Sustainability Action Plan
“We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make now can secure a livable future.” -Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chair
The Sustainability Action Plan has been created to provide a clear vision and roadmap for the District to follow. A critical part of this is to identify appropriate partners and the best ways to support those partnerships. This will be an ongoing effort by Cortex.
Thank you to everyone in the Community who provided thoughtful insights and helped Cortex distill the Action Plan into these 12 unique Categories.
Here is what we heard:
- As an innovation district, we must use sustainability in an innovative way
- Provide a proving ground or pilot program that can be scaled
- What’s good for the region, is good for Cortex
- Cortex can’t and shouldn’t do it alone; connect with the assets of our founding institutions
- Cortex’s greatest strength is its power to convene people and ideas
- Equity must be integrated at all levels
Category 1
District Building Design Standards
Every building in Cortex is a green building
Category 2
District as a Living Laboratory
Visitors come to Cortex to see the innovation
Category 3
Placemaking + Landscaping
Cortex is an exciting and vibrant neighborhood
Category 4
Regeneration + Living Infrastructure
Cortex is an ecosystem healing from our industrial past
Category 5
Mobility + Transportation
Cortex is a haven for low-carbon transportation
Category 6
Diversity, Equity + Inclusion
Cortex is an inclusive economic engine for the STL Region
Category 7
Resilience + Adaptability
Cortex is prepared for a resilient future
Category 8
Energy + Emissions
Cortex is carbon neutral
Category 9
Waste + Circular Economy
Cortex is a zero-waste District that reuses resources
Category 10
Health + Wellbeing
Cortex tenants are healthier than the regional average
Category 11
Food + Nutrition
Half of all food consumed in Cortex was grown locally
Category 12
Beauty + Vibrancy
Cortex is a beautiful place that makes me feel happy
