Vivian Loftness

Professor, Carnegie Mellon University

Vivian Loftness, FAIA, LEED, Design Futures and NIBS Fellow, is Paul Mellon Chair and University Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. She is an internationally renowned researcher, author and educator, with over forty years of building science research for industry and government. In addition to editing the 2013 and 2020 Springer Encyclopedia on Sustainable Built Environments, she has authored books, research reports, and chapters on climate and regionalism in architecture, environmental design and sustainability, advanced building systems integration, and design for performance in the workplace of the future – to enhance productivity, health and the triple bottom line. She has served on over 25 Board of Directors, including EPA’s NACEPT, DOE’s FEMAC, the National AIA, ILFI and USGBC Boards, as well as on 14 National Academy of Science panels on sustainable built environments. Vivian has been recognized as one of 13 Stars of Building Science by the Building Research Establishment in the UK, received the Award of Distinction from AIA Pennsylvania and NESEA, holds a National Educator Honor Award from the American Institute of Architecture Students, and a “Sacred Tree” Award from the US Green Building Council. Vivian Loftness has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Architecture from MIT. As Chief Sustainability Officer, Elizabeth (Beth) Heider, FAIA, LEED Fellow, translates Skanska’s commitment to sustainability into action while serving on Skanska USA’s Management Team. Known for her work making the business case for green and net zero energy buildings, Heider supports Skanska’s US business units: Building and Civil construction and Commercial Development, with combined annual revenues of approximately $7 Billion. An FAIA and LEED Fellow, her career encompasses all phases of design and construction as an architect, construction manager and sustainability leader. In addition to her involvement with the Institute during the development of several Living Building projects, Heider was also recognized as one of the first winners of Green Building & Design Magazine’s prestigious Women in Sustainability Leadership Awards. Heider previously held the position of board chair for the US Green Building Council and serves on the Envision Review Board – supporting the development of this powerful rating system for sustainable infrastructure.