Hotel Marcel was the perfect backdrop for the Passive House Network conference… you could hear a pin drop in the room, because of how well insulated the room was! Check out this footage from inside a hotel room at the passive house certified Hotel Marcel, the first (and currently the only) passive house certified hotel in North America. The hotel fronts a freeway with a modest setback, and yet you cannot hear the rumbling of the cars zooming by…! After experiencing what it was like to be in a passive house level suite, I walked away from the conference with even more conviction on how amazing this standard is for occupant health— the comfort level in the room was… magnificent! The room felt very light and airy and I felt I could breathe much better. There was no sense of the stagnant air I have felt in other hotel rooms. In fact, passive house spaces actively manage humidity, allergens and stale air! I could FEEL the difference. I walked away from this conference with more belief in and support for passive house level construction.

Another conference in the books… Passive House Network Conference was a compressed and dense two day convention in New Haven! The passive house community is a tight knit and passionate group. I enjoyed making new connections and nerding out over building science. Presenters shared case studies of their own projects across the U.S. and their technical hurdles in overcoming the challenges of high performance buildings- issues ranging from local climate to manufacturer/material availability to existing building retrofit issues. Another conference in the books… Passive House Network Conference was a compressed and dense two day convention in New Haven! The passive house community is a tight knit and passionate group. I enjoyed making new connections and nerding out over building science. Presenters shared case studies of their own projects across the U.S. and their technical hurdles in overcoming the challenges of high performance buildings- issues ranging from local climate to manufacturer/material availability to existing building retrofit issues. #passivehouse #design #construction #highperformance #architect

New article alert! 🚨 LINK IN BIO ⬆️ This year not only did I visit Mexico, I had the opportunity to speak with pioneering women in sustainability who helped shape Terralago, a sustainable development in Naucalpan, Mexico. As someone passionate about the intersection of design and sustainability, it was rewarding to explore and share this work. My latest article highlights Terralago—the first community in Mexico to achieve LEED for Communities certification through the @usgbc. What makes this project especially compelling is how sustainability is embedded at every scale—from water reuse systems and ecological conservation to thoughtful urban planning that prioritizes connectivity, resilience, and quality of life. Projects like this challenge the conventional approach to development by proving that environmental responsibility and community-focused design can go hand in hand. Read on to find out how Terralago sets a benchmark for sustainable community development.

I’ve always described myself as the energizer bunny. Most days I wake up with this built-in reserve of renewable energy—ready to tackle the day feeling productive, organized, and (mostly) in control. I’m the type of person who gets home from a trip and immediately unpacks, just to restore order. Before kids, I assumed that energy might eventually run out. Instead, motherhood renewed it. Now as a mom of two, I somehow run on an endless tank of fuel—multitasking, adapting, and caring for three people day after day (myself + two kids, though I take the backseat). Motherhood is a transformation that still amazes me… The way women adapt as mothers, sacrificing their selves in various ways, is something I’m constantly in awe of.