Green Globes Assessors
Green Globes Assessors (GGA) are the backbone of the Green Globes certification process. Each building that goes through Green Globes certification is assigned a GGA who will work with the project team throughout the process.
Barbara Clarke
AIA, GGA, GGP, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
The very first Earth Day occurred when Barbara was in sixth grade, and she saw that the health of the planet was something worth working for. Later, as a young woman, Barbara stayed with relatives in Sweden where she witnessed recycling as a way of life, hydro power that served an entire neighborhood, and bicycle paths on all the roads. “It’s a very advanced way of living, and everything flowed so naturally,” she notes. “When I returned to the U.S. I finished my architecture degree and worked in capital project management for a major pharmaceutical company, where I was exposed to high performance buildings and good practices.”
After receiving an architecture degree, Barbara obtained a Master of Science in Engineering Management. She became excited by the immense opportunities of commercial recycling to keep materials such as ceiling tiles and carpeting out of the landfill. Working as the Project Architect/Sustainability Coordinator at Drexel University, Barbara led the green building charge on many projects. Now with PZS Architects, her 30 years of expertise informs each of her projects.
While working at Drexel, Barbara was involved in six Green Globes projects and she became a GGP. Because she’s worked on the client’s side, the project manager’s side, and as a GGP, she brings a multi-faceted perspective to assessments. “So often, all the pieces of the puzzle are there and just need to be put together. A team shouldn’t have to walk away from less points than their project deserves,” she explains. “I get to see many clients who are forward-thinking and the difference their efforts make. That’s the exciting thing – to have a job that can make a difference for people and the planet.”
Buddy Humphries
PE, GGP
Perhaps it was hailing from three generations of farmers that instilled Buddy with his great affinity for nature and love of the land. Visiting his grandparent’s Kentucky farm every year, he roamed the fields and played with the animals. “We saw where everything came from and where it went. I knew where the well was and that was where the water came from. I knew where our waste ended up,” Buddy says. “As our society urbanizes and our connection with the farm dwindles, we lose that important understanding.”
Buddy’s dad was a bricklayer and masonry contractor so he grew up with blueprints on the table. He became a carpenter then went back to school in his late 20s to study civil engineering. His love for nature made him focus on minimizing waste and reducing environ- mental impacts. Drawn to big infrastructure projects, Buddy worked for a mechanical contractor in Hawaii for 15 years, where he performed one of the first reclaimed-water projects in the state. He moved to Georgia, became a consultant, and lectured on low-impact development and sustainable stormwater practices before they were popular topics. Buddy has also worked extensively with energy optimization and controls, and conducted forensic insurance building investigations.
The fact that Green Globes Assessors are required to be licensed design professionals with extensive experience appeals to Buddy, and he says that’s something that sets Green Globes apart. He views sustainability as a learning process and likes to share his knowledge as a project assessor. “I tell people about low-impact and natural approaches to optimize our resource use,” Buddy notes. “My biggest hope is that we educate everyone to recognize our effects on the environment, and I like the idea of contributing to that.”
David Eldridge
PE, GGA, GGP, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, BEAP, HBDP
A crop farm in western Illinois was the backdrop of David’s youth, and his time in the Boy Scouts first introduced him to ecological concerns. Learning about building loads and system thermodynamics in college changed David’s mind from pursuing a career in making machinery to one that took an engineering approach toward the environment. One summer, he took an internship at a glass laboratory to have fun with the products. “When I found out that the work actually had me run a computer program, I was crestfallen,” David admits. “But it was a huge turning point in my life because I discovered that computer work was something I really enjoyed.” He subsequently obtained a Master’s degree at Oklahoma State University where he used computers to create building models and various loads.
David has been a professional engineer working on analytical projects at Grumman/Butkus Associates in Illinois for the past 17 years. His day-to-day work includes sustainability assessments, benchmarking, energy audits, energy modeling, and other trouble- shooting assessments. David has been a contributor to ASHRAE committees on building energy performance, healthcare facilities, and certification.
In 2000, when the Green Building Initiative sought assessors with laboratory and healthcare experience, David applied. Thanks to his extensive background, he has provided Assessments on complex facilities including casino resorts, hospitals, and laboratories. He appreciates that observation and judgment come into play in Green Globes. “Complex projects rarely have straightforward energy use. I like that Green Globes acknowledges there are ways to achieve savings that don’t necessarily check off a bunch of boxes,” David says. “I like to bring my perspective to each project, and I get great feedback from clients that their assessments are so interactive.”
David Griffin
Growing up in Arkansas, David took advantage of the great outdoors with frequent camping trips. As an eagle scout, he learned the joy of personal development and serving others. In adulthood, David applies his lessons to the built environment as he strives to “save the world, one building at a time.” His professional focus has been on Zero Net Energy (ZNE) design and operations. He has worked at several engineering and architecture firms. In December 2011, David obtained his master’s degree in Architecture in addition to a master’s degree in the Built Environment (MSBE) from Arizona State University.
David has been a Green Globes Assessor since 2017 and leverages his education, lessons learned, and passion for sustainable design to assist teams with projects across the United States. He enjoys being engaged in the creative process of minimizing a project’s impact on the environment while beautifying the landscape. “Buildings marry art and science to enhance the human experience,” David says. “I feel well positioned with Green Globes to help teams accomplish these goals in the most sustainable way possible.”
David Johnson
GPCP, GGA
Born into a family of environmentalists, David’s father worked for the U.S. Forest Service and both of his parents were scout leaders. They lived within walking distance of Tennessee’s Hiwassee River, and David grew up canoeing, fishing, camping, and hiking. “I still try to spend as much time as I can outdoors,” David muses. “When my kids were young, we used to go camping as much as possible so I could instill in them a love of the outdoors.” David’s first professional exposure to sustainability was an internship where he conducted research and created pamphlets on energy-conservation strategies for the East Tennessee Community Design Center.
A licensed architect for over 30 years, David has experience with planning, design, and construction of a wide range of project types in various locations. He served as a Construction Program Manager for the U.S. Air Force where he provided oversight for construction of projects in Germany and Egypt. His experience also included facility management at Air Force bases in the U.S. and Italy. His consulting experience includes project design, construction inspection, and advising on a wide range of architectural and environmental issues.
David’s deep experience in existing buildings led him to become a Green Globes Assessor in that area, and he expanded into assessments for multiple project types. He was drawn to Green Globes because he likes its focus on customer service, user-friendly style, and practical approach. “I like getting out, meeting the clients and sharing my expertise. Having worked in facility management, I feel like I’ve been in their shoes,” David says. “It’s very rewarding to have a dialogue, create relationships, and help clients think about sustainability to achieve their goals.”
David Stewart
MS P. Eng., GGA
Living by the ocean in Nova Scotia has given David an appreciation of the power of nature and need to take care of the environment. He started his career in Newfoundland working in the off-shore trained as an Ocean Engineer and within two years moved into the energy efficiency and renewable energy field using his Professional Engineering in Mechanical Engineering background and has remained there since.
He entered the green building sector in the 1990s and presented his first green building project for the Green Building Challenge 1998 in Vancouver BC. That is when he realized the significant impact buildings have on the well-being of the occupants and the planet. Dave has over 35 years of experience in the energy efficiency and renewable energy field and 25 years in the green building sector. He has been involved as the green consultant with world-class buildings such as the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre recognized by Business Week in 2006 as one of the 10 top sports stadiums in the world.
Dave has been involved with Green Globes since 2004 when he conducted his first Green Globes assessment at Mount Allison University’s Fitness Centre. He has expanded into other building types and recently provided building net-zero evaluations to address the twin threats of high energy prices and greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. The move towards establishing a low- or zero-carbon footprint using Green Globes is a logical and exciting development and one Dave looks forward to as it becomes mainstream.
Dirk Mason
GGP, GGA
An avid skier since the tender age of four, Dirk almost became a snow scientist in order to work where he played. Memories of waterskiing, sailing, canoeing and snow skiing near his family’s cottage in north Wisconsin ultimately led him to obtain an under- graduate degree in geography and environmental science. “I grew up in the outdoors and want to protect those natural re- sources for myself and everyone else,” Dirk asserts. “I realized that the built environment is where a balance needs to take place, and that’s where I could have real impact on saving the planet.”
Dirk obtained a Master of Urban Planning and practiced as a town planner until a residential green building project got him re-engaged in building science. He developed expertise in vapor barriers, gap analysis and proper construction, which grew into a consulting business. With a special emphasis existing buildings, Dirk has managed or overseen the certification of over 30 million square feet of existing building space during the past 20 years. In 2013, he co-founded the Compass Group in Wisconsin, his second sustainability consulting firm.
As a Green Globes Assessor, Dirk likes to sit down with the management team during the site visit to discuss how the building is truly being run. “When people are operating a building, it’s not all black and white. There are nuances that can get lost in translation,” he says. Dirk focuses on helping teams make buildings that save money and make occupants happy because it’s a win-win. “That way, whether they think it’s saving the world or saving the bottom line, their efforts help us keep spinning on this globe in a harmonious way.”
Donald Martin
AIA, GPCP, GGA
A recycler since he was a 10-year-old paperboy, Don collected the newspapers on his route and recycled them at a nearby facility and wrapped gifts in comic-strip pages. “Later, in architecture school, I built design models out of junk mail like Marlboro cigarette flyers and reclaimed Frito Lay tray boxes from my job at a grocery store,” recounts Don. “I think one of the biggest things I can do personally is recycle.” When he built on property in North Jasper, Georgia, Don first minimized site disturbance as much as possible and then re-milled wood from any trees that had to be taken into 2x6s, 2x4s, and mulch.
While still in college Don took a job as a drafter doing CAD work for an electrical contractor. His boss shared Don’s enthusiasm for recycling and sent him into the field to pull and recycle copper wire and its plastic casings. He began working as an architect in 2005 and in 2007 became principal of his company, MARSTON design studio in Georgia. At work, he provides design consulting and recommendations to a broad spectrum of projects and has performed Fannie Mae green certifications, Energy Star evaluations, and high-performance building assessments.
One of Don’s favorite things about Green Globes Assessments is conduction the on-site walkthroughs and he believes it’s what makes Green Globes special. “My job is to find out what each project does have, and I get to walk around with the team and have them tell me the building’s story,” Don says. “A lot of projects aren’t pursuing certification and I think Green Globes’ personal touch is the right way to engage them. This is what sustainability is supposed to be.”
Eric Truelove
PE, GGA
Raised in the Connecticut suburbs during the 1960s, Eric says much of the U.S. was an environmental disaster zone. “Life Magazine called the Connecticut River ‘best landscaped sewer in America.’ This was a place where my family used to picnic,” Eric recalls. “Every year, men would come and spray the trees on our street with insecticide using a big fire hose connected to a truck. I could see that the frogs and toads were disappearing. It felt like we were living in a dead zone.” Combined with seeing cities completely blanketed in smog, these memories made a lifelong impression on Eric.
With 30 years of professional experience focused on energy savings, Eric is a registered engineer in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Arizona. His strong background in energy studies placed him at the premier meeting of national sustainability in 1994. Eric served as the Director of Sustainable Design in two different firms before becoming the Principal of his own company: Green Building Resources LLC in Wisconsin.
A conservative engineer always looking for results, Eric became impressed with Green Globes because he immediately saw the benefits of having a person come onsite to see what the team had done. He has provided Assessments in New Construction, Core and Shell, Sustainable Interiors, Existing Buildings, and the federal Guiding Principles. As an assessor, Eric enjoys bringing all the available science to people who are ready to learn about it. “I like providing really good value with a personal touch,” Eric says. “Not everyone is conversant in green building and we assessors make it very accessible. Being able to be part of a solution is rewarding, and I learn new things every day.”
Gary Keclik
AIA, CSI, DBIA, GGA
Leading-edge concepts have always attracted Gary. He left the architectural drafting table behind to learn CAD in its early stages. His new skill led him to investigate building failures and he realized that, if buildings were built better in the first place, many pitfalls would be avoided. Then, in 1993, he became immersed in sustainable architecture. “When you make a building sustainable, everybody wins,” Gary assures. “Architects care about how everything fits together including how our work impacts the world, and our industry needs to make ourselves more at one with nature when we build.”
In his 40 years as an architect, Gary has performed design, analysis, construction, repair, forensic investigation and rehabilitation of all building types. In 2001, he founded Keclik Architecture & Design Group in Illinois, where he offers architectural consulting, regulatory compliance, and sustainable architecture. Gary became involved with the Green Building Initiative in 1997 to help evaluate and establish the first American ANSI standard. He was instrumental in creating sustainable education and trainings for Green Globes Assessors, and Gary helped write review standards for Guiding Principles for federally owned buildings.
Gary has completed more than 100 Green Globes Assessments. He loves the variety, and he’s has been impressed that some projects have technology so new, they help inform the standard. But he’s seen even highly sophisticated clients learn through the Green Globes evaluation. “People are thrilled about the process and what they’ve learned,” he affirms. “A lot of folks don’t have time to think about how to take buildings to the next level, and I love to use my knowledge to pull group members together, build new cohesiveness, and raise their approach to sustainability.”
Glenn Haydu
AIA, GGP, GPCP, GGA
In 2006, Glenn worked on an eye-opening project: an office building pursuing the highest green building certification available at the time. As an architect, Glenn had always wanted to positively influence a building’s surroundings through design, but this project kicked off a change in his mindset. “It got me thinking about an integrated process, materials, saving energy, and making a great place for employees and visitors,” Glenn remembers. “I had new thoughts about building impacts and learned that a lot of little changes can make a big difference.”
Glenn is a licensed architect in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Over his 25-year career, he’s spent 13 years as a Principal at Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners in New Jersey until he decided to scale back his time and became the firm’s Director of Sustainability. Now, he shows clients how to effect green building changes without adding even 1% of construction costs on urban projects.
Constantly challenging himself to stay fresh on best practices in sustainable design, Glenn was drawn to Green Globes and became an assessor in 2010. The experience has had a tremendous influence on him, and he brings the lessons he learns back to his staff to help make the firm’s projects better. He likes to share his knowledge base with Green Globes customers and offer suggestions for them to consider. “Green Globes clients feel like I’m part of the team,” Glenn affirms. “I help them see that sustainable design doesn’t have to cost more or take more time. It’s about making the right decisions at the right time and understanding how those decisions relate to each other.”
Jiri Skopek
AA Dip., OAA, MCIP, RIBA, GGP, LEED GA
Jiri is best known for creating and developing Green Globes environmental assessment tools, which include modules for design of New Buildings, Sustainable Interiors, and Operation and Management of Existing Buildings (BOMA Canada/ GBI US), University Campuses (APPA) and Building Intelligence Quotient (BIQ). These assessment modules have been adopted and are promoted in North America by various organizations such as Green Building Initiative (GBI), BOMA Canada, CABA and APPA. For 11 years he was a Managing Director of Sustainability with JLL where among other, numerous projects he was responsible for the Smart Building contract with the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). As an architect and planner, Jiri has contributed to Toronto’s skyline. He was senior designer with Bregman and Hamann Architects of Toronto, and Master Planner for the Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto. In the 1990s he ran the Paris office of Santiago Calatrava.
Jiri has been involved in many international sustainable community activities throughout his career. He was a founding participant in Solar Research and Development at Milton Keynes Development Corporation, in England, and designed the first active solar house in the U.K. With the Llewelyn-Davies International he was a Planning Consultant to the governments of the Sultanate of Oman and Qatar on community development and government land use policies. In Saudi Arabia, he designed the new town of Jizan and was the Chief Urban Designer for the King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah and the Urban Designer for the City of Edmonton.
John Chyz
PE, CPMP, WELL AP, CEA, GGA
Fond childhood memories of swimming and fishing in fresh water lakes and climbing rolling hills in his hometown north of Toronto gave John his love of the outdoors. He’s had a keen interest in environmental stewardship for as long as he can remember. “In 10th grade, we were tasked with writing a paper and I did mine on recycling,” John says. “It was stuck with me as I grew up.” John obtained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University and went to work in renewable energy resources. “I had a real passion to stay connected to sustainability,” John remarks. “I felt compelled to contribute something beneficial to the world.”
After conducting experiments on flue gasses to cultivate microalgae for biofuel products at the Natural Energy Laboratory, John Co-Founded Cirion Energy Systems and focused on grid-tied photovoltaic systems for buildings. In 2007, John moved to Florida and was the Managing Director of The Cross Creek Initiative, a non-profit industry/university joint venture with the University of Florida. He also helped develop and teach green building courses through the University of Florida TREEO Center. Currently, John is a Sustainable Design & Construction Specialist with Affiliated Engineers.
A Green Globes Assessor since 2010, John leverages his perspective honed through years of experience to help teams enhance their projects’ sustainability. He enjoys exposure to the diverse strategies and innovative approaches he’s seen the teams devise. In addition, the Green Building Initiative’s mission aligns with his personal philosophy. “Green Globes offer a more purist path and truthful approach toward green building rating systems,” he says. “Teams can design and deliver a sustainable building that can be qualified and quantified through a process that’s easy to work with and supportive.”
Ron Lincoln
AIA, GGA
Like many colleges in the 1970s, University of Michigan’s architecture program heavily emphasized the importance of ecology in design, and that left a lasting impression on Ron. In fact, he was puzzled that it took decades for the eco-movement to truly take hold. “Why wouldn’t you want to save money? Why wouldn’t you want to save water or make buildings function better?” Ron asks. “It’s good for people’s health, the environment, and operational costs.”
Now a Principal at A3C Collaborative Architecture, Ron has more than 35 years of experience, with an expertise in the technical aspects of projects such as code reviews, ADA, energy audits, and technical walk-throughs for clients to identify the weak and strong points of a project. His firm incorporates sustainability into every aspect of their work, especially items with no associated extra costs that lead to lower water use, lower energy costs, and healthier workplaces (like low- or no-VOC products).
Becoming an assessor in 2011 was a professional development choice for Ron. He likes to see what others are doing in all kinds of buildings and apply that in his work. Ron most enjoys engaging Green Globes customers early in their process by offering insights on the first-stage assessments. “You’ve missed half the value if you pursue certification later on,” Ron asserts. “I bring my technical knowledge to the survey and document review to identify items customers might have missed, points that look feasible, and how to make the project to do better. For me, it’s a great opportunity to help make the world – and buildings – better places."
Mark Russell
GGA
Beaches with pristine sugar-white sands and clear waters, and the rich diversity of the Florida swamps are scenes Mark recalls from his youth. As a boy scout, he and loved to do things outdoors, which drives his ongoing desire to preserve the environment. “When I see fertilizers wash into streams and warmer waters that let harmful algae flourish along the Gulf Coast, it’s devastating because we can never recover the same natural beauty,” Mark says. As an adult, Mark worked in Germany where fuel resources are scarce, and it exposed him to a new mentality on efficiency, especially with regard to passive design. “That really catalyzed me and I wanted to bring that knowledge back home.”
Mark’s engineering career began in the Navy. Among his many roles, Mark oversaw environmental projects at naval hospitals around the world and, later became the resident officer in charge of construction. He retired from the Navy in 2002 and worked in the private sector. Then he obtained a Doctorate of Design Construction and Planning specializing in Life Cycle and Building Rating systems. Now he teaches construction and sustainable development courses at the University of Florida.
Mark’s philosophy as an assessor is to help people save resources, and he draws on his vast experience to show teams how they can improve their efforts. Because Green Globes certification is an educational process, it also aligns beautifully with his work. “I really enjoy is seeing the cutting-edge things people are doing in differ- ent scenarios and various regions,” Mark notes. “I bring back those strategies to my students in the classroom to help enhance my teaching and I watch sustainability grow from there too.”
Michael Smith
PE, NEBBRCx CP, CxA, GGA
“Leave it better than you found it,” is the ethic that guides Micheal both personally and professionally. An avid camper, he’s spent a lot of time in the Great Smoky Mountains with his tent pitched near clean, clear, cold running streams. “I want to protect that,” declares Micheal. “In many ways, we are dirtying our nest. I see plastic bags and trash blowing around on the roadside and I know they are going to end up in the creek. I’d like us to take our responsibility to the environment seriously.”
Excitement over the 1960s Space Race to put a man on the moon drove Micheal to initially pursue an education in aerospace engineering. But his true fit was mechanical engineering, where he learned how to control energy, use it, and change it from one form to another. With 30+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, commissioning and project management, Micheal has also performed construction administration and taught courses in heat transfer, fluid flow, and thermodynamics. Since 2012, he’s worked as a commissioning agent at Merrick & Company in Georgia.
In addition to his technical expertise and understanding of practical applications, Micheal brings a team mentality to his role as an assessor. He strives to be approachable, be willing to answer questions, and make site visits as smooth as possible. On occasion, he finds teams where sustainability is truly a new concept. “It doesn’t take as much to get them on the right path as they think it will. I really like working with the project teams, and I always look for places where I can offer more ideas and value,” he says.
Nathan Elliott
AIA, ALA, NCARB, GGA
Growing up on a small organic farm in rural Illinois, Nathan was immersed in a culture of doing more with less. His father made his own fertilizers out of organic matter, installed a solar panel to heat their house, and sold colorful vegetables at a roadside stand. “We tried to reuse all the time. We’d get larger packing materials discarded by big-box stores turn them into sheds on the farm,” Nathan recalls. Now Nathan’s family live on a small property and his sons have responsibility for raising chickens. “I want to teach them stewardship, as well as an understanding and respect for the cycles of life.”
Nathan’s ecological ethos complements his work as an architect. During his 13+ years in the profession, he’s managed the range of project aspects from developing conceptual ideas through construction detailing to conducting on-site inspections. He had a knack for adapting systems to green requirements and became the go-to guy for sustainable design at BLDD Architects. Then, in the spring of 2014, Nathan became a co-owner and Principal of EA Architecture and Design in Illinois.
Recognizing Green Globes was a “less cantankerous and time-consuming” green building rating system, Nathan decided to become an assessor. He enjoys seeing different architectural approaches and guiding clients through the process. “When projects go for Three or Four Green Globes, I consider if I can use their innovations on my professional projects.” he says. “And when an assessment shows a building on the threshold of a higher rating, I like to help them find ways to make the building more sustainable.”
Paul Shafer
RA, AIA, CSI, GGA
The Hudson Valley’s geography is dominated by its wide river valley, deep gorges, and the nearby Catskill Mountain forest. It was here that Paul developed his great appreciation for nature’s extreme beauty and human impacts. “There’s a feeling of age and gentleness to the landscape, but the river was so polluted that we weren’t supposed to go near the water to swim or fish,” Paul recalls. “Now the Hudson River is crowded with people enjoying the water. I’m trying to contribute to efforts like that to restore and protect nature and take our future in the right direction.”
Paul started thinking about the larger issues of environmental responsibility in the late 1970s. While working as an architect in the commercial interiors industry in Manhattan, he was shocked by the incredible materials waste he saw. Now living in New Mexico, Paul is a consultant at Edificycle where he promotes a more thoughtful consideration about the interplay of environment and construction.
Paul enjoys being part of the Green Globes Assessment team and seeing the range of projects in different locales. Initially, he became an assessor to expand his repertoire of skills. Helping teams reach their goals, however, is what keeps Paul continually engaged. He leverages his 40 years of design expertise to bring judgment and perspective to a wide range of projects. “A lot of the assessment activity centers on helping people and answering questions. I get to show them where their accomplishments are, what’s not working, and how to improve,” Paul says. “Green Globes makes a difference, and all of these efforts add up. That’s important to me.”
Rebecca Mirsky
PhD, PE, GGP, GPCP, GGA, GGF
Rebecca Mirsky is an environmental engineer with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Her professional interests involve environmental aspects related to the built environment. Chief among them are energy-efficient and 'green construction methods and materials, both in commercial/industrial and residential applications. Other specific interests are "clean construction"; reduction and recycling of construction waste; erosion control and stormwater management; dust and noise control; and sustainable land use planning.
She first became involved with green building certification as a LED accredited professional, and served for two years on the board of the Idaho Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. As a faculty member with the Department of Construction Management at Boise State University, her primary role as a LED AP was educational, and she developed and taught undergraduate and non-credit continuing education courses in sustainable building science, green building methods, and LED exam prep.
After retiring from teaching, Dr. Mirsky wanted to stay current and active in the evolution of green building. The role of Green Globes Assessor was a perfect fit, allowing her to combine her construction industry experience with academic skills in technical analysis and report writing. "I learn something new with each project assessment and I'm continually energized and impressed by the dedication and resourcefulness of everyone I work with from project team members, to my fellow assessors, and all the professionals who make up the Green Building Initiative," she says.
Rich Mitchell
AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, GGP
In the University of Oregon’s architecture program in the 1980s, several professors lit a fire under Rich and his classmates by motivating them toward holistic design. When Rich entered the profession, however, the young architect’s college passions became tabled by clients’ focus on costs. But in the mid-90s, the industry re-awakened to sustainability and that served as a new catalyst for Rich. “Great design can’t exist unless it balances aesthetics, form and function, and sustainability is an integral part of that,” he says. “I would not define a project as great design unless it also minimized environmental impacts.”
A life-long resident of Portland, Ore., Rich joined the local firm of MacKenzie 30 years ago and has been its President for the past decade. He performs primary architectural design and serves as project principal and project manager for virtually every type of commercial and industrial building. Much of his work revolves around repurposing existing buildings and redeveloping older urban sites into state-of the-art, relevant spaces. Passionate about engaging and developing the next generation of young professionals, Rich is also an adjunct faculty member at the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego.
Green Globes resonated with Rich on a number of fronts. He first became involved with the Green Building Initiative in 2013 and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Working as an assessor, Rich sees his role as coach-like and he enjoys guiding the team toward sustainable measures. “Rather than simply having a project judged at the end, the Green Globes process is much more inclusive. That appeals to more people and helps motivate broader participation,” Rich says. “I get to encourage teams to reach a little higher and go a little deeper in their sustainability, and that’s rewarding.”
