This may be the ultimate systems thinking interview. Beyond building science at the site scale, this is systems thinking to save the world.

Gail Vittori and Pliny Fisk III have their fingerprints all over the structural ideologies for ways of thinking that underlie what we now think of as the fields of sustainability, greenbuilding, indoor health and well-being and more.

Enjoy this thoughtful unpacking of ideas that span from systems thinking at the scale of the planet to human society to industry, products and materials. If you’re not familiar with Pliny Fisk III and Gaily Vittori, Max’s Pot, the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, or the Global Dreamlab, it’s about damn time that you are. Buckle up and enjoy this wild and fascinating ride with two of the brightest early lights in environmental sustainability in the AEC and beyond.

Pliny Fisk III

Pliny Fisk III is a pivotal figure in the sustainability movement, whose career in architecture, landscape architecture, and the systems sciences spans more than four decades. He has dedicated his career to developing replicable prototypes, protocols, and policy initiatives that challenge conventional wisdom in building design, engineering, materials, and planning. His seminal life cycle-based protocols helped shape the first green building programs, and he collaborated on federal efforts like the Greening of the White House and the Greening of the Grand Canyon. He is also an inventor and the CEO and founder of two technology companies, Sustainable Earth Technologies and the EcoInventorium.

Pliny’s influence extends into academia and policy, having held faculty positions at several major universities and served as an advisor to foundations like MacArthur and Gates. His policy initiatives include the Austin Green Building Program and the AIA’s Environmental Resource Guide, establishing new protocols with broad implementation. His impact has earned him numerous honors, including The Lewis Mumford Award and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Sacred Tree Award. Pliny has been recognized by Metropolis Magazine as a Visionary and by Texas Monthly as one of “35 People Who Will Shape Our Future.”

Gail Vittori

Gail Vittori  leads a life of discovery, of adventure, of collaborating with incredible people and finding opportunities to make a little bit of a movement of the needle on things that she is passionate about. Gail has been a key force in advancing green building policies, protocols, and prototypes at the local, state, and national levels, with a particular emphasis on the critical link between sustainable design and human health1. In 1989 she developed the initial conceptual framework for what would become the City of Austin’s Green Builder Program, recognized as the first green building program globally. Building on this foundational work, she went on to convene the Green Guide for Health Care in 2001, an initiative that catalyzed a revolution in the design, construction, and operations of healthcare facilities. Her expertise led her to serve as the Founding Chair of the LEED for Healthcare committee from 2004 to 2008, and she also co-authored Sustainable Healthcare Architecture.

Gail has held several influential leadership positions in the sustainable building community. She served on the USGBC Board of Directors from 2002 to 2010, including a term as Board Chair in 20095. She also dedicated eight years to the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) Board of Directors from 2011 to 2019, where she served as Board Chair from 2013 to 2019. Currently, she is the Vice-Chair of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative Board of Directors. Her vision and impact have earned her significant recognition, including the 2015 Hanley Award for Vision and Leadership and the 2020 USGBC’s Kate Hurst Leadership Award. Additionally, she was featured as an Innovator: Building a Greener World in TIME Magazine and was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

Why do we design indoor spaces the way we do? What are the unseen socio-cultural impacts involved and how do they impact other aspects of the indoor environment that we can not see? Today, we're unpacking the idea that our indoor environments are not just passive shelters - they are complex, multifaceted situations with competing goals and perspectives. As our guest, Dr. Liz McCormick shares, our relationship with indoor space is a rich, interdependent web of circumstances that stretches well beyond the boundaries of any single discipline.

We'll be bringing together insights from architecture, anthropology, and ecology to explore the substantial footprint of our built environments—physically, on a scale equivalent to global grasslands and tropical forests; psychologically, as we experience thermal blandness and a disconnect from nature; and ecologically, as we grapple with a misplaced sense of separation from the "dirt" and the world outside our carefully conditioned spaces. This conversation will challenge us to rethink outdated ideas and address why the air we live in—this "material" we are in constant contact with—matters so much for our health. We'll be looking at a comprehensive model for indoor air quality, considering the crucial interactions between pollutants, their pathways, and our exposure. Buckle up for another thoughtful adventure on the Building Science Podcast!

Links from the Episode:

Buildings don’t use energy: people do

Entomological Happenings

The Architecture of Vector Control

Liz McCormick

McCormick is a licensed architect, educator, and researcher whose work explores healthy, climatically sensitive, and contextually appropriate building design strategies that connect occupants to the outdoors while also reducing the dependence on mechanical conditioning technologies. Her recent book, Inside OUT: Human Health & the Air-Conditioning Era (Routledge), tells the rich story of both the social and technological drivers of the conditioned indoors while making an argument for thoughtful interventions in the built environment. It brings together a multi-disciplinary group of experts of the indoors, including scientists, anthropologists, engineers, and architects, to discuss the future of human habitation with a dominant focus on human health in a post-pandemic world. Liz is also the lead-PI for the NSF-supported research study abroad program to Tanzania (through 2026).

Liz is a WELL and LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified Passive House Consultant. With over 10 years of experience as a practicing architect, she has worked on a variety of project scales from single-family passive houses to LEED-certified commercial office buildings and campuses. She received a PhD in Design from North Carolina State University, Master of Science in Building Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as well as bachelor’s degrees in architecture and fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Liz was the recipient of the 2021 AIAS/ACSA New Faculty Teaching Award, which “honors architectural educators for exemplary work in areas such as building design, community collaborations, scholarship, and service,” the announcement reads. Liz is also an active member of numerous professional and academic organizations, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), AIA Charlotte Committee on the Environment (COTE), National Passive House Alliance (PHAUS), the Society of Building Science Educators (SBSE). Additionally, she is an invited board member of the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) and the president-elect for the Building Technology Educators Society (BTES)

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

Commissioning Matter - Establishing a Culture of Collaboration

Who on the AEC team can deliver strategic guidance, direction, and leadership for the functional aspects of homes and buildings? This is the role of a Commissioning Agent (CxA) and it’s a role that matters now more than ever. The term "commissioning" itself means to "entrust into the safekeeping of someone", with its origins dating back to the mid-14th century, signifying "authority entrusted to someone, delegated authority or power". When it comes to home and buildings, who do we entrust to make sure everything functions as intended and in a way that meets w/ owner satisfaction? This podcast will explore how commissioning plays a similar vital cohesive role in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

Today, we'll delve into what Commissioning is, and what a Commissioning Agent (CxA) does. We'll also cover how commissioning works in practice and where this role is headed in the future. Join Kristof and he and Wes Van Rite unpack this important and timely topic.

Wesley Van Rite

Wesley Van Rite is Principal at Engineered Projects Consulting, LLC.

EPC fills in the gaps where most consultants operate. Wes performs in the grey area between architects, engineers, owners, and contractors. He uses his experience in various aspects of construction to facilitate conversations, resolve issues, and improve performance. Ultimately, his role builds a better project through the trust and cooperation of the project team and by being non-adversarial, respectful, and understanding. Offering Commissioning, Consulting, and Passive House Services.

With over two decades in Building Science, he has had the privilege of learning from and collaborating with some of the best in the field. His passion lies in working on high-performance building projects, and he believes professionals in the construction industry have an ethical responsibility to build better. With current technology, resources, and knowledge, it's possible to create more resilient, efficient buildings without significant cost increases.

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

How do we expand the positive impacts of our buildings? Now is the time.

The building sector is looking at a once-in-a-generation opportunity to flip from being a major contributor to both chronic disease and climate disruption to becoming one of the primary solutions. The key is provide training and perspective to the professionals involved. Why is it that so few architects base design decisions on the known health impacts of buildings at both the personal and community levels? Similarly, why is it that the role of buildings as determinants of health and disease in society is so frequently overlooked by epidemiologists and other public health professionals?

In this interview Adele Houghton (FAIA, DrPH, LEED AP) explains how architects, developers, real estate teams and community groups can use their role power and agency to improve outcomes at many levels and scales, for the benefit of all involved. While no single building can entirely transform a neighborhood's character or its susceptibility to environmental factors, thoughtful design can enhance the health and well-being of residents and businesses, reducing financial risk and contributing to local policy goals.

Adele Houghton

Adele Houghton, FAIA, DrPH, LEED AP, works at the intersection of buildings, public health, and climate change. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows and received a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she also teaches. Her book, Architectural Epidemiology (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024), co-authored with Professor Carlos Castillo-Salgado of Johns Hopkins University, proposes a novel method for architectural design: combining neighborhood-scale environmental health data with participatory community engagement to maximize a building's positive ripple effect on community and planetary health.

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

“It’s time to rethink the idea that architecture does not sully itself with social or ecological ills.”

Jonathan Feldman (in conversation w/ KI)

The practice of architecture is a place where ethics and aesthetics converge. We make decisions and lead our lives based on ethics. As such ethics is concerned with what is good for individuals and society. Aesthetics is a set of principles that are involved with the nature and appreciation of beauty - the aspect of an object that makes it pleasurable to perceive. Join us in this interview with two thought leaders whose work locates them at the convergence of ethics and aesthetics. As a Founder and a Principal at Feldman Architecture, Jonathan and Anjali care about the craft of architecture and recognize the importance of the role power of architecture in society. This shows up in their design work on projects as well as how they design firm culture and practice. Being “thought leaders” is no walk in the park, it puts you in situations where you feel lonely, overwhelmed and disheartened at times, it asks you to take a stand. As you’ll hear in this interview, moving the industry forward with design thinking that includes carbon accounting, human health, and regenerative practices starts with a willingness to be humble and recognize that risk and reward are often two sides of the same coin.

Anjali Iyer

Anjali, LFA, CPHD, LEED AP, hails from Mumbai, India, where she obtained her Bachelor of Architecture from the Sir J.J. College of Architecture. Prior to joining Feldman in 2014, Anjali developed skills in domain-specific technologies while exploring the possibilities for a paperless office and accrued over thirteen years of experience in the design and detailing of high-end custom residential work. As an associate architect at a small firm with a deep focus on details, Anjali offered her expertise in both architecture and interior design for small to medium scale projects first in Bangalore, India and then from Prague, Czech Republic. After she moved to the Bay Area, Anjali worked as a consultant and assistant principal architect at a small design studio specializing in residential projects.

Jonathan Feldman

Jonathan, FAIA, LEED AP, is Feldman Architecture’s Founding Partner and CEO. Since establishing the firm in 2003, he has led its development into a residential and commercial design practice recognized for creating warm, light-filled spaces with an understated modern aesthetic. Jonathan is passionate about design that solves complex problems and is committed to creating solutions that significantly improve the way we live and interact with our planet.

Initially interested in filmmaking, Jonathan moved to California in the 1990s, where he worked on feature films and commercials.

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

Risk is real in the AEC. True risk management isn't about avoidance, but about informed engagement.Homes and buildings today measure success in many ways, each of these represent a potential failure mode. Managing risk means recognizing and embracing it, this is a core message from our guest today. Joe Basham is a seasoned construction industry attorney with decades of experience, a keen mind, clever wit and the ability to cut to the heart of the matter.

Join Kristof and Joe as they delve into the critical role of risk management in the design and construction process and unpack real world ways to navigate challenges with demanding clients, the importance of clear contracts, the power of proactive project management. The discussion also focuses on the impact of new project delivery methods, the rising costs of professional liability insurance and evolving liability concerns in the larger context. Discover how architects are adapting by focusing on design leadership, leveraging consultants, clear contract language and the importance of having open and respectful relationships with all stakeholders.

We explore the arriving potential of AI to revolutionize the design profession, offering increased efficiency and informed decision-making - recognizing that this is also a deep change and one that comes with implicit risks and rewards.

One final thought is that the ultimate de-risking move is to design thoughtfully, build carefully and maintain open communication and realistic expectations at all times!

Joe Basham

Joe Basham is Allensworth’s Co-Managing Partner. In addition to being responsible for the vision of our firm, he has twenty years’ experience in guiding construction industry clients in the preparation, negotiation, and revision of the contracts that govern their work. Contracts are the foundation of any project, and Joe’s job is to make sure that foundation is solid. From there, Joe counsels clients in the full range of project-related legal issues, strategies, obligations, and risks that arise from preconstruction to closeout.

As a seasoned construction contract attorney, Joe is well versed inthe industry-standard contracts, including AIA, EJCDC, ConsensusDocs and DBIA templates, which he customizes for each specific project. He drafts and negotiates contracts with an emphasis on market-based risk management and practical solutions—all in furtherance of getting the deal closed. Because he represents a broad range of clients, from owners and developers to contractors and design professionals, he understands construction and design contract issues from all angles and is particularly skilled at getting projects underway by getting parties to “yes.”

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

In this special episode of the Building Science Podcast Kristof is joined by Ilka Cassidy of Passive House at NESEA's BuildingEnergy Boston '25.

Ilka and Kristof are joined by the following inspiring speakers and organizers of NESEA 25:

Jacob Deva Racusin, New Frameworks Natural Design/Build

Andrew Himes, Carbon Leadership Forum

Laura Bailey, Vermont Council On Rural Development

Heather Ferrell, Prism Design Lab

They dive in to the conferences main take aways, lessons learned, and calls to action.