Posts Tagged ‘Member Spotlight’

Building Energy Exchange St. Louis Director, Malachi Rein!

WELCOME: Building Energy Exchange St. Louis Director, Malachi Rein!

We are excited to welcome the new Building Energy Exchange St. Louis Director Malachi Rein! Welcome to the Green Buildings Are Better community and Missouri Gateway team, Malachi! To help get to know Malachi (Mal-uh-ki) our Engagement and Outreach Committee asked a few Member Spotlight questions. Here’s Malachi…

Logo. Building Energy Exchange St. Louis with salmon and grey colored block text and 'BE-Ex' letters for logo.

My name is Malachi Rein and I have a B.S. in Architectural Engineering which means that I have the technical capacity to understand buildings through design, construction, and operations. I have also studied communications which I hope will help our message resonate with everyone we interact with. My work experience brings a Facilities Management/Owner’s Representative perspective as the Building Energy Exchange St. Louis Director.

So much of our work is with people, pure and simple.

We can sustain our health and planet while lowering operational costs. We can connect resources that are often desperately needed to people and communities. This work will create a lasting investment that frees up capital and creates healthier, happier lives. Ultimately, we need a continuation of the paradigm shift in the built environment to bring sustainable building principles to the hearts and habits of our society.

Our goals require buy-in from building owners and managers. Our success is built on qualified expertise from design, construction, and operations teams. We have our work cut out for us, but it is such positive, tangible, and impactful work.

Sustainability Passon:

Buildings are so much to people. At a base level they shelter us and provide a safe haven. They also serve as a place of self-expression from the small and personally important details we surround ourselves with to their place as the background fabric of our communities.

We spend our lives in and around buildings with many of our most defining memories and experiences attached to these places and the people in our lives bringing them alive.

Our buildings also have great capacity to hold us back when they impact our health and wellbeing. Difficulties in life can be made so much harder when the bills are too much or the solace of our space is broken by unforeseen events. It is a delicate balance. The good news is, we can invest in our buildings so that more of our lives exist around what we want to love and appreciate. In equal measure we can also sustain the ability for our children and beyond to live healthy and meaningful lives.

Most meaningful experience with USGBC & the built environment:

I was able to participate in a number of trainings and certificate programs that I greatly enjoyed with USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council). These provided transferrable skills and perspectives that enriched not only my professional performance, but that of those I worked with and the tasks we worked on together. My green building certificate and training programs also brought me closer to some of the staff and partners I now have the great privilege of working with in the role as our new Building Energy Exchange St. Louis Director.

What will most impact the future of green building:

Passion and community. There is a future where we don’t get the work done. That is not a future that any of us will enjoy. There are so many good, smart, and talented people in this community that, together, we can chart a path of building energy solutions that work for everyone.

Favorite LEED Project:

I had the pleasure of spending some time in the Y2E2 building at Stanford (LEED Platinum®, awaiting performance data). It felt as though they put their efforts behind their principles while maintaining the architectural form and balance of their existing aesthetic.

Favorite place in the Gateway region

The viewing platform of the Compton Hill Water Tower, which is currently closed until it can be repaired. At the top of 198 stairs, the windows provide a cross breeze and a panoramic perspective that has been static for a century and a quarter; a stone in the river of time as the water that is Saint Louis flows around it.

Photograph of person with red-brown beard and hair wearing glasses and a blue collared shirt in front of a grey background.




June Member Spotlight – Shane Healey

June Member Spotlight – Shane Healey

“We teamed up with the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter to provide a pro bono energy audit for the Grace + Peace Fellowship congregation.”

Shane Healey, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Architect, Lawrence Group
USGBC-MGC Member since 2015

Sustainability passion: My interest for Sustainability began during a sustainable design undergrad course at SIU Carbondale in 2009. I really enjoy being able to help connect a building to the surrounding community, as well as connecting the building to the surrounding landscape and environment. Since becoming a LEED AP, I have worked on a LEED Gold, Silver, and Certified, as well as a half dozen pseudo-LEED certified Projects for the military.

Most meaningful experience with USGBC: In 2014 I was an Architectural Designer at Ross & Baruzzini. We teamed up with the USGBC Missouri Gateway Chapter to provide a pro bono energy audit for the Grace + Peace Fellowship congregation. The Ross & Baruzzini Committee assembled a multi-discipline team of volunteers to survey the mechanical and electrical systems, survey the building envelope, and completed a thermal imaging survey.

What will most impact the future of green building: I believe moving toward Net Zero buildings will have the greatest impact on the future of green building. The use of on-site renewable energy is possible with the many renewable energy technologies available today. However, the amount of technologies needed for Net-Zero are expensive, especially for existing buildings that require retrofitting. Our final report described the inefficiencies, how they could be corrected, and the associated costs.

Favorite LEED Project: My favorite LEED project would have to be the S.T.A.R Building located at John Burroughs School. I worked very closely with Todd Bunden on this LEED 2009 Gold Certified building. The building houses science labs, rooftop greenhouse, a library, research rooms, engineering labs, and a 3d printing area. The S.T.A.R Building was intended to fit contextually within the campus. The new building frames the central quad and minimally impacts the surrounding campus landscape.

Favorite place in the St. Louis region: My favorite place to be in the St. Louis area has to be Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium. Like so many people in this area, I have infinite memories from meeting Jason Isringhausen and Tony Twist, attending opening day, seeing the Clydesdales, spending time with family and friends, attending concerts, and the Winter Classic. Let’s just say I will be attending multiple Cardinal games in 2021.




Member Spotlight of the Year – Brandon Verhoff

2021 Member Spotlight of the Year
– Brandon Verhoff

“As education plays a crucial role in the adoption of sustainable development in society, we must ensure the next generation is sustainability literate.”

Brandon Verhoff standing with painted flower mural, USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter 2021 Member Spotlight of the Year

Brandon Verhoff, PH.D., Manager, Budgets & Reporting, Caleres Inc.
USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter Member since 2015
Chair, Education Committee

Sustainability passion:

Sustainability Literacy: To ensure future generations are armed with the right information to make the best possible decisions in their future professions, we must educate our society on sound environmental, social, and financial reasoning. As education plays a crucial role in the adoption of sustainable development in society, we must ensure the next generation is sustainability literate. This passion for sustainability literacy was at the core of my dissertation when completing my Ph.D.

Most meaningful experience with USGBC:

Being the Chair of the Education Committee, I’ve been able to meet wonderful experts in their fields, learn from their expertise, and keep up with the latest trends. The reason I joined the USGBC Missouri Gateway Chapter was to network and provide my expertise to our community. I’ve gained much more by participating with amazing members of our Chapter. I believe the Missouri Gateway Chapter is a beacon of sustainability success in St. Louis and I’m proud to be involved with the success it has created.

What will most impact the future of green building:

Wellness will be a main driver for future building projects. With the on-going pandemic, companies will focus more on how to improve the mind and body when designing spaces. Providing a space that caters to wellness will give building owners a competitive advantage in the marketplace. We’ve already started to see big campaigns from celebrities focused on the WELL building standard, but we can expect more attention on combining energy efficiency with creating a more welcoming, safe, and just space for its occupants.

Favorite LEED Project:

Edward A. Doisy Research Center at Saint Louis University. This project is close to my heart because of my involvement as the past Director of Sustainability & Benchmarking for the University. It was the University’s first endeavor into LEED and is an anchor of research in the St. Louis region. We learned a lot through the certification process and how to improve other construction projects on campus.

Favorite place in the St. Louis region:

My favorite place in St. Louis is the Missouri Botanical Garden. I love plants, so I visit the garden regularly to see the changing seasons, flowers, festivals, and events; like the Best of Missouri Market, Japanese Festival or Garden Glow. It’s a wonderful place in the City that is transformative, all while still being located in the heart of St. Louis. I instantly feel relaxed and at home while visiting.




October Member Spotlight – Cara Spencer

October Member Spotlight – Cara Spencer

Help us welcome Cara Spencer to the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter! Cara is Director of the new Building Energy Exchange STL (BE-Ex STL) which will expand existing local resources for energy efficiency and building performance resources and services; a force multiplier for climate action and local economic development.

“Financing and Affordable housing. Giving property owners access to the capital they need to improve efficiency is key to making retrofit projects happen.”

Cara Spencer on a Missouri river, USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter October 2021 Member Spotlight

Cara Spencer, Director, Building Energy Exchange STL & Alderman, City of Saint Louis
USGBC-MGC Member since 2021

Sustainability passion: I love growing my own food. Right now our figs are producing nicely and we eat them right off the bush. Nothing beats home grown tomatoes and basil in the summer and I’m a year round micro-green enthusiast.

Most meaningful built environment experience: I’d have to say the O’Fallon Commerce Bank. Its just a regular, everyday bank building but its the first LEED certified banking facility in MO. What’s most meaningful about it is just its everyday-ness. That a bank made the community conscious decision to lead with LEED certification is incredibly inspiring.

What will most impact the future of green building: Financing and Affordable housing. Giving property owners access to the capital they need to improve efficiency is key to making retrofit projects happen. This is especially important in the affordable housing space where energy savings are not experienced by the property owners but by tenants for whom energy savings greatly impacts quality of life.

Favorite Sustainability Project: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. People often (erroneously) confuse sustainability with boring. But the Crystal Bridges building is absolutely stunning and architect Moshe Sadie’s attention to detail is impeccable. It incorporates so much of its natural environment in its construction materials and in its landscape design. Walking through it, the visitor gets the sense of being in and outside all at once – a truly magical experience.

Favorite place in the St. Louis region: The arch. It just never gets old. I am there most mornings on a run or bike ride and I never tire of seeing it. The museum renovation is phenomenal and I love the native plantings on the north side, the trails throughout and the energy pulsing through the many daily visitors.

Cara Spencer is a native St. Louisan who studied math at Truman State University. She loves hiking, cycling and as of late – paddle boarding on MO rivers. She has a 10 year old son who loves drawing and Legos. Together they love eating breakfast outside and bike commuting most days to school and work. Cara is looking forward to helping reduce our community’s carbon footprint. Being a resource to our developer community in achieving energy efficiency goals and helping make St. Louis a climate ready city with a global sustainable reputation that can attract new residents and new employers.




September Member Spotlight – Julie Villa

September Member Spotlight – Julie Villa

“I believe local cities and municipalities requiring improvements to the existing building stock will serve as a major push to reduce overall energy consumption and make our neighborhoods healthier places.”

Julie Villa LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, Associate Architect, Ittner Architects
USGBC-MGC Member since 2014
Chair of the Higher Education & Emerging Professionals Committee

Sustainability passion: Green school design: as an educational planner and architect, I have the opportunity to create healthy and inspiring environments designed to be tools to teach sustainability to our next generation of learners. From early childhood through adults, green schools can be a hands-on method of incorporating important sustainability principles into the curriculum, in addition to being great spaces to learn.

Most meaningful experience with USGBC: As the chair of the Higher Education and Emerging Professionals committee, I’ve helped organize a lot of great events and volunteer opportunities, but my favorite are our recurring Community Garden Workdays at Fresh Starts Community Garden in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. This month’s volunteer day will be our fourth workday there, and it will be great to see what’s growing in the beds we prepped in the spring. It’s always rewarding to get my hands dirty!

What will most impact the future of green building: I believe local cities and municipalities requiring improvements to the existing building stock will serve as a major push to reduce overall energy consumption and make our neighborhoods healthier places. It’s now easier than ever to design a new energy efficient building, but unless we make improvements to our existing buildings to make every building a green building, we won’t be able to make real strides. I’m so proud of our Chapter’s work in getting the City’s BEPS ordinance passed!

Favorite LEED Project: I helped design the tenant finish for 700 Market, the historic mid-century Philip Johnson building, now Spire’s headquarters, which was certified LEED Gold. It was my first ID+C project, and I found it very rewarding to revitalize a long-vacant building into a modern collaborative workspace, keeping a major employer in the urban core instead of building new office space outside of the city center.

As far as other LEED projects that I admire, the East End transformation of Washington University’s campus is a truly innovative re-envisioning of that iconic end of campus. As a graduate, I’m proud to say it exceeds every expectation I had for the transformation, and I expect it to set new standards for future campus improvements.

Favorite place in the St. Louis region: The Green Rock trail at Rockwood Reservation. Hiking trails are my happy place, and this is a favorite in the region – rocky, hilly, and so very green!




August Member Spotlight – David Charles

August Member Spotlight

“Collaboration amongst people from many demographics will hopefully shed light on these inequities”

David Charles, Resource Center Manager, American Institute of Architects.
USGBC-MGC Member since 2020
Active member of the Education Committee

Sustainability passion: My dual passion is infrastructure and the building materials used to execute it. Over the past couple years, I’ve really become interested in Green Building practices – including LEED and Passive House – that help improve quality of life for its users throughout the built environment. I’m equally fascinated by how rapidly new sustainable building products (for its envelope to interior finishes) enter the market every day! What I find inspirational about sustainability is a universal goal of improving how we interact with each other, our communities, and the greater planet.

Most meaningful experience with USGBC: While first acquainted years ago during my time at the Missouri History Museum, my most meaningful is as a current active member of the Education Committee. As now Resource Center Manager for AIA (American Institute of Architects) St. Louis, I am proud to exchange ideas and collaborate with dynamic people on educating the community on Green Building. Some meetings have gone past time due to our collaborative efforts – the knowledge I come away with is always worth the extra time!

What will most impact the future of green building: Accessibility (world-wide). While long-term global plans are in place, more consideration is needed for exactly where these changes will occur. New advances usually require ample research, technology, and (quite frankly) plenty of money. Most underserved demographics worldwide (some St. Louis neighborhoods included) benefit much later – if at all – from these life-improving advances. Collaboration amongst people from many demographics will hopefully shed light on these inequities and we can best improve the planet at once, realizing our responsibility to be global citizens.

Favorite LEED Project: What a hard choice – especially from the array in the St. Louis region. My top has to be the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum located in Downtown St. Louis. As part of the Missouri Historical Society’s long-term project to gain LEED status for each building (Missouri History Museum, Library & Research Center, & Soldiers Memorial), I was proud to see the MHS team (including Facilities & Sustainability Coordinator, Angela Moore) earn LEED Gold certification for Soldiers! shout-out to the architecture firm Mackey Mitchell for earning a 2019 AIA Design Distinguished Award on their work for Soldiers!

Favorite place in the St. Louis region: Forest Park! Without a doubt!! Especially in the last year, its vast space and beauty helped center me during an unsettling period. Prior, I worked in Forest Park almost half my life and allowed the unique opportunity to form my own special relationship with the gem! It was an honor to be profiled as a “Human of St. Louis”, in partnership with Forest Park Forever, to further share what it means to me. I advise you to click HERE because rewriting my whole story may take up more space than this profile allows.




July Member Spotlight – Lisa J. Reed

July Member Spotlight

“Isn’t picking a favorite LEED project like picking a favorite child?”

Lisa J. Reed, PE, IALD, MIES, LEED BD+C, Founding Principal of Envision Lighting Design, LLC
USGBC-MGC Member since 2013
Active member of the Membership & Marketing Committee

Sustainability passion: My sustainability passion – same as my “everything” passion – is lighting! I look at everything through a lighting lens. Light creates clarity. It elevates the way we experience space. It gives life. Light also plays a significant role in sustainability, whether we conserve energy by using only the light that we need (don’t overlight spaces) or by being intentional about where we put light (eliminate light pollution) or by using lighting controls to only use light when we need it (turn ‘em off!) Additionally, I’m interested in equity and lighting equity issues. If it has anything to do with light, then it’s my passion!

Most meaningful experience with USGBC: Tough question – there have been many. This is an organization filled with sincere people who truly care about our planet and the people who inhabit it. Nearly every encounter with this organization, its members, leaders, and staff has been meaningful. One highlight has been participating in the Green Shadow Mentor program. I also want to mention the Membership and Marketing Committee. By volunteering on this committee, I have been able to get to know a small group of fantastic people.

What will most impact the future of green building: Communication. If we can rethink how we talk about green building and communicate the importance of it in an inclusive, non-partisan, apolitical way to get everyone rowing in the same direction, that will be pivotal. When people come together, we are unstoppable. As the mother of two young adults, I see the priorities of the next generation and I do have hope that the future is in good hands.

Favorite LEED Project: Isn’t picking a favorite LEED project like picking a favorite child? I don’t think I can do that! That said, the 4220 Duncan building in the Cortex District was special because that was the first time I was able to achieve the Light Pollution Reduction Credit, and the Envision Lighting Design team, alongside HOK and the HOK Lighting Group, worked really hard on the lighting selections, placements, and calculations to get it. Now we attempt and achieve Light Pollution Reduction regularly.

Favorite place in the St. Louis region: Have you seen The Awakening II near Chesterfield Central Park? This giant man (a 70’ aluminum sculpture) appears to be partially underground as he emerges from a long slumber. This has become my favorite outdoor meeting spot. The giant is whimsical and a little terrifying, and along with the Central Park Trail, it is a nice little nature/art combo that’s worth a visit. Tell the giant hello for me when you go. Better yet, let me know you’re going, and I’ll meet you there!