VMDO is proud to announce two key leadership promotions that strengthen the firm’s ability to deliver on its mission and advance its design practice.

Michelle Amt, FAIA has been named Managing Principal, Operations, and Gwenedd Murray, AIA has been promoted to Director of Sustainability. Together, Michelle and Gwen will help guide VMDO in delivering meaningful, high-impact work rooted in environmental stewardship, design excellence, and community well-being.

Michelle’s transition from sustainability leadership to firmwide operations reflects the momentum of her contributions at VMDO. Since joining the firm in 2017 as its first full-time Director of Sustainability, Michelle has embedded performance-driven design thinking across the practice – shaping governance, strategic planning, and staff development while advancing the firm’s national leadership in sustainable design.

“Michelle’s new role strengthens the connection between strategy and practice – bringing design and sustainability together and creating the conditions for teams to thrive,” says Terry Forbes, VMDO’s Managing Principal, Finance. Her steady leadership will continue to support a practice that is nimble, transparent, and grounded in shared purpose.

Advancing Sustainable Architecture at VMDO

A longtime VMDO collaborator, Gwen Murray joined the firm in 2025 and has already deepened its capabilities – integrating performance analysis, including daylight, energy, and thermal modeling, alongside material health and climate-responsive strategies across projects.

As Director of Sustainability, Gwen will lead the next phase of VMDO’s sustainability initiatives and support project teams in advancing low-carbon, health, resilience, and long-term building performance.

“Gwen has already elevated our work, and I am excited to see where she will take us,” says Michelle. “I can think of no one more qualified to lead us to 2030 – and beyond.”

Designing for the Future

These promotions mark a continued investment in VMDO’s long-standing leadership in sustainable design. The firm has earned national recognition, including three AIA COTE Top Ten Awards – the industry’s highest honor for sustainable design – and is widely regarded for its net-zero energy leadership. VMDO continues to demonstrate that educational buildings can achieve exceptional levels of performance within public budgets. These accomplishments reflect the firm’s belief that sustainability and design excellence are inseparable – and that architecture can be a pathway toward healthier, more resilient communities.