1. Green the Knowledge District
An experiment in mobilizing organizations to
work together on difficult problems
Christopher Bull, Ocean State Consortium of Advanced Resources
(OSCAR) and Brown University School of Engineering

2. What? OSCAR connects and enables people by leveraging Rhode Island’s shared
resources(physical, human and natural assets) to address regional challenges that no
one organization or institution can tackle single-handedly.
Why? Urgency and complexity. Society’s problems are immediate, and they are too complex
to undertake alone. Most institutions, organizations and geographical areas are not
equipped to cope effectively with these challenges; it requires a multi-stakeholder
approach with advanced and accessible resources.
Who? OSCAR is an all-volunteer structure consisting of government, industry, academia and
social agencies across the region. Volunteers include world-class
faculty, entrepreneurs, companies, service agencies, artists, government
officials, designers, technologists, etc.
OSCAR – GKD

3. The Knowledge District is an area in
Providence bounded by Allens Avenue
and the Providence River on the
east, Public Street on the south, Prairie
Avenue on the west, and Pine Street on
the north. Of the approximately 413
acres, 190 acres is covered by City
Assessor parcel data. The balance
includes the land becoming available
due to the Route I-195 relocation
project. The major landholders include
Rhode Island Hospital with about
20.5%, Dominion Energy with
11.4%, State of Rhode Island with
5.9%, Brown University with 3.1%, and
Women and Infants Hospital with 2.6%.
OSCAR - GKD

4. What can be done to push
change in the district in a more
sustainable direction?
What indicators?
Who has data?
OSCAR - GKD

5. OSCAR - GKD

6. Indicator sets:
• Economist
Intelligence Unit
North American
Cities
• ICLEI -
Sustainability
Tools and Targets
for the Urban
Thematic Strategy
OSCAR - GKD

7. Green the Knowledge District
(GKD):Catalyzing
environmentally sustainable
and economically powerful
development.
Mike Caron, Courtney
McCracken, Danielle Dahan, Lingke Wang
OSCAR - GKD

8. OSCAR - GKD

9. Electrical Energy Usage
Monthly electricity use per unit area (kWh/m2) 90
80
70
60
50 Met School Equality 2008
Met School Equality 2010
40 1 Davol Square 2008
1 Davol Square 2010
30 70 Ship Street 2008
70 Ship Street 2010
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month
OSCAR - GKD

10. What’s next?
• Engage Government (city, state
and federal)
• Engage Private Sector (industry
partners)
• Engage Citizens (community
efforts -- education)
• Build Research Program
OSCAR - GKD

11. More information:
www.oscarri.org
OSCAR - GKD