Vancouver, BC – Perkins&Will’s Principal and Director of Sustainability Kathy Wardle has been named a 2021 LEED Fellow by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Kathy is among 21 professionals from around the world—with only two located in Canada—named in this year’s cohort and who represent exceptional practitioners and leaders within the green building community, having demonstrated mastery of the technical application of LEED, the world’s most widely used green building rating system.
Kathy has dedicated her career to growing the sustainable design leadership and expertise across Perkins&Will, while making strides to positively impact the broader industry. Beyond building the knowledge and capacity of her peers at Perkins&Will, her leadership is exemplified through the delivery of sustainability consulting services on more than 40 award-winning LEED Gold and Platinum projects. Recognized as a thought and practice leader, Kathy has a depth and breadth of technical expertise in the areas of material health, embodied carbon, high-performance design, and resilience.
“As our Director of Sustainability, Kathy works with a spirit of optimism and purpose, to champion the imperative for wholescale change within the building industry,” says Susan Gushe, Managing Director of the Vancouver studio of Perkins&Will. “Since joining our studio in 2001, she has honed her expertise in holistic, sustainable building design, green building rating systems, and civic policy, growing a “green team” that has influenced every aspect of our practice, and positioned us as industry leaders in green design. As advocate and expert, Kathy is sought out both locally and nationally by industry colleagues, governing authorities, and public and private sector clients who want to make a positive impact on the environment, through their actions.”
A passionate advocate for LEED and sustainable design, Kathy champions the importance of bringing about change through designing and campaigning for better buildings for people and our planet. She forged a new path within the Canadian architectural design industry, carving out a role for interdisciplinary and sustainability expertise, which has allowed a new generation of change agents to follow, empowering them to make the long-lasting change our communities and world need.
“Kathy is an exemplary green building advocate that has materially contributed to transforming the building industry,” adds Joanne Perdue, Associate Vice-president (Sustainability) at the University of Calgary. “From her internal advocacy efforts at Perkins&Will, to developing critical industry content for healthy materials and advocating for healthy materials across industry, to developing LEED performance roadmaps for a diverse range of clients, Kathy exemplifies leadership in transforming the design and construction industry in Canada.”
LEED Fellows are nominated by their peers and must have made at least 10 years of exceptional impact on LEED and hold an active LEED AP with specialty credential, among other requirements. The evaluation process includes extensive portfolio review and is carried out by the LEED Fellow Evaluation Committee and supported by GBCI. The LEED Fellow program was established in 2011 to recognize outstanding LEED APs who have demonstrated exceptional impacts with LEED in key mastery elements related to technical knowledge and skill; a history of exemplary leadership in LEED; significant contributions in teaching, mentoring, or research with proven outcomes; and a history of highly impactful commitment, service, and advocacy for LEED.
“The 2021 cohort of LEED Fellows are driving the movement for sustainable buildings and healthy lives around the world,” says Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and GBCI. “Through their commitment to LEED and the green building sector, this year’s fellows have demonstrated true leadership in the industry, and their contributions have had a real impact on people’s lives, building stronger, more resilient communities.”
The 2021 LEED Fellows will be recognized at this year’s Greenbuild International Conference & Expo on the main stage on Thursday, September 23. Visit greenbuildexpo.com to register for the conference and usgbc.org/credentials for more information on professional credentialing opportunities.
