Over the next few weeks, we will run a Q+A series to showcase some of the incredible change-makers who are speaking at Living Future 2020 Online. This week, we are featuring Rami Vagal, Senior Sustainability Manager at Mohawk Industries, our Luminary Sponsor of LF20.

Natalie Quek: What does sustainability look like to you?

Rami Vagal: Sustainability, its relevance and what it means, continues to evolve with time and the urgency of issues. It also varies based on one’s geographic and socioeconomic differences. For me, it has changed over a period of time from when I was growing up in India, a developing country, to where I am today in the U.S., working as a sustainability professional for one of the world’s largest flooring companies. It is about the viability of current and future well-being, both social and environmental. It is about taking a whole systems approach in our decision-making. It’s about balancing the benefits and dis-benefits of the economic, environmental and social consequences of our decisions and so much more.

NQ: What initially drew you to a career in sustainability?

RV: Growing up in India and studying architecture, sustainability was never introduced as a concept or a trend but more so as an answer or solution to issues that cities and societies were facing. Whether it was population density, or water and hygiene situations, social equity or hunger issues; all of these facets needed organizations, government, academics, technologists, designers and more to come up with solutions and work in an integrated manner. Sustainability was introduced to me as a philosophy or means to live rather than a trend.

Moving to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree in architecture opened my eyes to some additional challenges that we are facing on a global scale. It was never really something I planned to be part of — but was ultimately drawn to it through different circumstances, the need and an increasing interest over time.

NQ: What does this year’s theme, Sustaining Hope within Crisis, mean to you? How does this translate to your personal or professional life?

RV: In order to address the climate crisis, it will not be enough to merely do “less bad.” People need to be proactive and attempt to give more to the environment and to society. To me, it also means not having to justify the role of sustainability professionals within an organization and explain why associated initiatives should be a priority to a company. Sustainability should be ingrained into an individual’s and an organization’s DNA. Everyone should be working towards the larger goal without having to be constantly asked to do so. It is not only the responsibility of a few individuals to focus on the betterment of the planet and the society, but for everyone to realize the part they play.

I believe hope is one of the strongest elements in addition to trust, will power and determination that helps one continue to “sustain.” Hope drives the movement and helps one to be optimistic towards creating a future that will allow our coming generations to flourish and thrive.

NQ: What gives you hope?

RV: There is a great deal of momentum and drive in millennials and Gen Z towards concern over climate change, social equity and overall focus on key sustainability issues across the globe. The fact that these generations don’t look at it as “optional” or a “luxury” gives me hope. Recently, I have observed a momentum in larger organizations as well in addressing and finding solutions for climate change. Whether it is pressure from the investors, stakeholders or customers, there is a growing focus seen on companies investing in initiatives for sustainability and climate change. The more leadership shown from the C-suite that trickles down, the faster we will see results and important initiatives undertaken.

NQ: Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be talking about in your session at Living Future?

RV: In our session, we will discuss how building clients, product manufacturers and designers are using the Living Product Challenge and an additional new holistic material selection methodology to clarify the material procurement conversation for everyone. LPC has provided a framework to rethink product manufacturing as well as fundamentals that an organization can adapt to implement its sustainability initiatives. I will be discussing how Mohawk has specifically done that in the past few years with our work in net positive and “handprinting” initiatives.

NQ: Why is it important to move forward with Living Future 2020 Online?

RV: I would go back to the theme of this year’s LF: ‘Sustaining Hope within Crisis.’ It is no doubt that the current pandemic has completely brought our lives to a halt in ways we couldn’t have imagined. While there have been several articles about the healing of the planet, the reduction in emissions, and additional environmental gains, they all are happening at a cost of human tragedy. A healthy planet should not have epidemics and pandemics as the environmental and human well-being go hand in hand. It is important to capitalize on the time we have right now towards greater collaboration, dedication, discipline and empathy so when this is all over, we as a community and society will be in a better place collectively.

NQ: Mohawk has made a tremendous commitment to ILFI as the lead sponsor of LF20. Can you tell us about what inspired Mohawk to come forward with such bold support at a time like this?

RV: Over a number of years, ILFI has brought about so many transformational changes in the building industry and beyond. Mohawk has had the opportunity to partner with ILFI throughout this growth and expansion period over several years. Now at a critical time like this, it is even more important that organizations with similar missions work in collaboration and support so that we can overcome the plight of current events and emerge on the other side stronger and more dedicated than ever before.

Can’t wait to hear more from Rami? Attend her virtual session, A Holistic Approach to Creating, Choosing + Improving Sustainable Products at Living Future 20 Online, May 7-8, 2020.

Interviews have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Over the next few weeks, we will run a Q+A series to showcase some of the incredible change-makers who are speaking at Living Future 2020 Online. This week, we are featuring Erin English, Practice Leader at Biohabitats.

Natalie Quek: What does sustainability look like to you?

Erin English: A thriving, healthy, diverse, and happy group of people living in harmony with what sustains us all: Earth. If we do our jobs as engineers, designers, planners and scientists, sustainability becomes less about buildings or cool systems and more about creating the conditions for everyone to thrive.

NQ: What initially drew you to a career in sustainability?

EE: The work of Dr. John Todd (the innovator of the ‘Living Machine’ and ecological engineering pioneer), the Bioneers Conference which highlighted such pioneers, and my college-era involvement with the fledgling Center for Sustainability at Penn State in the mid 90’s. As a chemical engineering student, engaging with such creative, innovative and heart-centered people, ideas, and movements was liberating and set me on the path to leverage engineering skills for the greater ecological and social good.

NQ: What does this year’s theme, Sustaining Hope within Crisis, mean to you? How does this translate to your personal or professional life?

EE: Within the current dual crises of both the COVID-19 pandemic and global climate change, hope is about the most vital thing we can focus on because the lack of hope could just about wreck us. That said, it is proving challenging to remain hopeful right now. I am a firm believer in cultivating open, flexible and positive attitudes when facing problems; I believe it leads to better, more grounded decision-making than coming from a place of fear or narrow thinking. I constantly need to remain vigilant, however, as it’s easy to go astray; this will be a lifelong pursuit of refinement for me.

I was struck recently by Greta Thunburg’s words “I don’t want your hope” as she invoked fear. And I hear her on this – we need to be mindful that a hopeful or positive attitude does not become a crutch or diversion from tackling the hard work and decisive action that is needed.

I have also been reflecting on our role as engineers, designers and scientists and do believe that we have a role to play in showing the way to the future in which we thrive. For example: Restoration is an act of hope, green infrastructure is a practice of hope, and Living Buildings are a beacon of hope.

NQ: What gives you hope?

EE: My two amazing sons who are 2 and 3 years old, and the rowdy, committed youth climate activists and those who support their global campaign. Also, the world around me here in Santa Fe – spring is emerging, the birds are coming back, a few plants are pushing up through the soil.

NQ: Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be talking about in your session at Living Future?

EE: Water, and how we can learn to embrace the uniqueness of our places to inform and underpin how we work with water on any particular project.

NQ: What’s a must-read/watch/listen for anyone involved with the sustainability community?

EE: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. We all have a responsibility of listening to native voices as they are a reservoir for great wisdom for these times.

NQ: Why is it important to move forward with Living Future 2020 Online?

EE: Living Future is not just a gathering to share and learn the latest evolution in deep green building, it’s a space for participants to connect, be inspired and encounter those who are thinking – and acting – differently. Moving this whole community online for a virtual event will be challenging, but I’m excited by the potential to still find some of that spark that sets this conference apart.

Can’t wait to hear more from Erin? Attend her virtual session, From Scarcity to Abundance: The Regenerative Power of Net Positive Water at Living Future 20 Online, May 7-8, 2020.

Interviews have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Over the next few weeks, we will run a Q+A series to showcase some of the incredible change-makers who are speaking at Living Future 2020 Online. This week, we are featuring David Trubridge, Artist, Designer of Lighting and owner of David Trubridge Ltd.

Natalie Quek: What does sustainability look like to you?

David Trubridge: Taken literally, being sustainable means being able to go on doing what you are doing forever. So that word cannot be used to describe any business today, including mine (which is why we make no such claims). Most companies use the word to champion one good aspect of their business of which they are proud (applause), while hiding all their other bad aspects (shame). No business today can function without oil (among other bad things), and oil is totally unsustainable, so why not just admit it and say we are not sustainable but we are working towards it as best we can?

Living in a bamboo hut and growing one’s own food could be truly sustainable, but such a life is beyond just about every Westerner, so we have to find ways to reduce our impact from within our system. Focusing on the impossible ideal of sustainability only puts people off, or makes them cheat. So I think we should just concentrate on continually reducing all the bad aspects of our operations. Then we can be proud of each step along the way and brag about them with honesty.

NQ: What initially drew you to a career in sustainability?

DT: I was initially drawn to a career in the craft of woodworking. Sustainability has never been an end in itself for me. But the essence of craft is ‘care’; there are ways to make cheap crap much more profitably, but craftspeople can’t do that because we care. We care about what we make and how we make it, and how the owner will use it. We never take cheap shortcuts or waste material for a quicker job. I would spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get a piece of furniture out of four planks, rather than do it quickly with five and waste more. That is the way we are. That craft paradigm of care was there long before ’sustainability’ became an issue, but it guided us unerringly in that direction. In the 70s I renovated an old stone house in England and we went to the scrap merchants to buy second hand timber and roof slates, almost as if by instinct.

NQ: What does this year’s theme, Sustaining Hope within Crisis, mean to you? How does this translate to your personal or professional life?

DT: How do we sustain hope today? The virus [COVID-19] crisis is pretty bad in the immediate future, but in the longer term the climate crisis could be far worse, both in our environmental devastation and our political ruptures.

If we look at the bigger picture, at the unconscionable power of those immorally fighting to retain the status quo, our efforts for change in time look doomed. So to retain hope we have to focus on what we can achieve at the grassroots level and do everything we can to force that change up the rungs of the ladder of power. Personally, I would love to go and live out my days in a cabin by the sea in the best possible way I can. But I have responsibilities, both to those that work for me and to all those who do not have a voice or any hope. So I have to travel, which is terrible for the environment, but it enables me to do everything I can to help force through this massive change that is so needed.

NQ: What gives you hope?

DT: It is seeing young people starting to get much more involved than they have been in recent generations. They need to continually hold us older generations accountable and to keep the pressure on us to force through that massive change.

NQ: Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be talking about in your session at Living Future?

DT: I will be putting design into a broader social context. The practice of design cannot exist in isolation or even in limited connection. As designers we have to be aware, not only of all the implications of what we do, but also of the unconscious programming we have received from our culture, which is our world view. Why are we so destructive towards all other life on Earth? Where did that come from?

We are now realising that everything is connected and interdependent. That includes past generations of peoples in all parts of the globe whose knowledge and wisdom we tend to neglect in our dogmatic belief in progress. Wade Davis says that “saving the planet means listening to indigenous peoples”.

What is a “world view” and how does that drive our process of design? I want to show that the Western world view is one set of values, but not the only one. That in fact it is not even a good one any more, because it is predicated on the marginalisation of so many people and on the destructive exploitation of nature. Western design is an egotistical act of control, a deity-like external imposition — that is an expression of its world view.

I will talk about the Polynesians, about their amazing and unparalleled achievements as navigators. I will show that there are parts of their world view which offer so much more hope for us in a better balanced relationship with the Earth and with each other. How can we learn from this to improve our design practice?

How can design become facilitation instead of imposition—a partnership with nature and community? How can it work for real need, rather than be driven by its own need to sell?

NQ: What’s a must-read/watch/listen for anyone involved with the sustainability community?

DT: My must-read suggestion is “The Patterning Instinct” by Jeremy Lent. He puts so many of the problems of today in the greater context of all that has gone before in many different cultures.

NQ: Why is it so important to move forward with Living Future 2020 Online?

DT: To plan for the future in this time of massive upheaval and opportunity; hope is needed even more than ever.

The virus [COVID-19] crisis has changed everything. It has thrown our politics into turmoil; neo-liberal governments have been forced to take steps that would have been impossible to imagine only months ago. All their ideological weaknesses have been brutally exposed in a time of great need, and it is the caring, people-minded governments and leaders (like ours in New Zealand) who are coming out of this best. So this devastating pandemic has opened up serious opportunities: while in lockdown we can reflect on and discuss what really matters and how we want to rebuild the world ‘afterwards’. 

Having gone through deprivation and—in too many cases—real suffering, having seen nature recover so quickly in this breathing space, why should we go back to the madness we had before? I feel sure that most people here will have discussed these issues and that we are probably pretty much in agreement. But what needs to happen now is the urgent creation of plans for rebuilding, the way we want it. Because if we don’t, at best we will revert to what we had before, an accelerating mad descent into climate devastation. And at worst, the profiteers will be rushing to impose their own ’shock doctrine’ changes, just like the way in which the Keystone Pipeline is being forced through right now.

Can’t wait to hear more from David? Attend his virtual talk, I Am the Land, at Living Future 20 Online, May 7-8, 2020.

Cover Image: Coral Pendant, courtesy of David Trubridge.

Interviews have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Over the next few weeks, we will run a Q+A series to showcase some of the incredible change-makers who are speaking at Living Future 20. This week, we are featuring Sonja Bochart IIDA LEED AP BD+C WELL AP, Principal at Shepley Bulfinch + Biophilic Design Consultant.

Natalie Quek: What does sustainability look like to you?

Sonja Bochart: Sustainability – to maintain and support people and planet health, is a mere starting point in describing the work we must aspire to do as designers of the built environment. We must show up to a whole truly mutual and beneficial way of living and thriving in this world – one that is regenerative. The Living Building Challenge, and the work of the ILFI, has helped to shepherd many of these ideas and principles forward. Biophilic design, as outlined in the Challenge, helps to guide us in collectively, intentionally, and meaningfully fostering these human-nature connections, so that the uniqueness of each place, its ‘essence’, serves as the foundation for the design approach of the project. This kind of thinking and approach is transformational for us individually, for the place, and for the community in which the project serves. These are also the places which people love, more deeply connect to, and take care of.

NQ: What initially drew you to aa career in sustainability?

SB: I have been interested in environmental psychology and the influence that space, design and creativity can have on the human psyche, and on both physical and mental well-being, from an early age. In observing my father’s long, healing-journey with cancer – his experiences within hospitals, and the benefits of a natural medicine and mind-body healing approach, I was led to a fascination with medicine and health, and eastern healing modalities. Growing up in the Sonoran Desert, I also developed a deep love of indigenous knowledge. I have found myself led to be working in this space with biophilic design, as both a continuous student and teacher, with my work taking shape in ways I could have never predicted – like having opportunities to guide individuals and teams through activities as deep sensory awareness, awakening to sense of place, and spiritual and environmental education. It is quite wondrous to experience people connecting deeply to place, observing this sacred connection they find to themselves and to others. It’s powerful and beautiful, and it’s all about interconnections that are at the core of being human. I am in constant gratitude for the opportunity to do this work.

NQ: What does this year’s theme, Sustaining Hope within Crisis, mean to you? How does this translate to your personal or professional life?

SB: For me, it has been helpful to my work and overall well-being to consider that these constraints and resisting forces, as heavy as they might feel, can actually create a tension that propels us to personally evolve, think more deeply, and act more purposefully. Instead of considering a crisis as something that is happening to us, can we instead consider it a wake-up call?

I often step back and consider these challenges as that of an observer. This takes a mindful approach, commitment to being present and a remembrance to always breathe deeply. I spend a great deal of time disconnecting when my mind might “think” I should be constantly working, thinking and acting. I found the most powerful things to do is often less. I listen to my body, and restore through art (creating and experiencing), writing, spending time in nature, teaching and serving others, reconnecting with my senses, spending time with my young daughter, cooking and eating well, and practicing yoga. Sometimes this means a hot yoga practice to detox and unwind, and other times it’s reflective, slow and restorative – learn to listen to what your body needs! When I do these things, I find I have the personal will, well-being, and optimism to do hard work and continue to believe we as humans have the capacity and creativity to evolve to a better place – together.

NQ: What gives you hope?

SB: Hope is everywhere if you are aware and awake. For me, it is found in spending time with my daughter, and with children, my community, family, and friends. It is found in all of the splendor of the natural world, in the storytellers, poets, artists, shamans, indigenous people, the young designers and students, in the courageous activist, and in the teachings of my many teachers and mentors. I find hope even in those things I defy or struggle to understand – captured in those moments of compassion, opening and understanding. I find it deeply woven into the practice of mindfulness, yoga, and – of course – spirituality. Hope can be found everywhere; it takes conscious intention and heartfelt effort to take the time to restore and reconnect to these many sacred things.

One of my favorite quotes is: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein

NQ: Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be talking about in your session at Living Future?

SB: This experiential learning session will focus on engaging participants to help them better implement regenerative thinking and biophilic design on their current built environment projects through the use of dynamic frameworks. Supporting greater equity, inclusion, and human-nature connections, these design methods and tools guide us in manifesting holistic project transformation and delivering value to all stakeholders rooted in the unique essence of place. Through these frameworks participants can consider new ways to approach the work they are doing, strengthening their biophilic design integration and evolving their own regenerative design capabilities.

NQ: What’s a must-read/watch/listen for anyone involved with the sustainability community?

SB: Just a few of my favorite reads, and applicable to our session:

Biophilia – Edward O. Wilson

Regenerative Development and Design, Mang, Haggard, Regenesis

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of

Plants –  Robin Wall Kimmerer

On experiential biophilic design process: Phipps Conservatory + Botanical Gardens

An inspiring LBC owner’s perspective (Ted Talk)

NQ: Can you describe what Living Future is like to someone who has never been?

SB: The Living Future Unconference provides the opportunity to learn, evolve and connect at so many levels. The sessions and presentations are dynamic, engaging, inspiring – truly life-changing. This is the place to elevate your thinking and practice, learn from the greatest minds in the field, hear about projects that are truly transforming our communities, and make life-long connections (and the after parties aren’t too bad either). The first few years I attended, I didn’t have much in my office’s financial support to attend, so I self-funded – worth every penny and more. This is the place to be if you want to design and live in a way that supports human and ecological health. I consider it a priority to attend – I haven’t missed a conference in 9 years!

Can’t wait to hear more from Sonja? She will speak at the Living Future 20 Online Session Series. Details to be announced!

Over the next few weeks, we will run a Q+A series to showcase some of the incredible change-makers who are speaking at Living Future 20. This week, we are featuring Sara Neff, Vice President of Sustainability at Kilroy Realty.

Natalie Quek: What does sustainability look like to you?

Sara Neff: Sustainability looks BIG to me right now. We only have a decade to solve this climate crisis, and just don’t have time for tiny little initiatives that don’t move the needle. Sustainability really exists at scale for me right now: whole carbon neutral portfolios, giant renewables projects, that kind of thing.

NQ: What initially drew you to a career in sustainability?

SN: I had been working in television for about 3 years on really fun shows like Arrested Development, but the work just did not feel meaningful to me. A friend had similarly decided entertainment wasn’t fulfilling enough, and she went to business school to focus on aligning financial and environmental outcomes; that felt exactly right for me. So, I decided to do the exact same thing—best decision I ever made!

NQ: What does this year’s theme, Sustaining hope within crisis, mean to you? How does this translate to your personal or professional life?

SN: We have a decade to solve the climate crisis, which is so little time, but it is possible that we can be successful. That’s what the hope is. It translates to my life in the sense that I have an overwhelming feeling of urgency that we have to do big things at scale right now and don’t have time to sweat the small stuff.

NQ: What gives you hope?

SN: So many of the players that haven’t been at the table on sustainability are finally waking up to our crisis, and I think that will move the needle very quickly. A large number of investors, insurance providers and consumers are finally realizing they have a part to play in managing this crisis, that their businesses are at risk, and that is going to create rapid change.

NQ: Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be talking about in your session at Living Future?

SN: Real estate owners are still very slow to embrace most of the tenants of the Living Building Challenge. I’ve learned that practitioners (engineers, architects, etc.) still don’t understand why [this is], given the climate crisis. Our panel’s goal is to explain why there’s this lack of adoption, and what can be done about it.

NQ: What’s a must-read/watch/listen for anyone involved with the sustainability community?

SN: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez. This really gets into the details of what social equity looks like as we design and operate cities and buildings (as well as many other things)….[It] is a must-read for anyone who is wondering how to design equitable projects.

Can’t wait to hear more from Sara? Attend her virtual session, Connecting the Missing Links Between LBC and the Commercial Real Estate Sector, at Living Future 20 May 7-8, 2020.

Over the next few weeks, we will run a Q+A series to showcase some of the incredible change-makers who are speaking at Living Future 20. This week, we are featuring Stacy Smedley, Director of Sustainability at Skanska USA.

Natalie Quek: What does sustainability look like to you?

Stacy Smedley: Sustainability is something that weaves its way through everything we do, both personally and professionally. It’s how we look at the world through the lens of being servants to the natural environment, not served by it. It’s constantly asking the question, “How does this decision or path impact the natural world around us?”

NQ: What initially drew you to a career in sustainability?

SS: I grew up in rural Oregon on acres of forested land that my grandpa owned. He built a house on the land that my grandparents, my mom and I shared, and from the time I could walk I had this natural outdoor playground I got to experience every single day. When I was 8, my grandpa decided to sell our land and keep the house, so every day I watched as my trees were cut down, the land was scraped away, and asphalt pavement and empty dirt lots appeared. One of those days as I was watching, I turned to my mom and told her that one day I was going to create buildings that didn’t destroy nature. Eight-year-old me couldn’t understand why someone would choose to erase our natural environment – they had just erased mine, right in front of me.

NQ: What does this year’s theme, Sustaining Hope within Crisis, mean to you? How does this translate to your personal or professional life?

SS: Hope is so vitally important, especially in the work that we do in sustainability where much of the news we hear is how big the problems are that we are trying to solve, and that we don’t have enough time to solve them. Hope is also powerful – it is what can bring people together and create collective action. And collective action is how we will solve the big problems we face.

NQ: What gives you hope?

SS: 2020 gives me hope. It already feels like the first year in a decade of real action. Collective action, specifically.

NQ: Can you give us a taste of what you’ll be talking about in your session at Living Future?

SS: Embodied carbon has finally gotten the attention it deserves, and everyone in the building industry is now working hard to account for it and reduce it. We’ll be sharing how we’ve worked on applying embodied carbon accountability to the K-12 market, and I’ll probably touch on how important it is to engage the next generation in understanding the impacts of their buildings and co-creating sustainable solutions.

NQ: What’s a must-read/watch/listen for anyone involved with the sustainability community?

SS: The Biggest Little Farm – it’s a great example of listening and responding to nature, and it’s really well made.

NQ: Can you describe what Living Future is like to someone who has never been?

SS: It is a week of inspiration and education…with like-minded people that make it feel like you’re all sitting around a fire pit making big plans and learning from each other. I always leave feeling reinvigorated and knowing I’m not alone. Living Future empowers and inspires, bottom line.

Can’t wait to hear more from Stacy? She will speak at the Living Future 20 Online Summit Series. Details to be announced!

While in Atlanta for the opening of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s new Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, ILFI CEO Amanda Sturgeon visited another site interested in Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification: the Midtown International School (MIS). Inspired in part by the Kendeda Building’s success, MIS has committed to regenerative design for all of its future building projects. This includes a planned campus expansion that will include 80,000 square feet of classroom and activity spaces on a new site. MIS will start by pursuing LBC certification and later move on to Living Community Certification (LCC).

“We know that a regenerative building can be built in the South. The Kendeda Building’s team has done that great service for us,” said MIS Founder and Head of School, Ande Noktes, in an article for the Living Building Chronicle. “So how can a school, being in the business of the future, say, ‘No, thank you, but we are going to just build to code’?”

In addition to making regenerative design a priority for the MIS campus, the school curriculum offers a biophilic design elective class for its junior high and high school students. Amanda Sturgeon spoke to the biophilic design students about the value of biophilic design and the challenges of being a woman leader. Here are the uplifting, thoughtful, and intelligent remarks that the students had to say about Sturgeon’s visit:

Sophie Buresh and Gordon Nicholson, Junior High Biophilic Design Class:

Biophilic design is an extremely intriguing and thought-provoking class. I originally chose this class because of the interesting title, but after being in it for a while, I’ve learned that it’s more than just a fancy name. ​The class is an opportunity to learn together with my classmates about preserving and improving the beautiful earth that we live on. I am intrigued by the ways I can integrate the biophilic principles into whatever profession that I choose to pursue.

During Amanda Sturgeon’s visit, she discussed what the Living Building Challenge is and I could tell that many people were interested. The Living Building project challenges one to design an eco-friendly building that leaves zero carbon footprint. It creates an environmentally friendly living space for humans in a natural environment that is better for all living things. While she was speaking, I was very intrigued and wanted to learn more about the subject. She was very kind and cooperative which helped me tune in to what she was saying much more.

The MIS Biophilic Design class enjoyed her speech just as much as I did. They felt more optimistic about the future because of the work Amanda and the ILFI are doing in the world. They also enjoy this class because they now understand more about how animals and plants can inspire possible solutions for future problems and how everything is deeply connected through nature. My Classmate Inigo Wolfe-Suarez is interested in utilizing efficient alternate food sources and is intrigued by how different animals work together. Another student, Edgewood Neilson, said, “I really enjoy this class. I enjoy understanding more about how animals and plants can inspire possible solutions to important human problems.” Nadia, another member of our class, says she enjoys this class because it incorporates design – one of her favorite activities. I personally feel that if a school used the Living Building Challenge for their buildings, it would help with the education of the children and with their overall future.

Sabrina Skolnick, Midtown International School Sophomore and Student Council Member:

As I walked onto the deck where Amanda Sturgeon’s talk would occur, I did not know what to expect from this CEO extraordinaire.

As Ms. Sturgeon started, I listened to the interesting words she said about her building and life experiences. She seemed to be confident in her words and portrayed a message of hope for the future. It seems the world is currently depending on youth to solve climate issues, yet we are still young and naive about what we have to do. I am glad to witness a solution that is positively affecting the world’s environment. At MIS, the mindset is to be globally-minded and the students are encouraged to be active members of the community. I have hopes to pursue a career in engineering.  As a result of this experience, I am motivated to pursue my dream career with new determination, and I realize the importance of women in all fields. I hope to be a prominent member of the regenerative design initiative to help our world, but until then, I am confident that Amanda Sturgeon will.

Olivia Mcnamara, Midtown International School Sophomore and Student Council Secretary:

Getting the opportunity to hear from Ms. Sturgeon was an incredible eye-opening experience for the students of Midtown International School. Being such a small school, it is vital that we have speakers come in from different backgrounds in order to infuse diverse thinking and opinions into our student body. One of MIS’ fundamental ideals is that we are ever-evolving and changing to adapt to the world around us, being mindful to never be stuck in an old mindset. The continuous implementation of new thoughts, ideas, and values plays a momentous role when it comes to our evolution and adaptation.

When Ms. Sturgeon came to speak to us, the school’s eldest students, she inspired a new and different way of thinking. Climate change is such a prevalent issue in today’s day and age, and our youth are wholeheartedly passionate about solving this issue. We take our Earth for granted, and talk about plans for the future, yet we do not discuss the fact that if there is no planet, there is no future. 

Ms. Sturgeon spoke about the planet and its effect on the human mind. Her message truly put the world’s importance into perspective for many of us; that not only should we save the planet because it’s dying, but also because it is ours and we should treat it as such. Learning about MIS’ plans for the living building was monumental and necessary for our students to visualize what we can do to combat the threat of climate change. Growing and learning while surrounded by innovation and brilliance is game-changing for our young minds in the battle against global warming. Personally, I think spreading awareness about the impending threat challenging our world and how we can combat it is important. Part of my passion for spreading knowledge stems from my love of journalism and desire to eliminate ignorance. When Ms. Sturgeon addressed us, she truly opened up our eyes to a deeper level of understanding about why we should care and what we can do to save our world. 

Sam Askew, Midtown International School Junior and Student Council President:

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect the afternoon that Ms. Sturgeon came to visit Midtown International. She brought a representation of realism and connectivity with her during her visit that was inspiring. I believe an honest opinion talking about the world and the value of the environment is invaluable and a rarity. She spoke about her experience as a woman in architecture – a typically male-dominated industry.  She shared her thought process and her journey through her professional career up to this point. Hearing her thoughts was an eye-opening experience for me. It enabled me to see architecture and business in a totally different light. It made me realize that new ideas and shifts in thinking can come from professionals in all types of fields and begin a conversation that changes many perspectives.

When Ms. Sturgeon spoke about her dreams to change the approach the world takes to design and building, her passion about the subject made anything seem possible. She spoke with gratitude and pride about the parts of her dreams that have already become reality while being mindful to say that those who stand with her have helped her reach important goals.  When she talked about the future, she did so with hope about things to come. What was truly inspirational was that she spoke without doubt or hesitation; she looked at us and told us that we could change the world and that she was counting on us to do just that. Ms. Sturgeon reminded us that we have a responsibility and a duty to take this torch from her hands and carry on.

Quotes have been edited for clarity and brevity.

ILFI will be attending USGBC’s 2019 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo this November 19-22 in Atlanta, Georgia. Greenbuild’s annual event for green building professionals focuses on finding new solutions to improve resilience, sustainability, and quality of life in buildings, cities, and communities. This year’s event will feature a Wednesday Keynote Address from the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and celebrate the deliberate voice that women bring to the green building movement at the Women in Green Power Luncheon.

ILFI will host two sessions at the Expo, as well as several additional shoulder events. At the Georgia World Conference Center ILFI will be hosting Changing Hearts and Minds, One Biophilic Project at a Time, a session that illuminates the ability of biophilic design to create environments that elevate the human experience of well-being and connectivity to nature while offering economic and social value. 

ILFI will also host the session, Innovative Campus-Scale Solutions for Watershed Health, focused on responsible water management in campus-scale developments. Sponsored by GAF and moderated by ILFI’s VP of Living Buildings Kathleen Smith, the panel will feature design representatives from Microsoft, Google, and Burwood Brickworks.

In addition to conference events, ILFI will host four exciting shoulder events during the week of Greenbuild. Located at the Interface Headquarters in Atlanta, the Zero Carbon | Building + Materials Summit will take place on Tuesday, November 19 and discuss how decarbonizing efforts in the building industry can be strategically scaled up to reduce and offset operational and embodied carbon. 

Simultaneously, EMERGE Leadership: Growing Sustainability Leaders with a Focus on Equity will take place at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s brand new Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design. EMERGE will introduce sustainability practitioners to frameworks that bring equity into the foundation of their work and will feature the NAACP Environment and Climate Justice Program and Georgia Tech’s Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain.

Later that Tuesday afternoon, join us for the Living Building Challenge 4.0 Workshop to learn about the latest holistic approach to high-performance building that addresses health, community, equity, energy, water, and beyond.

Finally, Wednesday evening (November 20) showcases the third annual Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award, sponsored by Interface, where attendees will celebrate the premier selection of biophilic design projects from around the world. The award honors the late scholar and Yale University social ecologist Stephen R. Kellert’s legacy in articulating and applying biophilic design principles to the built environment. The selection of projects represents architecture and interiors, as well as community and urban-scale projects. Finalists were selected by a jury of industry experts and the winning projects will be announced at the event. 

Be sure to stop by our booth (#1310) and join us for our shoulder events—you won’t want to miss out! See you in Atlanta!

Image: Friends & Family Event at the Kendeda Building, courtesy of Justin Chan Photography.