STORY
GENERATE CHANGE WITH STORYTELLING
The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) was designed to meet research computing needs of the State’s largest academic research institutions. MGHPCC is a $95 Million investment in revitalization of Holyoke’s Historic Canal District.
MY ROLE: I was responsible for establishing the narrative of Holyoke as source of low-cost low-carbon electricity. I authored the report which lead to development of MGHPCC.
“MGHPCC is the largest and most significant collaboration of government, private industry and public and private universities in the history of the Commonwealth”
Jack Wilson, President Emeritus, UMass System
CHAPTER 1:
STORY CREATES PURPOSE
THE STORY: Holyoke is a great place to do business with low-cost renewable electricity and a next generation fiber optic network.
MY ROLE: HG&E purchased the Hadley Falls Dam and Holyoke canals in 2001. As these assets were integrated, a narrative emerged about how the resources of an aging mill town might find new purpose within the green economy.
Click above to view a promotional video about Holyoke's unique economic development story.
STORY1B.pdfGREEN HOLYOKE ADVERTISING
Existing HG&E institutional advertising was adjusted to focus upon the green business message.
CHAPTER 2:
PURPOSE DRIVES PROGRESS
THE PURPOSE: MIT Lincoln Labs needed supercomputing capacity and locating a HPC facility in Holyoke was over 50% less expensive than building in Boston.
MY ROLE: The initial interest was to locate a cluster of shipping containers upon vacant land at an existing HG&E electrical substation. As plans expanded to include construction of a building shell, numerous lengthy technical reports were commissioned. I was tasked with summarizing these reports into a single concise document that would persuade Lincoln Labs to construct a $12.5 Million data center facility in Holyoke.
STORY2A.pdfMGHPCC REPORT (DRAFT)
September 2008 DOWNLOAD PDF
STORY2B.pdfGENERIC HOLYOKE REPORT
August 2009 DOWNLOAD PDF
CHAPTER 3:
PROGRESS SPARKS RESPONSE
THE PROGRESS: Harvard, Northeastern, Boston University and UMass Amherst had similar needs. Working with Cisco and EMC, MGHPCC construction begins in 2011.
MY ROLE: The 40 page summary created for Lincoln Labs had evolved as discussions continued, and I was tasked with creating additional maps, charts and diagrams to support its narrative. As the project expanded to include more partners, requests for site visits to our generating facilities increased. I hosted many of these tour groups, explaining how HG&E generates its green power with historical context of why it had been built here.
MGHPCC MEDIA COVERAGE
STORY3B.pdfMGHPCC PRESS COVERAGE
CHAPTER 4:
RESPONSE PROMPTS INTEREST
THE RESPONSE: Cisco Systems selects Holyoke for its Smart + Connected Communities project, using network services to improve quality of life.
MY ROLE: Working directly with VP-level communications and theater executives from Cisco Systems, I authored four “day in life” case studies, designed OneHolyoke project marketing materials, and aided with the development of scripted Telepresence press events which demonstrated the benefits of OneHolyoke project technologies to a global audience.
CHAPTER 5:
INTEREST ENABLES CHANGE
THE INTEREST: Nationally known for its computing center and renewable power, new industries discover Holyoke a good place to do business.
MY ROLE: None. Since early 2012, I’ve had no involvement. But the story continues...
STORY5.pdf