Steve Davis, AIA, LEED AP

 |DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

As Director of Sustainable Design at VMDO Architects, Steve is responsible for translating VMDO’s passion into practice. His broad-based knowledge and commitment to sustainable design and construction ensure that human health, energy conservation, and environmental responsibility are integral to the firm’s culture and business.

Steve joins sustainability reviews at each design phase and plays an integral role in site planning, schematic design, and material selection for each project. Leveraging his 15 years of experience in architecture, Steve ensures that each project team situates particular sustainability goals within the broader set of goals and limitations defined by each client. With the firm’s principals, he insists that constructability and cost remain key criteria in evaluating sustainable alternatives.

Energy conservation and carbon reduction is a particular focus at VMDO, and under Steve’s direction, the pre-design process has been transformed to ensure that each project identifies a specific goal for building energy usage. In cooperation with our partners and clients, VMDO has established and achieved ambitious energy conservation goals of 50% savings. On several current projects, VMDO is anticipating energy reductions of 60%.

VMDO’s array or LEED™-registered projects is ever-growing (11, as of January 1, 2009), and Steve’s in-depth knowledge of the LEED rating systems ensures that each project team fully assesses the particular advantages and disadvantages associated with each LEED credit. Bringing to bear an array of visualization, energy modeling, and life-cycle assessment tools, he and the VMDO project teams continually strive to improve the quality and accuracy of the information shared with clients. Steve’s leadership is complemented by a talented VMDO staff that includes 19 LEED Accredited Professionals.

With Steve’s leadership, the firm has also transformed its business practices and design processes by instituting energy-conservation measures, green cleaning, green procurement, and (nearly) paperless design projects. In addition, VMDO’s waste management program includes an astounding 19 unique recycling streams.

Design continues to be a passion for Steve. He was lead designer for the recently completed Massie Road Utility Plant at the University of Virginia, which received a 2008 Honor Award from the Virginia State AIA. He was also lead designer for the Charlottesville Transit Service Operations Center, now under construction, which earned a 2008 Go Green Merit Award from the James River Green Building Council. The CTS Operations Center is expected to earn a LEED Gold certification.

Steve is active in the green building community, sharing his knowledge in numerous speaking engagements and serving on the Board of Directors for the James River chapter of the United States Green Building Council. In addition, he is currently the Programs Committee Co-Chair for the chapter’s Charlottesville branch.