Green Building Restoration Demonstration Project
Brian Macrae
Abstract:
The former Boxing Gym building sat vacant and dilapidated at the entrance of the City of
Syracuse’s Eastern Downtown Gateway for the better part of a decade. Brian Macrae, Managing
Partner at Synapse, proposes to discuss the turnkey restoration of this property from conception
through LEED EB Platinum certification.
Given Synapse’s fortunate position of continued growth, it needed to acquire additional office space for
the expansion of its U.S. Corporate Headquarters. For many reasons, Synapse wanted to remain in
Syracuse’s Central Business District and avoid moving its offices to the suburbs. In March 2011, Synapse
acquired the building and began the property’s sustainable redevelopment not only for its own benefit,
but to serve as a demonstration project for its own clients.
This sustainable redevelopment along the Historic Eric Canal Block is truly an exemplary model of how a
public-private partnership can affect change in a distressed urban area. Synapse’s building together with
its original office location, an adjacent 1864 historic building, anchors one end of the 300 East Water
Street block where Onondaga County is restoring public walkways and streetscape with permeable
infrastructure. Our community is faced with an aging infrastructure, but by utilizing green building
practices we can turn distressed properties into viable community assets.
This demonstration project features the following:
 Re-development of the building and property into a Platinum LEED EB certified facility
 Innovative use of LEED certification to facilitate capital formation and financing structure
 Procurement of public and private funding opportunities to support green sustainable building
practices
 Installation of a 22 kW photovoltaic system on the building roof to reduce operational energy
costs. This system is tied into the downtown distribution network and is the first such system
approved by National Grid in New York State
 Installation of nine electric vehicle charging stations
 Exterior façade and roof improvements enhancing aesthetics and insulation values
 Employee and tenant awareness and education
 Development of sustainable operation and maintenance programs
 Lighting and HVAC efficiency improvements
 Green infrastructure improvements to reduce stormwater to the combined sewer overflow
including porous pavers, landscaped and vegetated planting areas, Stormwater cisterns and rain
barrel, and graywater reuse
Mr. Macrae will discuss how elements of the three sustainability facets: social, environmental, and
economical, played a key role in this green building redevelopment project, and how
Synapse can replicate these practices for its clients.
Bio:
Mr. Macrae, Managing Partner at Synapse Partners works with a diverse team of professionals and
partners to facilitate real estate and business transactions advising his clients in the fields of
environmental risk management and sustainable building practices. Synapse identifies and manages
environmental and energy impacts associated with the developed community.
Synapse is a leader in certain sustainable initiatives including EV charging deployment, innovative
transportation models, stormwater systems, and other green property practices. Mr. Macrae maintains
a broad perspective of potential client needs, having managed environmental liability from within the
corporate sector and as an advisor. Having been involved in more than $1B of property transactions, he
assists and advises clients in various aspects of redevelopment projects, from conceptual planning
through implementation. Having redeveloped properties as an owner, Mr. Macrae understands the
financial challenges as well, and assists his clients in identifying and securing funding opportunities to
offset environmental liability and energy infrastructure costs.
During the life cycle of real estate: acquisition; management, and divestiture, Mr. Macrae and his team
evaluate redevelopment challenges and employ financially and technically sound risk management and
green building solutions. Mr. Macrae has never been afraid of a challenge and welcomes the
opportunity to utilize innovative thinking to meet his clients’ needs.
Mr. Macrae holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University in
Potsdam, New York, and an MBA in Finance from Syracuse University.