FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

July 9, 2024 • Dr. Architecture

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

Another guest essay from Katherine Beisler, LEED AP BD+CM who discusses her career in architecture and direct focus on sustainability. Do you have an interest in sustainability? Well, do read about her career path and learn how to make it your own.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an architect and had a strong interest in sustainability. However, it took me some time to figure out how to combine these two passions. I chose to enroll in the University of Maryland’s (UMD) architecture program for my undergraduate studies because UMD had previously ranked as a top school in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition, which focuses on building sustainable houses. During my time at UMD, our team won the competition by emphasizing not only energy efficiency but also water conservation. This experience fueled my determination to pursue a career in the sustainable built environment.

Feature in the MIPIM edition of German newspaper Immobilien Zeitung

At the beginning of my career, I worked as an architect, primarily on international projects, always striving to incorporate sustainable practices. At that time, sustainability was often an afterthought, merely a footnote or the last page of a design proposal. I realized that to make a significant impact, I needed to be closer to the decision makers. This led me to consider a career in development. Consequently, after meeting my Dutch partner, I enrolled in the Management in the Built Environment master’s program at TU Delft in the Netherlands.

Presenting on a panel at MIPIM on transformation projects

Today, I am a part of a real estate consultancy where I have established our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Consulting service. In this role, I advise key decision-makers such as institutional investors and developers, drawing on my technical background to provide practical, actionable advice. I find myself in an exciting position where I can influence and implement positive changes in the built environment, promoting sustainability, social responsibility, and sound governance.

At MIPIM – 4-day real estate exhibition, conference and networking event gathering 26,800 international property professionals, in Cannes.

I highly recommend an education in architecture to anyone interested in the built environment. The comprehensive foundation in art, history, science, and mathematics it provides can pave the way for numerous career paths and opportunities. Not to mention learning the soft skills of presentation, communication and plain hard work.

Katherine Beisler, LEED AP BD+CM Director, Head of ESG Consulting

Hollis

SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES

U.S. Green Building Council

https://www.usgbc.org/

Building Better Partnerships

https://www.betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk/

BREEAM

https://bregroup.com/products/breeam

WELL Building Institute

https://www.wellcertified.com/

Environmental Science