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.”