has shown that empowering our team to co-create their company values is the key to sparking both purpose and passion. While mission and vision statements provide direction, they may not be enough to ignite the fire within your team. By ceding control and empowering your team to co-create values, you can build a stronger team that is aligned around a shared purpose, passionate about their work and committed to achieving the impossible. 

Wondering what our team thinks? Here are thoughts from them: 

“Empathy is the foundation for all the other values. It is the one value that the world needs most, and it has the power to change everything.” - Kyle Kutz, Design Project Manager. 

“Connecting with each other’s humanity makes it easy to come to work.” - Abby Willets, R&D Engineer. 

“At Green Canopy NODE we have a culture of openness and vulnerability. We shed our fear of failure and embrace transparency. It’s a unique environment I haven’t found elsewhere. I believe this opens up possibilities and fuels the magic of our work together.” - Greg Lotakis, VP Integration 

“Being empowered gives me the courage to put in the extra effort and I get better results.” - Christian Ledesma, Carpenter 

"There's a natural inclination to collaborate and innovate. By understanding each other’s unique perspectives and approaches, we can work together better.” - Darrin Griechen, VP Products and Innovation 

“I am humbled to work alongside such a passionate and inspiring group of team members. The days of employees showing up to work for a paycheck are long gone. People want and expect more. Co-creating values delivers on the promise of what we want most – finding purpose-drive work and to love what we do.” - Ami Nieto, HR Director 

Seattle, WA, March 27, 2023 - Green Canopy NODE, a leading sustainable construction technology company, is proud to announce the launch and completion of its Mass Timber Model Home, designed as a turnkey workforce housing unit. The Model Home showcases the benefits of Green Canopy NODE's Building Mass Timber Assembly Kits providing developers a path to deliver housing twice as fast with greater predictability.

The Mass Timber Model Home is a two-story modular home built using precision-engineered mass timber components manufactured offsite, demonstrating the power of prefabrication, installation, and logistics. The modules for the home were assembled offsite and ready for shipping in two days. Onsite assembly for the entire home occurred in two days during a blizzard, further testing the company’s process and capabilities to build under extreme conditions.

"Green Canopy NODE's Mass Timber Model Home is a game-changer for developers. We all want to solve the housing market’s pains, but we get stuck in long development timelines and traditional construction schedules. Our Model Home will help cut out a lot of hurdles and risks we all have traditionally struggled with and help us all simply deliver more housing," said Bec Chapin, Co-CEO of Green Canopy NODE.

Green Canopy NODE's Mass Timber Model Home is at the forefront of sustainability, storing carbon and reducing embodied carbon footprint and waste. Building with mass timber delivers increased efficiency, enhanced sustainability, health benefits, and unparalleled aesthetics, making it an ideal choice for developers and investors interested in low- and mid-rise residential construction technology.

"We are excited to bring the power of manufacturing to help regenerate communities and environments, all while reducing waste and minimizing embodied carbon," said Aaron Fairchild, Co-CEO of Green Canopy NODE.

Green Canopy NODE is pleased to announce the firm was selected as an ImpactAssets 50 fund manager (IA50). This is the third time Green Canopy NODE has been included. The IA50 is a free publicly available, searchable database of impact investment fund managers for impact investors, family offices, corporations, foundations, and institutional investors. The 2023 edition of IA 50 features a record number of private impact fund managers delivering social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.   

For many investors, sourcing investment offerings that intentionally target financial, social and environmental returns can be a time consumptive process. The rigor that the IA 50 Review Committee conducts to source impact investment fund managers provides not just a leg up for investors but for the field at large.   

“This acknowledgement comes at an exciting time. Green Canopy NODE will soon be announcing its fifth real estate investment fund, the Douglas Fir Fund, which expects to deploy investment capital primarily in projects that utilize sustainable mass timber,” says Aaron Fairchild, Co-CEO.   

About Green Canopy NODE  

Green Canopy NODE is a construction technology company transforming builders into assemblers with our prefabricated home and apartment assembly kits. ​With a mission to regenerate communities and environments, Green Canopy NODE is working to address the acute pain in the housing industry and help our clients deliver sustainable, healthy housing faster. Green Canopy NODE Capital has managed four real estate funds aligned to this mission while providing investors resilient financial, social and environmental returns.    

About the ImpactAssets 50   

The IA 50 is the first publicly available database that provides a gateway into the world of impact investing for donors and/or investors and their financial advisors, offering an easy way to identify experienced impact investment firms and explore the landscape of potential investment opportunities. The IA 50 is intended to illustrate the breadth of impact investment fund managers operating today, though it is not a comprehensive list. Firms have been selected to demonstrate a wide range of impact investing activities across geographies, sectors and asset classes.   

About ImpactAssets   

ImpactAssets is an impact investing trailblazer, dedicated to changing the trajectory of our planet’s future and improving the lives of all people. As a leading impact investing firm, we offer deep strategic expertise to help our clients define and execute on their impact goals. Founded in 2010, ImpactAssets increases flows of money to impact investing in partnership with our clients through our impact investment platform and field-building initiatives, including the IA 50 database of private debt and equity impact fund managers.  ImpactAssets has more than $2 billion in assets in 1,700 donor advised fund accounts, working with purpose-driven individuals and their wealth managers, family offices, foundations and corporations. ImpactAssets is an independent 501(c)(3) organization.   

For more information, please contact:    

Susan Fairchild     
Chief Marketing Officer    
susan@greencanopynode.com