Massive Learnings from Massachusetts Multifamily | PHA Live!

Fresh off its debut as a standout session at this year’s PhiusCon conference in Milwaukee, this presentation distills years of real-world experience from the Massachusetts Passive House boom into one high-impact, insight-rich presentation.

Want to learn from the experience of more than 20 certified Massachusetts passive house multifamily projects? Instead of listening to one project case study at a time, are you hungry for synthesized “best of” practices from projects on the leading edge? Eager to learn how to skip common pitfalls, understand the most challenging aspects of multifamily certification, and hear how completed projects have been bringing cost down?

Massachusetts is at the forefront of passive building adoption in the United States, thanks to Passive House code adoption for multifamily projects in much of the state. This presentation offers a unique opportunity to gain insights directly from the experiences of professionals working on the ground in this pioneering state. Through in-depth interviews with over 40 individuals, including Passive House verifiers, CPHC/Ds, MEP engineers, general contractors, site supervisors, project managers, developers, and architects, Passive House Massachusetts (PHMass) has been uncovering critical lessons-learned from a diverse range of passive buildings.

This presentation dives into specifics about persistent issues with central ventilation systems, approaches to midpoint air tightness testing, the importance of subcontractor buy-in and education, air infiltration “gotchas,” and how multifamily design and engineering detailing can affect project success.

Presenters Beth Campbell (Education Program Director at PHMass), Beverly Craig (Program Manager at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center), and Alexander Gard-Murray (Executive Director at PHMass) will share key themes and recurring issues identified through this comprehensive assessment. Discover the specific knowledge gaps and educational needs highlighted by experienced practitioners, providing a clear understanding of where focused training and resources are most needed within the community.

✨ Read the full PH Mass study here: https://phmass.org/

✨ Recent Passive House Podcast episode featuring the presentation team: https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/podcast/260-recapping-phiuscon-2025

✨ Bonus: Continue the conversation inside the Reimagine Buildings Collective, our community platform where practitioners share resources, host AMAs, and collaborate year-round. Join here: https://collective.reimaginebuildings