Buildings + Beyond: Regenerative Architecture

PANEL

Join us for an engaging presentation and discussion titled Buildings + Beyond: Regenerative Architecture. A presentation will kick off the session focusing on how architecture can connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community while being self-sufficient and creating a positive impact on the surrounding environment. We will then join local and regional thought-leaders in a panel discussion, learning from each of their perspectives what barriers they have encountered, policy change that is coming or needs to be coming, and inspirational examples of regenerative architecture.

Mindy Granely

City of Duluth | Sustainability Officer

As Sustainability Officer at the City of Duluth, Mindy Granley is responsible for improvement of City policies, programs, and initiatives in support of local environmental, economic, and social systems. In her role, she incorporates sustainability into decision making, measures and communicates progress, and builds partnerships for change. During her first two years at the City of Duluth, Mindy led creation of the City’s first Climate Action Work Plan, pushed for adoption of new performance standards for City-owned buildings, established an interdepartmental Sustainability Advisory Team, and led multiple successful grant funded projects with City and community partners.

Previously, Mindy served for 12 years as Sustainability Director at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), reducing campus emissions and integrating sustainability into the learning experience for all students. Her academic training is in watershed management, earning a M.S. from the University of Minnesota. Prior to her sustainability career, she spent six years helping to protect northern Minnesota trout streams and Lake Superior that she loves.

Mindy holds a B.S. in Geology/Hydrogeology, an M.S. in Water Resources Science, and is a Certified Energy Manager.

Amber Sausen

AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP

Alliiance | Architect & Principal

Amber is an architect and principal at Alliiance in Minneapolis where she co-leads the Environmental Learning studio. A graduate of the University of Minnesota’s with a focus on sustainability, Amber had led dozens of projects using various green building certifications such as LEED and the state of Minnesota’s B3 program. Amber has been widely recognized for her work, including Young Architects Awards at the Minnesota and national level, and MSP Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Outside of architecture, Amber serves on the global advisory board of Urban Sketchers, co-administrates the Urban Sketchers Twin Cities chapters, and enjoys hiking in Minnesota’s State parks.

Jerry Hall

St. Louis County | Director of Property Management

Jerry Hall is Director of Property Management for St. Louis County. He has been in that role for the past 5 years. Before that, he spent 17 years in other property management positions. First with Duluth Schools, and then St. Louis County. He started his career, after graduating from UMD, by working as a journeyman carpenter for local 361.

The St. Louis County Property Management Department has nearly a million square feet of buildings along with parking ramps, parking lots and landscaped areas under their care. With a crew of 74 people, they handle the janitorial, operations/maintenance, remodeling, and new construction associated with these facilities. Their philosophy has always been to build it with high energy efficiency, low maintenance cost, and long life cycle. Two large projects that reflect this philosophy are the remodel of the Duluth GSC building and the new Virginia GSC facility. They accomplish this by building good teams starting from conception, going to design, and finally construction.

Benjamin Bahr

PE, BEMP, LEED AP BD+C

Emanuelson-Podas | Director of Sustainability

An experienced mechanical engineer and energy modeler, Benjamin Bahr, PE, serves as the Director of Sustainability at Emanuelson-Podas. He has been in the AEC industry for more than 10 years.

Ben has an impressive mechanical expertise design background that extends across multiple industry sectors, including the housing, corporate, med-tech, education, healthcare, restaurant, retail, and service facilities sectors. He is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited and one of the first engineers in Minnesota to receive his BEMP (Building Energy Modeling Professional) accreditation. In addition, Ben has performed numerous Net Zero, LEED, Green Communities, Energy Star, Minnesota B3/SB2030, Green Star, Utility Allowance, 179D Tax Reduction, and State Energy Code compliant models.

As an expert on the various energy codes, green building programs and sustainability policies adopted by numerous municipalities, Ben also regularly assists clients, colleagues, and industry partners with compliance questions and issues. In addition to directly supporting teams with compliance, Ben also regularly gives AIA-accredited presentations on topics such as the Minnesota Energy Code, Affordable Housing, and Building Commissioning, as well as other non-accredited presentations such as HVAC design, and energy modeling.

Outside of work, Ben enjoys participating in most sports, with hockey and soccer at the top of the list. He’s also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing. He is married to his college sweetheart and now happily busy raising a young daughter and son, with a couple dogs and a cat on the side.

Lora Wedge

COO | Ecolibrium3

Lora Wedge is COO of Ecolibrium3, a nonprofit organization in Duluth’s low-income Lincoln Park neighborhood, working on all aspects of sustainable revitalization that advance opportunities for residents and businesses in the areas of energy transition, housing stock improvement, economic security, and health. Lora has previously served in a number of leadership roles at social change organizations at community, national, and international levels, and taught as adjunct faculty in the Department of Studies in Justice, Culture, and Social Change at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She has a B.A. in Women’s Studies, an Adult Teaching Credential, and a M.A. in Consciousness and Transformative Studies.

ATTENDING VENDORS

• Steelcase
• Designtex
• LightArt
• Cooper Lighting
• OCL
• Brintons
• Carvart
• Maya Romanoff
• Tiger Leather
• Turf Design
• Arcadia | Encore
• Biome
• Spec Furniture
• Tuohy
• Lasting Impressions
• Lanai
• Cultura | ShawContract
• Creative Zone | ShawContract
• Connected Threads | ShawContract
• Butterfly | Lightly
• Glow Direct/Indirect | Lightly
• Standalone Unit | Lightglass
• ...and more!

Lunch will be provided and a cash bar will be available during the event.